Natural Glacial•Washington Lakes•Chelan County

Lake Chelan, Washington: Map, Depth, Size & Information

Comprehensive hydrographic guide to Lake Chelan featuring verified USGS & USACE water statistics, interactive topographic mapping, shoreline facilities, boating ramps, and game fisheries.

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Surface Area

33,104 acres

134.0 km²

Max Depth

1486 feet

452.9 m

Elevation

1,100 feet

335 m ASL

Shoreline

109 miles

175 km

Coordinates

47.933°, -120.217°

GPS WGS84

Verification

Official Data

2026-03-04

Live Hydrographic & Conditions Telemetry•Station: USGS-78001325

Lake Chelan Live Water Level Status & Wind Conditions

Reservoir Hydrography

Water Level Status & Capacity

Current Water Elevation

1,100.49 ft

Normal Full Pool: 1,100.00 ft

Normal Conservation Pool

Difference from Full Pool

+0.49 ft(above)

Reservoir Waterline & Storage Capacity96.4% of Conservation Pool

25%

50%

75%

100% Full

Full Pool: 1,100.00 ft

24h Change: +0.04 ft / 24hEst. Volume: 15,126,409 acre-ft

Inflow Rate

2,291 cfs

River tributaries

Dam Outflow

3,136 cfs

Hydro & spillway

Water Temp

56°F

Surface layer

Water Clarity

47.4 ft

Secchi disc depth

Hydrologic balance: Current net flow is -845 cfs (Releasing volume). Water level is rising at 0.04 ft per day.

Atmospheric & Surface

Live Wind & Wave Simulator

Good Boating Conditions

Nautical Wind Compass Rose

NESW

SE 138°

13 mph

Gusts: 28 mph

Blowing from SE (138°) at 13 mph

Surface Wave Conditions1.5 ft wave height

Light Chop (0.5 - 1.0 ft)

Moderate Surface Ripple

Barometer

30.12 inHg

Steady pressure

Solunar Bite

Slow Bite

High game fish bite

Hourly Forecast Timeline Scrubber:12 PM • 13 mph SE

Calculate Water Level & Volume ChangesModel acre-feet storage loss, shoreline recession, and drought reserve projections for Lake Chelan.

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Interactive Map of Lake Chelan

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47.9333° N, 120.2167° W|Get Directions

Interactive map for Lake Chelan located at GPS Coordinates: 47.9333, -120.2167 in Chelan County, Washington. Elevation: 1100 ft above sea level.

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Centroid Coordinates: 47.9333° N, -120.2167° WOpen Directions in Maps

Where is Lake Chelan?

Lake Chelan is located in Chelan County in the state of Washington, at geographical coordinates 47.9333° North latitude and 120.2167° West longitude. The water body lies at a surface elevation of approximately 1,100 feet (335 meters) above mean sea level.

Nearby Cities & Distances

Chelan

1 miles away

Manson

3 miles away

Stehekin

50 miles away

Wenatchee

38 miles away

Seattle

175 miles away

About Lake Chelan

Looking up the dramatic 50-mile glacier-carved fjord of Lake Chelan Washington

Natural Glacial • Fjord-like Glacial Trough LakeVerified 2026-03-04

Lake Chelan is a narrow, 50.5-mile long glacier-carved fjord lake located in north-central Washington. Reaching a maximum depth of 1,486 feet, it is the third-deepest lake in the United States and the 26th deepest in the world. The lake’s bottom is 386 feet below sea level (a cryptodepression). The remote northern tip at Stehekin is accessible only by boat, floatplane, or backpacking trail through the North Cascades National Park.

Hydrographic Classification:

Lake Chelan is categorized as a Fjord-like Glacial Trough Lake. Its designated primary authorized uses include Hydroelectric Power, Recreation, Agricultural Irrigation, Wilderness Gateway.

Activities & Recreation

Sport Fishing

Lake Chelan is known for its resident game fish species. Common targets include:

Lake Trout (Mackinaw)Kokanee SalmonChinook SalmonRainbow TroutBurbot

Boating & Watersports

Popular watercraft activities permitted across regulated channels:

BoatingWine Tasting (Lake Chelan AVA)Water SkiingKayakingHiking to StehekinFishing

Boat Ramps, Marinas & Public Parks

Marinas (4)

•Chelan Marina
•Manson Bay Marina
•Lucerne Landing Dock
•Stehekin Landing Dock

Public Boat Launches (3)

•Lake Chelan State Park Launch
•Mill Bay Boat Ramp
•Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park Launch

Parks & Recreation (4)

•Lake Chelan State Park
•Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park
•North Cascades National Park
•Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Boating Safety, Wake Zones & Aquatic Regulations

• Speed & Wake Buffer Zones:

A mandatory 100-to-200-foot no-wake zone is enforced around all public boat launches, designated swimming areas, private docks, and moored vessels. Vessel operators must maintain idle speed in narrow coves and bridge passes.

• Safety Gear & AIS Protocol:

Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFDs are required for all vessel occupants. To prevent aquatic invasive species (quagga mussels, hydrilla), boaters must adhere to Clean, Drain, and Dry inspection procedures prior to launching.

Seasonal Fishing Patterns for Lake Chelan

Spring (March – May)Pre-Spawn & Spawn

Game fish move into sheltered secondary coves, shallow flats (4–12 ft depth), and creek mouths as surface temperatures climb into the 50s and 60s. Target submerged timber, riprap, and emerging vegetation with spinnerbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and soft plastics.

Summer (June – August)Thermocline & Main Basin

Predators retreat to deep underwater humps, main river channel ledges, and thermocline layers (20–45 ft). Peak activity shifts to dawn, dusk, and night trolling. Use deep-diving crankbaits, spoons, drop-shots, and downrigger spreads.

Autumn (Sept – November)Fall Turnover & Feeding Blitz

Cooling weather triggers lake turnover and intense schooling feeding. Bass, trout, and walleye push baitfish into primary points and pocket coves. Fast-moving topwater plugs, lipless crankbaits, and swimbaits produce explosive strikes.

Winter (Dec – February)Deep Suspension & Ice

Fish consolidate around deep wintering holes (40–80+ ft) or under safe solid ice on northern waterways. Slow finesse presentations—vertical jigging spoons, blade baits, and live bait rigs—dominate the cold-water season.

Lake Chelan Statistics & Hydrography

Measurement	Imperial Value	Metric Equivalent
Surface Area	33,104 acres	134.0 km²
Maximum Depth	1486 feet	452.9 meters
Average Depth	474 feet	144.5 meters
Water Surface Elevation	1,100 feet above sea level	335 meters
Shoreline Length	109 miles	175 km
Lake Classification	Natural Glacial (Fjord-like Glacial Trough Lake)
GPS Coordinates	47.9333° N, 120.2167° W

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Chelan

7 verified answers

How deep is Lake Chelan?+

Lake Chelan reaches an astounding maximum depth of 1,486 feet (453 meters), making it the third-deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake and Lake Tahoe.

Can you drive to Stehekin on Lake Chelan?+

No road connects to Stehekin at the north end of Lake Chelan. It can be reached solely by passenger ferry (the Lady of the Lake), private boat, floatplane, or foot via Cascade wilderness trails.

What is the surface area, shoreline length, and elevation of Lake Chelan?+

At normal conservation pool, Lake Chelan covers approximately 33,104 surface acres (about 51.7 square miles or 134.0 km²) at an elevation of 1,100 feet above sea level. The shoreline extends for 109 miles (175 km) throughout Chelan County, featuring numerous sheltered coves and bays.

What game fish can you catch in Lake Chelan?+

Anglers on Lake Chelan target Lake Trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Burbot. Peak fishing occurs during spring spawning runs in shallow bays and submerged timber, followed by summer deep-water trolling near thermocline depths and structural humps. Autumn brings aggressive feeding activity along windward points.

Can you boat on Lake Chelan and where are the public ramps?+

Yes, recreational boating is permitted on Lake Chelan. Public boat launch facilities include Lake Chelan State Park Launch, Mill Bay Boat Ramp, Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park Launch. Full-service marinas including Chelan Marina and Manson Bay Marina offer slip rentals, marine fuel, and boat repair services. Boaters must adhere to state navigation laws, maintain required life jackets and safety gear, and respect posted no-wake zones near docks, coves, and designated swimming beaches.

Who manages Lake Chelan and are there campgrounds or parks nearby?+

Lake Chelan is managed and monitored in coordination with Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) & USGS. Lakeside recreation areas and campgrounds include Lake Chelan State Park, Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, North Cascades National Park. Visitors can take advantage of developed campgrounds with tent and RV hookups, scenic hiking trails, day-use picnic areas, and boat launch access.

Where does the data for Lake Chelan come from and how is it verified?+

All hydrographic statistics, water surface elevation gauges, surface acreage measurements, and bathymetric soundings for Lake Chelan are cross-referenced from authoritative federal and state geospatial databases, primarily Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) & USGS and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Records undergo programmatic sanity verification and were last verified on 2026-03-04. Detailed ingestion pipelines, calibration procedures, and agency citations are published on our Data Methodology page (/methodology/).

Review Full Data Methodology & Verification Guidelines

Authoritative Data Source: Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) & USGS

Last verified: 2026-03-04 • Record ID: lake-chelan-wa

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