So pretty!! I just…read morecame here for the weekend and I love it. The walks here are stunning. The views of chelan. The mountains! The choppy water. Amazing panoramic views all over. Park is currently open but faculties are closed. Still make it a fun little stop on your walk/ run or even a drive. Beautiful views!

Amazing cute little park in the cutest town. Walking distance from our hotel . We walked to rent a…read moreboat from Shoreline at this park one day. Best service! Walked here and swam wit the fam. Lifeguards are super friendly! And they have life jackets at park to borrow - how kind is that. You can walk into the water and swim. Another plus is there are actual bathrooms and they were clean!

A beautiful state park, with gated entry and paid use. The parking area is large and likely packed…read morein peak months of summer. We were pleased to find picnic tables where our small group could enjoy our packed lunches with water views. A walk along the water, towards docked boats and campsites made for a lovely stroll.

I am so happy with the staff at the little store here. My sandal broke when I was in the lake…read more Joanne gave me a needle and thread so my wife could fix it. Thank you Aubrey and Joanne. Great workers for the State Park here.

I feel like this campsite could be okay if it was RV only, but it should not be a tent campsite…read more The way the park is located, the wind comes over the top of the hill towards the sites violently strong. They have the tent sites located at the front of the lot, so the wind hits them all first. We had our absolute worst night of camping here ever, winds blowing so strong that the tent was collapsing down on us while we tried to sleep. In the morning we mentioned it to the site hosts and they said "oh that was nothing, we've had tents blowing away before". We left after one night, there is no way we could sleep through that. If you are in an RV and are able to grab a site here right on the waterfront, then you might be okay and have a good time. Otherwise I do not recommend staying here.

very bad. Came here during summer and had too many problems. Although we had rented the spot, we…read moreweren't allowed to have our family there

This campground is a hidden gem if your looking for a real camping experience--not a crowded RV…read moreparking lot with generators humming all night? Let me introduce you to a hidden gem that's the real deal. Whistlin' Pine Ranch sits at the quiet end of Alta Lake, just one mile past the State Park. This four-generation, family-run ranch and campground was started by my girlfriend's grandparents and lovingly restored by Tara, who grew up hunting, fishing, and outfitting with her dad, Brian Varrelman. Many of you will remember Brian as the heart behind Sawtooth Outfitters, leading generations of families on unforgettable trail rides and backcountry hunts. This isn't just any trail ride. It's access to untouched wilderness--no joggers, no mountain bikes, no barking dogs. Just you, a sure-footed horse, and views so breathtaking they'll leave you speechless. If you're lucky, you might even spot the ranch's resident bear stretched out sunbathing by the pond. Whistlin' Pine is the kind of place that reminds you what camping should feel like--peaceful mornings, paddleboarding on the lake, fishing at sunrise, and star-filled nights. Tara has done an incredible job honoring her family's legacy while giving the ranch some love and new life. So if you're craving the real outdoors, not the Instagram version--this is it. Book a site, saddle up, and go make some core memories.

We first visited WPRSO about ten years ago, shortly after the fire that decimated the nearby Alta…read moreLake State Park. At that time we met Brian, the owner/outfitter, and were impressed with what he had to offer though we were just passing through at the time. We learned from his sidekick that the only reason the beautiful homes, cabins, and ranch at the south end of the lake weren't destroyed in the fire is that Brian and some helpers stayed to keep things watered down when official help wasn't. That's true grit. Fast track to now, and we were planning on staying in Chelan (about 40 minutes away) and I wanted to do some trail riding. I found the newly updated website (really well done - AltaLakeRanch) and contacted Tara, Brian's daughter, who has taken the reins of the ranch now that the Covid issues have passed. She returned my message immediately, something that sooooo many other riding places seem unable to do. She answers her phone. Long story short, we got two rides scheduled for early in the week. She does have a two rider minimum, like so many trail riding places. First two-hour ride ended up being just the two of us, and since I've had horses about forever we could take some of the steeper and rockier trails. This time I rode Bella, a draft/Friesian cross and a giant horse. These trails weren't the easiest, yet she never missed a beat. Since Bella hyper-enjoyed the spring grass, Tara did have to get off her horse to adjust (tighten) up Bella's cinch a few times around her round belly. Otherwise, the saddle fit me well. Tara was riding a young horse that wasn't "string" ready yet but still seemed very well trained to me. Dog Rip, already a great trail dog for his age, joined us. Second two-hour ride we had another person join us, not a regular rider though very fit. Tara asked if I wanted to ride her horse June from the day before (guess I passed the riding test!) so I rode third with her. Once she is on the official string she'll be a favorite as she is nicely trained, moved off the leg really well, was also very sure footed, and just was a pleasure to ride. Well, that plus she isn't a mile high like Bella. Tara rode June's sister, also a young horse in training, and she did great too. Got to add here that Tara knows her horses' quirks well and has appropriate tack for each horse and rider combo. It's awful trying to ride hilly ground on a saddle built for a giant that you slosh around in. This time we took different trails which were more suitable for less experienced riders and really enjoyed the scenery and mountain wildflowers. With 500 acres in this three-generation ranch and adjacent state land to ride on, there are lots of choices for riders from beginners to the more experienced. Reminder to people who don't ride regularly: don't start out with a long ride as you'll be using muscles you never thought you had. You'll realize that in 24 hours and beyond. I found two hours to be perfect for me. We haven't stayed in their campground or attended any equestrian events so I can't comment on that, though Tara is making improvements to the camping area and has more she is exploring. I'll be back to ride again and check on her upgrades as some of them sounded pretty cool.

One of the nicest, cleanest campgrounds I have ever visited. Huge sites and pristine landscaping…read more Well done!

This would've been a 5 star review except one huge issue that could cause hospitalization and…read morelawsuits: The shower water temperature situation in the bathrooms. There is a sign on the door that says no hot water. That's fine, whatever, tent campers get cold showers while paying for full hookups like we did so we could have electricity but we get cold showers because we are sleeping in tents. But this was not the issue. The issue is that the hot water is turned on sometimes... and there is no warning and no way to regulate the temp that comes out of the shower head. For whatever reason the faucet, while turning left and right - effects nothing. Now, if the water coming out was a nice warm 105 to 110 degrees that would be fine. But this was so hot it burned my daughters head and she only had it under the shower for the time it took to turn the water on, scream and move away. So, I went and got my meat thermometer and tested it. 167 degrees Fahrenheit. I highly doubt the legal department at PUD is aware of the water temperature streaming out of that shower head. One more thing about that water. We were told they turned on the hot water because the water for one of the RV'ers wasn't working. What? I'm confused on this tidbit. We also bought an RV space. Why the plain discrimination against tenters who are paying full rates? Why not warm water for all? But please, before that, fix the temperature problem first. If my daughter had been 2 instead of 21 her skin would have blistered and there would've been a hospital trip. Other than the hot water issue the campground is very nice, windy like a tropical storm, but beautiful. Be aware, camping has recently changed to reservation only.

Indeed very enchanting place. We did backpacking 3 nights 4…read moredays to experience the core zone as much as possible including off-trail scrambles for Little Annapurna and Enchantment Peak. We went Colchuck to Viviane and traced back since not much to see beyond Viviane. Really nice backpacking. My detailed mileage etc is below blog post. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html

I've done this a couple of times so I'll give you the different perspectives…read more The first time I did it as a one-day hike because I did not have a permit. The second time I did it as a three night hike because it was after October 15th and I still didn't have a permit. Since that time, the permit season has been extended to October 30th. Either way, I suggest that hiking in the fall is the prettiest time due to the larch trees colors. Both times we started at the Stuart Lake trailhead (recommended due to reduced overall elevation gain) and ended at the Snow Lake trailhead. Now at the risk of offending someone I will say that hiking through the Enchantments in one day is like watching a porn movie on fast forward. You miss most of the scenery. My suggestion is to either get a permit, or hike outside of season, preferably in the fall, but stay at least two nights. Given that the hike up Aasgard Pass has an elevation gain of 1900 feet in about a mile, I can attest that it can be quite dangerous when raining. On the East side there will be mud & rock slides and in our case we had to duck out of the way of several large, (18 or so inch diameter) Rocks that came bouncing down the boulders with unpredictable direction at a very high rate of speed. Risks early in the season are snow slides and avalanches, so be very aware of the conditions when you are there. All that said, anyone who does not give this a five and tell you that it's absolutely one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever take on must know something I don't, and I've hiked the Himalayas. Remember that goats are dangerous. Pee on rocks, not soil because the goats will dig it up for the salt. Try not to let a goat see you peeing or it will run towards you. Try fishing in the lakes; the trout are great for dinner up there. You should also know that when coming down toward the Snow Lake trailhead there are a large number of switchbacks and when you see the cars just down the hill, it will likely be another hour before you get there, and if you did it as a day hike, your feet may not be happy when you finally arrive. If you are a hiker, you must find a way to get this one done before you hang up your boots.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is a dense Washington forest with extensive networks of…read moretrails and raging rivers. We visited the forest in June when the snow was melting and there were brief rain showers everyday. Most creeks and rivers, especially the Wenatchee River, were overflowing their banks, with river water above the level of green grasses and bushes. The highly variable nature of the rivers made me wonder how difficult it would be for the home owners living just a few feet above their June high water mark. On a Wenatchee River rafting trip, a guide pointed out a high water mark when the river was at record levels during her lifetime. This must've been 10-15 feet above the already high water and would've destroyed many homes. Many of the trails in the National Forest are very long, requiring camping gear to complete the trail. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to complete any of these multiday treks, but I was satisfied with a taste of the trails in the area. The trails were generally quality from the start so I was never worried about only getting in a 3 mile hike if time was limited. Even a 3 mile hike would turn into a good workout because most of the trails had a steep incline. We were essentially stair climbing on many of the trails. It was hard but we also benefited from the incredible views. The views near the Leavenworth area were fruit trees and grapevines on the valley floor, steep pine trees ascending the mountainsides, with snowcapped peaks on the tops of mountains or on mountaintops in the background.

Visited the forest with a friend while there this summer…read more The forest is over 4 million acres in size. I saw info posted that you can get a permit to cut your own Christmas tree and gather mushrooms out here. Be careful as a lot of this area is closed now and has been closed for some time due to forest fires. Check to see what is open and when before going to visit.

Okay so the whole cash paying action is ridiculous. To have a better system to say the least would…read morebe better. If you show up after 2:00 there's no ranger so it is very confusing to figure out the pick a campground situation. No reliable cell service The directions take you to somebody's property you need to keep driving the campground is not on the left if you're leaving from Chelan or the major freeway it is on your right on the water side. Luckily I have at least two brain cells so looking at the map and the directions I can figure it out. However Google was like take a left here. And the left here was somebody's house where it said this is not an Airbnb. Basic campground nothing fancy. Not sure I would go back. I was only there cuz I was staying one evening car camping waiting to take the ferry to stehekin.

Nice creek, Nice campsites. But skunks. Skunks will creep up to your campsite at night and eat your…read morestuff. They ate our lucky charms. Anyways the bathrooms are decent. There is a bit of trash around the whole campground. We set a marshmallow bait at night and the next morning guess what happened. Skunks got their grimey little hands and took it again.

Of all the public lakefront recreational areas around Chelan, Don Morse Memorial Park is always our…read morego-to place whenever we're in town. Parking will run you $10 (2 hours) or $15 (6 hours). There is also a 24-hr rate, but I can't recall what it is. For the best parking access, utilize the lot adjacent to the Lakeshore RV Park (TIP: If there's a line at the parking lot pay station, or it's out-of-order, you can pay for parking at the Lakeshore RV Park Front Gate). The parking lot can easily fill up by 11 AM or noon on weekends and spring/summer holidays, so keep this in mind when considering the day of the week you'll be visiting and when you plan to arrive. The park's grounds include a skate park, sand volleyball pits, basketball courts, playground, concession stand, grassy areas, restrooms, some tree-shaded spots, picnic tables, good-sized beach and roped-off swimming area. There's also a boat launch and marina (where it's possible to fish). A go-kart track and miniature golf course are situated in-between the marina (south) parking lot and the RV (north) parking lot, but these are privately run businesses. The only negative of Don Morse Memorial Park is the hourly rate (and maybe the capacity) of the parking lot. Despite this, I still think this park deserves a 5-star review--it's just too good in terms of the layout and amenities it offers.

What a park and place for family and friends to hang for the day. It has it all. You can pay for…read moreparking and stay for day. Kid toys, tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, swing set, beach area, Shoreline Watercraft And Boat Rentals, CLean new Bathrooms, and a Small food place that has snacks and shave ice in the summer. Great vibe . Large grass area where we put up a shade tent and set up yard game to have a picnic in the park. There are even covered areas. Not sure but maybe you rent those. Large beach area and lots of parking. Plus sand volleyball courts. Super fun day with our friends and family. We enjoy it here and can walk to town. Or if staying at Campbell's or camping at park it's walking distance too.

The area is beautiful but the rangers do not care about your experience here. They have let larger…read moregroups of people be as loud as they want into the early morning hours so they can make their money rather than listen to the complaints of many different campers who were all kept up until 3am. The group that was loud all night then came through early morning and took pictures of peoples camps and license plates. If you want to camp with a larger group, you get to violate the rules and be as loud as you want and the rangers will defend your behavior. Would not recommend staying here if you want to relax at night.

At first and overall we were supremly impressed with this state park. How to describe? It was as…read moreyou imagined state parks should be, with a friendly ranger to greet you at the gate (first time ever that there has been a person at the gate AT ALL in several years of camping) and give you directions. Tidy markers everywhere, stone borders, cut grass, and at least one set of spacious clean bathrooms. I say 'one set' because it matters which loop you set up your tent in. The upper loop is where we unknowlingly reserved and boy was that a mistake. It's dusty as all heck and jam packed with very noisy families enjoying their yearly family reunions. There is just one small bathroom facility in the upper loop. It has just ONE shower and with so many people, was just unpleasant from the get-go. Add to this that people were taking advantage of the situation by plugging into the bathroom outlets to fuel their activities at their campsites (yes runnning a HUGE extension line and propping open the bathroom doors to do so), getting very drunk and hanging about the bathroom doors, ie men in front of the women's doors, not picking up after their dogs then wiping the poo off their shoes in the bathroom, the list goes on. In contrast, walk down to the lower loop and it's quiet and orderly, RVs lined up and some tents, everyone quietly walking their dogs after dark, and right on the lake and the grassy mowed areas. Well, now we know. I should add that the ranger DID come by to tell people to quiet down and to ask if we were okay; and that there is only so much park staff can do to keep things clean when the campsites and bathroom are overrun like they were. So we went at a bad time - it was also very smokey from nearby fires. We did checkout a paddle boat from the concessions area (the couple running that are very nice) and had fun on the lake for about an hour. This campground reminded me of campgrounds of my childhood. If only I could go back to those.