Snowmobiling is an adored Lake Chelan activity that’s fun for all ages and abilities, especially families. Glide through the backcountry, along hidden, snow-covered pathways, and into beautiful winter landscapes with spectacular mountain and alpine views.
Break away from the village and enjoy the ultimate back country adventure. These trails are ideal for experienced riders, groups, or families who are ready for a snow escape with a perfect mix of riding and dazzling scenery. Our vast network of trails offer limitless adventure possibilities.
Click to view Sno-Park areas (download PDFs of individual trail maps in corresponding sections below).
The Antilon Lake Sno-Park, spanning 100 miles of well-marked trails, has spectacular views of Lake Chelan, Golf Peak, Hungry Mountain and climbs near Fox Peak (elev. 6,214).
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
75 Parking Spaces
*From April 1 to 30, a Sno-Park Permit may or may not be required. Please obey posted signs indicating whether a permit is needed. Contact the local agency listed for each Sno-Park for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: After periods of extreme weather, work crews may be on trails during the day to clear debris or drifts. Please exercise caution.
Directions: Highway 150/Manson Highway to Mill Bay Casino sign. Turn right onto Wapato Lake Road for approximately 2 miles and turn right onto Upper Joe Creek Road to Grade Creek Road. Go straight on it to the end of plowed road.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Chelan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 663-9911 Okanogan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 422-7232
Glide through sun-glistening snow and enjoy spectacular views of Lake Chelan and surrounding mountains as you snowmobile through 100 miles of trail system.
Trails: 1.) 8021 / Bergman Gulch / 8020 / Cooper Mtn / Four Corners
100 Mile Trail System
Permit Required During Season*
Elevation: 2,640 ft
Warming Hut
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
30 Parking Spaces
Directions: From Manson, head towards Chelan on Highway 150. Turn left on Winesap Rd. (next to the Lake Chelan Winery) and go approximately 3 miles to stop sign. Take a left and go 2 miles to Cooper Gulch Rd. Take a left onto Cooper Gulch and follow signs to Echo Valley. Continue past the Echo Valley Ski Area and take a right up the hill another 2 miles to the lower or upper Echo Ridge parking lots.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Chelan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 663-9911 Okanogan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 422-7232
Black Canyon Sno-Park offers 100 miles of trails, connecting with Antilon Lake Sno-Park and Echo Valley trails.
Trails: 1.) 4010 / Black Canyon / 141 / Yukon Hut 2.) 117 / Oss Peak
Permit Required During Season*
Elevation: 1,360 ft
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
15 Parking Spaces
*From April 1 to 30, a Sno-Park Permit may or may not be required. Please obey posted signs indicating whether a permit is needed. Contact the local agency listed for each Sno-Park for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: After periods of extreme weather, work crews may be on trails during the day to clear debris or drifts. Please exercise caution.
Directions: Northwest of Pateros. Highway 153 northwest for 6.5 miles to USFS Road 4010. Turn left (west) to end of the plowed road.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Okanogan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 422-7232
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
20 Parking Spaces
*From April 1 to 30, a Sno-Park Permit may or may not be required. Please obey posted signs indicating whether a permit is needed. Contact the local agency listed for each Sno-Park for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: After periods of extreme weather, work crews may be on trails during the day to clear debris or drifts. Please exercise caution.
Directions: Northwest of Pateros. Highway 153 northwest for 17 miles to County Road 1029. Turn left for .75 mile to County Road 1034. Turn left to USFS Road 4330 and turn left again. Go across bridge to end of plowed road.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Okanogan County Sheriff's Office: (509) 422-7232
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
35 Parking Spaces
*From April 1 to 30, a Sno-Park Permit may or may not be required. Please obey posted signs indicating whether a permit is needed. Contact the local agency listed for each Sno-Park for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: After periods of extreme weather, work crews may be on trails during the day to clear debris or drifts. Please exercise caution.
Directions: Follow Hwy 150 From Manson through Chelan, take South Shore Road for 23 miles to USFS Road 5900/Shady Pass Road. Turn left for two miles; Sno-Park is on right side.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Chelan County Sheriff's Office (509) 663-9911
Sanitary facilities along trail, snow shelter, scenic view points
15 Parking Spaces
*From April 1 to 30, a Sno-Park Permit may or may not be required. Please obey posted signs indicating whether a permit is needed. Contact the local agency listed for each Sno-Park for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: After periods of extreme weather, work crews may be on trails during the day to clear debris or drifts. Please exercise caution.
Directions: Follow Hwy 150 From Manson through Chelan, take Hwy 97-A towards Wenatchee, take Entiat River Road/USFS Road 51 west (left) for 24 miles to end of plowed section.
Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576
Emergency Contact Info: Chelan County Sheriff's Office (509) 663-9911
Sno-Park Permits
Sno-Park permits allow recreationists to park at special winter recreation facilities, adjacent to winter sports areas, maintained through State funding. These permits, which are either daily or season passes, may be purchased at all Wenatchee Forest offices and local ski shops and stores. The funds generated through permit sales pay for snow removal, grooming, signs, sanitary facilities, parking lot construction, and other benefits for winter recreationists.
Snowmobiling Reminders and Safety
Snowmobilers Code of Ethics
I will be a good sportsman. I recognize that people judge all snowmobile owners by my actions. I will use my influence with other snowmobile owners to promote sportsmanlike conduct.
I will not litter trails or camping areas. I will not pollute streams or lakes.
I will not damage living trees, shrubs, or other natural features.
I will respect other people's property and rights.
I will lend a helping hand when I see someone in distress.
I will make myself and vehicle available to assist search and rescue parties.
I will not interfere with or harass skiers, snowshoers, or other winter sportsmen. I will respect their rights to enjoy our recreation facilities.
I will know and obey all Federal, State, and local rules regulating the operation of snowmobiles in areas where I use my vehicle. I will inform public officials when using public lands.
I will not harass wildlife. I will avoid areas posted for the protection of wildlife.
Remember to notify someone of:
Your trip.
Your planned route of travel.
Your estimated time of return.
If You Become lost or Have Mechanical Trouble:
Keep calm think, decide on a plan
Trust your compass
Back track if possible
If not possible, remain in place.
Don't separate if with a party
Don't abandon your snowshoes or skis
Build a fire and shelter stay warm
Mark your base camp
When someone is overdue:
Keep calm and contact: Sheriff or other law officers, snowmobile clubs, and the Forest Service.
Distress signals
Three smokes, three blasts of whistle, three shouts, three flashes of light, three of anything that will attract attention.
Snowmobile Safety & Survival Tips
Respect The Property & Privacy Of Others
FENCES Are expensive to repair. Take care not to destroy them. Use gates when traveling over fenced lands.
BUILDINGS Respect other people's property and No Trespass signs. Buildings should not be entered. Notify proper authorities if you find evidence of vandalism.
SKI AREAS Are for skiers. Please keep snowmobiles off all ski slopes.
CAMPGROUNDS Avoid running over tables, stoves, or other improvements covered with snow.
LITTER Please don't leave trash on the snow. Carry a litter bag and follow the "carry in/carry out" motto.
CLOSED AREAS The use of motorized vehicles is prohibited on snow measurement courses, in Primitive Areas and Wilderness. If in doubt, inquire at a local forest service office.
Avalanche Tips
Avoid mountainous terrain after heavy snowfalls or prolonged periods of high wind. Avoid crossing steep side-hills and entering narrow, steeply sided canyons.
Weather Forecast? Don't travel in a storm. Turn back if the weather turns bad. If visibility is reduced or area is unfamiliar, follow your tracks back out.
Safe Routes? Avoid avalanche terrain. Avoid thin ice or unsafe river crossings.
Survival Kit? Equip snowmobile with survival materials. Review publications on winter survival.
General Safety Tips
Physically fit? Take no one who cannot make it back in case of breakdown. Remember that human efficiency declines in cold weather.
Going Alone? Travel in a group of at least three people and two snowmobiles.
Good Equipment? Know how to make repairs; carry an emergency repair kit. Have enough gas, with some to spare. Carry snow shoes or skis. Review check list for other needs.
Trip Planned? Know where you're going stick to it. Inform a responsible person of your planned route, and when you'll return. Use registration boards where provided.
Hypothermia
Cold kills in two distinct steps:
STEP ONE: EXPOSURE & EXHAUSTION
When your body begins to lose heat faster than it produces it, you are undergoing exposure. Two things happen:
You voluntarily exercise to stay warm.
Your body makes involuntary adjustments to preserve normal
temperature in the vital organs.
Either response drains your energy reserves. The only way to stop the drain is to reduce the degree of exposure.
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE: AVOID EXPOSURE
Stay dry.
Beware the wind.
Understand cold. Most hypothermia cases develop in air temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees.
Don't ask, "how cold is the air?" Ask instead, "how cold is the water against my body?"
STEP TWO: HYPOTHERMIA
If exposure continues until your energy reserves are exhausted...
Cold reaches the brain depriving you of judgement and reasoning power. You will not realize this is happening.
You will lose control of your hands.
This is hypothermia. Your internal temperature is sliding downward. Without treatment this slide leads to stupor, collapse and death.
The time to prevent hypothermia is during the period of exposure and gradual exhaustion.
Check List
Items for day trip up to 10 hours. Many items can be taken for convenience and comfort, but the following are a must on EVERY trip:
Proper clothing and "extras" for everyone
Equipment in top shape & tested
Tools for snowmobiles & equipment repair
Spare motor parts, sparkplugs, gas
Snowshoes or skis
Enough food (emergency rations & lunch)
Canned heat (to start fire)
Matches (waterproof) & candle
Emergency signaling mirror
Compass and map
Whistle (plastic)
100 feet 1/4" nylon rope
9' x 12' plastic tarp (temporary shelter)
Flashlight
Hatchet
First Aid Kit (group)
Sunglasses or goggles
Survival
Don't Panic Think and decide on a plan of action. Stay together. Conserve your energy and warmth.
Check Food Carry dehydrated emergency ration.
Melt Clean Snow Quench thirst. You can survive a long time on water alone.
Make Shelter Use snow and evergreen boughs. Birch bark is waterproof.
Build Fire Use ice to reflect sun's rays. Use engine spark, flashlight batteries and steel wool. Keep fire out of wind. Reflect fire into shelter.
Make Signal Use fire, smoke, whistle, flares, snowmobile and parts or signs in the snow.
Make Your Position Clear Tramp wheel (100 ft. diameter) use upright boughs on south side to cast shadows. Your signal is now visible from a plane.
BE SURE TO CARRY Spare spark plugs, spare drive belt, spare fuel, emergency rations, a first aid kit, flares, a knife or small axe, waterproof matches, spare clothing, flashlight, tool kit, extra ignition key.
