Washington · Rock climbing · Chelan

Chelan

Chelan is a Washington climbing crag with 11 routes across 9 difficulty grades.

11 routes
5.6 – 5.11d
Bouldering · Trad · Sport

Is Chelan open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Chelan Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Chelan Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Chelan

Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    31° / 17°

    8 wet

  2. Feb

    36° / 19°

    6 wet

  3. Mar

    47° / 26°

    6 wet

  4. Apr

    57° / 33°

    5 wet

  5. May

    67° / 41°

    6 wet

  6. Jun

    74° / 46°

    5 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 53°

    3 wet

  8. Aug

    83° / 53°

    2 wet

  9. Sep

    74° / 45°

    3 wet

  10. Oct

    58° / 33°

    5 wet

  11. Nov

    40° / 24°

    7 wet

  12. Dec

    31° / 16°

    8 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Waterville, WA, 22.8 mi away at 2,664 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Chelan is a climbing area in the Chelan Ranger District of Washington's Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The district's climbing holds a range of styles and grades, with 11 routes spread across bouldering, trad and sport, from about 5.6 up to 5.11d. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterville run from highs near 84°F in July to about 74°F in September, with fewer wet days than the rest of the year. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the area, so temperatures here run cooler. Several routes stand out. The Covfefe Route is a trad climb at 5.6, Beehive Crack is a boulder problem at 5.9, and Vernazza is a sport route at 5.11d. For an overnight base, Mitchell Creek and Snowberry Bowl Campground are both within 3 miles.

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