Lake Wenatchee: Overview
Park overview:
Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489-acre camping park with 12,623 feet of waterfront on glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River. The park is bisected by the Wenatchee River, creating two distinct areas – south park, which features areas for camping, swimming and horseback riding, and north park, which is in a less developed, forested section of the park and a quarter-mile walk from the lake. The park is a natural wildlife area, and visitors should be aware of the presence of bears and other natural dangers.A concessionaire offers guided horse rides on more than five miles of trail in and around the forested park. Year-round recreation opportunities abound, including swimming, boating and hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing, snowplaying, showshoeing and sledding in the winter.
Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. until dusk.
Winter: Both campgrounds close from Nov. 8 through April 1, depending on snow conditions. Camping is available in a designated area of the South park day-use on a first come-first served basis. This area has picnic tables, fire pits, and two covered day use shelters. Heated restrooms and hot showers are located nearby. No utility hookups are available during the winter months.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Current alerts:
Please do not attempt to enter closed areas and trails. For more information about the Lake Wenatchee Sno-Park closure, call the park at (509) 763-3101. The answering machine is updated with current information.
Agency information:
Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.
The Discover Pass now can be used on either of two vehicles!Annual pass: $30
One-day pass: $10
(Transaction and dealer fees may apply)
A Discover Pass is required for motor-vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Exemptions: Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, the Discover Pass is not required if you are camping or renting overnight accommodations, for the duration of your stay at that state park. For additional exemptions and more information, please visit the Discover Pass website.
Campsite Information:
The park has 155 tent spaces, 42 utility sites, one dump station, seven restrooms and 16 showers. In addition, the park provides two ADA campsites. Call (509) 763-3101 for information.The south campground (sites 1 through 100) has parking pads 30 to 40 feet in length, with only two pull-through sites. Larger RVs and fifth-wheelers should use the north campground (sites 101 through 197) which includes 42 large pull-through utility sites.
Maximum tents: one family tent or up to two 2-3 man tents.
Maximum vehicles: two per site (additional vehicles may park in overflow areas).
To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Group Accommodations:
The park offers a group camp that accommodates 20 to 80 people. Only tent camping is allowed in the group camp. Fees vary with size of the group. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.2013 camping fees:
Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Conconully, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.
Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Park Features
More than five miles of equestrian trails are in and around the park. A concession offers horses for rent for day rides or overnight pack trips. There are no public stables available. Year-round recreation opportunities abound, including swimming, boating and hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing, snowplaying, showshoeing and sledding in the winter.
History
During their annual migration long ago, Native American tribes stopped at Lake Wenatchee for a feast of clams and salmon before heading west to trade with coastal tribes. Nason Creek, called Umptanum Creek by Native Americans, is adjacent to the park. This was the location where Nason bragged that he and another Native American had killed two white men. This event was one of the noted causes of the Yakima Indian War.Interpretive opportunities
During winter months, the park features a 1.1 mile interpretive snowshoe trail.Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
| • Camping • Park store • Pay phone • 1 Horse stable • White gas | • Auto repair • Airport • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • White gas • Wood |
A park concession offers firewood, propane and white gas, plus an assortment of camping goods, food and snacks. A horse concession provides one and two-hour guided rides. No public stables are available.
Collection of firewood within the park is prohibited. Firewood is available for purchase in the park and at local retailers.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
| • 8 mi. Hiking Trails • 7 mi. Bike Trails • 5 mi. Horse Trails | • Boating (freshwater) • 1 boat ramp (freshwater) • 16 feet of dock (freshwater) • Fishing (freshwater) • Personal Watercraft (freshwater) • Swimming (freshwater) • Water Skiing (freshwater) • White-water Kayaking | • 1 Amphitheater • Beach Exploration • Bird Watching • 200 Fire Circles • 1 Fire Circle (sheltered) • Golf • Interpretive Activities • Mountain Biking • Mountain Climbing • Rock Climbing • Sailboarding • 1 Volleyball Field • Wildlife Viewing |
Windsurfing is also popular. As the park is in bear country, coolers must be stowed. The area receives an average of 150 inches of snow during the winter months and offers groomed sledding hills and more than 25 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, as well as marked showshoe trails and winter camping. For current snow conditions and grooming reports visit online. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website. | ||
Events
The 2013 State Parks free days are as follows:
Jan. 21 – In honor of Martin Luther King Day
March 30 – In honor of Washington State Parks' 100th birthday on March 19
April 27 and 28 – National Parks Week
June 1 – National Trails Day
June 8 and 9 – National Get Outdoors Day and Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing weekend
Aug. 4 – Peak season free day
Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day
Nov. 9 through 11 – Veteran's Day weekend
Please note: A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife during State Parks free days. For more information, please visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Find other events at Washington State Parks
Boating Features
The park has one boat ramp and 16 feet of dock for handling purposes.A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 is available at the park.
Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.
Winter Recreation
• Skiing• Cross-country Skiing
• Dog Sledding
• Snowmobiling
• Ice Climbing
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
The park offers two kitchen shelters without electricity, plus 54 unsheltered picnic tables. Picnic tables are available first come, first served.One kitchen shelter is reservable and accommodates 20 to 50 people and includes six picnic tables and four cooking grills. Water, firepits and restrooms are nearby. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
The second kitchen shelter is available first come, first served. It accommodates eight to 12 people and includes one picnic table, a fireplace and two cooking grills.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
| • Bears • Bobcats • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Marmots • Marten • Minks • Mountain Goats • Muskrats • Otters • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels • Weasels | • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Owls • Quail • Swans • Woodpeckers • Wrens | • Mussels • Salmon • Steelhead • Trout |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | Plant Life | ||
| Lake Wenatchee is in a transition zone between wet, western Washington woodlands and the drier pine and fir of the eastern Cascades. The lake is of glacial origin, dammed up at the foot by glacial gravels and wash. The White River and the Little Wenatchee River combine to fill the lake at its western end. Mosquitos may be prevalent May to early July, so visitors are encouraged to bring repellant. Annual rainfall is 24 inches, and annual average snowfall is 150 inches. | • Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Ponderosa Pine • Alder • Maple • Daisy • Foxglove • Lupines • Orchids • Paintbrush • Rose • Berries • Moss or Lichens |
