Hiking the Chelan Butte
The Chelan Butte stands just over 3,000 feet above the Columbia
River and 2,700 feet above Lake Chelan. The Chelan Butte is mostly
rock covered in silt deposited from receding glaciers long ago. The
Butte was staked out by homesteaders in the 1880's and gold claims in
1907.
Wildlife on the Butte includes Deer, Big Horn Sheep, Coyotes,
Rabbits, Lizards, Bull Snakes, Rattlesnakes, Eagles, and Hawks.
Road Hiking
The Butte Road begins at Lakeside and travels 9 miles to the
summit. Many hikers begin from the Saddle Valley intersection and hike
the remaining mile to the summit. Many vistas over the lower
Chelan Valley along the way make
for great photo opportunities.
 Homestead Trail Hiking
There is a great short hike from the Butte Rd to an old homestead
on the north side of the Butte which has an excellent view of the
Lake. You can also start from the old Chelan Falls Stagecoach Road on
the East side of the Butte to two other homesteads. You can continue
through the Stranton Homestead and hike to the top of the Chelan Butte
or from the Burpie Homestead, you can hike over the Elephants Neck and
then down into South Chelan.
 Game Trail Hiking
There are many game trails that zigzag in and out of the steep
Canyons on the Butte. Although you can easily see where you are, it is
easy to get disorientated as to where you came from or where you're
going. A compass is highly recommended.
Rugged Desert Hiking
 The top of the south slope of the Chelan Butte is incredibly steep.
The lower elevations can be thick with old growth sage. Rattlesnakes
thrive in this rough country so extra caution is required. You don't
want to be listening to your MP3 player when hiking narrow, rocky
trails and dead reckoning routes in this area.
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