Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan is a stunning glacier-carved lake in the North Cascades of central Washington, stretching about 50 miles from the town of Chelan into the mountains and reaching 1,486 feet deep, making it the largest natural lake in Washington and one of the deepest in the country. With sunny summers, crystal-clear water and vineyards along the shore around Chelan and Manson, it's one of the top boating destinations in the Northwest. We offer the best boats, jet skis and water toys at Lake Chelan, ready and waiting for you right at the lake.

Lake Chelan Boat Rentals

The lower end of Lake Chelan around Chelan and Manson is the heart of the action, with wide water for wakesurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing and tubing, and calm mornings bring glassy water framed by the mountains. Our Lake Chelan boat rentals include:

• MasterCraft wakesurf and wakeboard boats for family and friends
• Ski boat rentals for water skiing, slalom and tubing
• Tubes, wakeboards and wakesurf boards for every age
• Paddle boards and water trampolines for a beach day at Lake Chelan State Park or Don Morse Park

Rather have someone else drive? Book a private boat charter and our captain will handle the boat. Damage waiver coverage is available on every rental.

Lake Chelan Jet Ski Rentals

Rent a jet ski on Lake Chelan and cruise the shoreline past Chelan and Manson, explore the coves around Wapato Point or head up-lake as the mountains close in. If you're searching for Lake Chelan jet ski rentals, a jet ski is one of the best ways to see more of this long, beautiful lake. Most of our jet ski rentals can pull a tube, depending on the model, and guided rides are available. See our jet ski models to pick your ride.

Pontoons, Marinas and Boat Service

Lake Chelan has marinas and public launches in Chelan, Manson and the state parks, and lots of families come for a resort, condo or lake house stay in the Chelan Valley. We don't rent pontoons or service boats, but we offer surf boats, jet skis and water toys to go with your pontoon day or lake house stay.

Chelan, Manson and the Wineries

The town of Chelan sits at the south end of the lake with a waterfront park, shops and restaurants, and the village of Manson is a few miles up the north shore. The hills around both towns are covered with vineyards and tasting rooms, so it's easy to pair a day on the water with an afternoon at a winery.

Stehekin and the Upper Lake

At the far end of the lake, the little community of Stehekin can only be reached by boat, floatplane or trail, and the Lady of the Lake ferry runs up from Chelan. The upper lake winds deep into the North Cascades, with steep mountains rising straight out of the water.

Parks and Beaches

Lake Chelan State Park and Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park on the south shore have campsites, beaches and boat launches, and Don Morse Park in Chelan is a favorite swim spot right in town.

Getting to Lake Chelan

Chelan is about 45 minutes north of Wenatchee on US-97A, about three and a half hours east of Seattle over Stevens Pass and about three hours west of Spokane. Manson is about 15 minutes up the north shore from Chelan. See all of our Washington lakes.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Washington boating rules: most drivers born after January 1, 1955 need a Washington Boater Education Card to drive a boat with 15 horsepower or more, and jet ski drivers must be at least 14. No one under 16 may rent a jet ski, jet skis can't be ridden between sunset and sunrise, and our rental drivers must be 18 or older.
• Life jackets: everyone on a jet ski and anyone being towed must wear a life jacket, and so must children 12 and under on boats under 19 feet while the boat is moving.
• Afternoon wind: wind often funnels down the lake in the afternoon and can build big rollers on the open water, so mornings are usually the smoothest.
• Cold, deep water: Lake Chelan is glacier-fed and very deep, so the water stays cold away from the shallows even in summer.
• Water levels change: the lake is drawn down over the winter and refills in spring, so ramps and beaches can change early in the season.
• Book early: summer weekends and holidays fill up fast.

Lakes Near Lake Chelan

Just up the Columbia River, we serve Lake Pateros and Alta Lake, and west near Leavenworth there's Lake Wenatchee. East in the Columbia Basin, try Banks Lake and Potholes Reservoir, and farther northeast there's Lake Roosevelt.

Lake Chelan Map