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.
Sisi Fire Trails Closure
Agency alert covering Chelan Ranger District · Order 06-17-02-2026-35 · USFS · Chelan Ranger District
Cle Elum River Restoration Area Closure on the Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Gold Creek Restoration Project Area Closure on Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Grouse Creek Aquatic Project Road Closure on the Wenatchee River Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Termination of Stage 1 Public Use Restrictions and Campfire Ban
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · Order 06-17-00-2026-16 · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
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.
Jan
31° / 17°
8 wet
Feb
36° / 19°
6 wet
Mar
47° / 26°
6 wet
Apr
57° / 33°
5 wet
May
67° / 41°
6 wet
Jun
74° / 46°
5 wet
Jul
84° / 53°
3 wet
Aug
83° / 53°
2 wet
Sep
74° / 45°
3 wet
Oct
58° / 33°
5 wet
Nov
40° / 24°
7 wet
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.
Routes (11)
Ash Boulder(1)
Beehouse boulders (coyote creek)(4)
Milkweed Canyon(4)
Thanks for coming(2)
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Chiara Coetzee, CC0 (via Flickr)That Demon/Autobahn
~55 min drive
That Demon/Autobahn is a climbing area in Washington with 5 routes.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Dinosaur Tower
~55 min drive
Dinosaur Tower in Washington has 6 climbing routes ranging from easy to hard, with sport and trad options.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Grand Central Tower
~55 min drive
Grand Central Tower in Washington has 7 climbing routes across 5 grades.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Peshastin Pinnacles State Park
~55 min drive
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park in Washington has 6 climbing routes with 5 difficulty grades.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Upper Martian Slab
~55 min drive
Upper Martian Slab in Washington has 10 routes across 6 grades, offering sport and trad climbing.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Austrian Slab
~55 min drive
6 routes at Austrian Slab in Washington range from moderate to hard on sport and trad.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Orchard Rock
~55 min drive
Orchard Rock in Washington has 5 climbing routes ranging across 4 grades.
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Sunset Slab
~55 min drive
Sunset Slab in Washington has 5 sport climbing routes across 3 difficulty grades.
Photo: JimsFlicker, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Leavenworth
~56 min drive
Diverse granite climbing in Washington's Cascades, from single-pitch to multi-pitch routes.
Photo: Dennis S. Hurd, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Piton Tower
~57 min drive
Piton Tower in Washington has 5 trad climbing routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.