Snowmobile Adventures in Central Washington
Location: Ahtanum State Forest & Lake Chelan
Features: Snowmobiling, Scenic Views, Warming Huts
Pass Required: Sno-Park permit
Adventure Report
Two Sno-Parks & 95 miles of groomed trails in Ahtanum State Forest
Two areas to ride near Lake Chelan with 158 miles of groomed trails
Information at the Lake Chelan Visitor Center
After a warm, rainy December in much of the state, the snow is finally falling everywhere. For drivers, who have to deal with chains and road closures on the mountain passes, this may not be ideal, but for snowmobilers it means that it is time to hit the trails. There are many amazing places to ride throughout the region. If you are looking for new areas to try in Central Washington, Matt Mead of the Washington State Snowmobile Association has two suggestions.
The first is the Ahtanum State Forest west of Yakima. This area has two large Sno-Parks, Ahtnaum Meadows (3,240’), and the Ahtanum Guard Station (3,120’), with parking that is well configured for oversize RVs with trailers. The area has a well groomed trail system with 95 miles of connected trails rising to a top elevation of 6,820’. It has lots of areas for off-trail riding including opportunities for boon docking and bowl riding, and it offers spectacular views of the Cascade Range. Want to catch a view of four volcanoes from a single point? There are places along this trail system where you can see Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood. Because the trails are on DNR managed land, they require a Discover Pass but not a Sno-Park Permit.
Another great destination is the Lake Chelan area. There are trails on the hills above the lake on both sides. These areas include warming huts, off-trail opportunities, and spectacular views of Lake Chelan. As an added bonus, there are some amazing places to grab a bite to eat or a drink after your ride. Stop at the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce office for more information. The trail system on the east side of the lake has 95 miles of connected trails ranging in altitude from 1,543’ to 6,529’ and can be accessed from the Echo Valley (2,650’) and Antilon Lake (2,200’), Black Canyon and South Fork Gold Creek Sno-Parks. There is a non-motorized area at Echo Ridge that is crossed by a snowmobile trail. Please stay on the trail and respect the surrounding non-motorized areas. The western trail system has 63 miles of trails ranging from 1,720’ to 6,752’ including two family friend loops. It connects Twentyfive Mile Creek Sno-Park (2,000’), just up Shady Pass Road from Twentyfive Mile Creek State Park, with the Entiat River Sno-Parks (1,720’) and includes a 12-mile trail along the Entiant River and trails that climb the ridges overlooking Lake Chelan. The trails in the system are out-and-back rather than loops. All of the trailheads in the Lake Chelan area are run by Washington State Parks and require a Sno-Park permit.
If you are looking for a great place to stop after riding the trails on the east side of Lake Chelan, check out Troy’s Pizza in Manson. This fun, casual pizzeria offers amazing hand tossed pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a rotating selection of draft beers, local wines, and cider. Mention Northwest Portal or the Snow NW app, and get 10% off your order. Tell Troy Jennifer says hi!
For more great information on snowmobiling opportunities in Washington, take the Snow NW map with you on the go! Check out the Snow NW app, FREE for both iOS and Android.
