Echo Ridge, WA
This page was created in Dec. 2021 for our
club's general membership meeting, but we are leaving it up for general
information. You are invited to join our meeting: (Zoom) meeting on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Hope
to see you then!
Echo Ridge is a popular destination for a number of our club members. Not
too far away and high enough for potentially excellent skiing. What is
special about it? USFS spent $1 million dollars to have trails designed
for cross country skiers. So expect well laid out trails on gently rolling
terrain. Fantastic views! It's above the downhill ski area. And the club
owns the groomer so they keep the trails well groomed.
- Main ski area website: Echo
Ridge. Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. It has 40 km of groomed
trails.
- The Forest Service has a nice description of the area, as well as a number of pictures.
- Location: 11 miles from the town of Chelan, WA; it's 224 miles from
Bellingham. Approximately 5 hours from Bellingham if all goes according
to plan.
- Elevation: lower parking lot is at 3600 feet.
- Google Road map to ski area
- Driving: It's in the mountains and it's wintertime. Better be
prepared! Snow tires. And bring chains. And check their website to see
if the road up from Chelan is open. There have been a couple of
incidents where it rained, then froze so they had to close the road
because it was too dangerous.
- Type of skiing: Most trails are groomed for classical and
skating.
- Trail
map
- Length of season: No grooming as of Dec. 11, 2021. But maybe with this
last storm it will open shortly? The 2020-21 season ended with the last
grooming on March 16.
- Grooming
report
- Snowmaking: There is no snowmaking for the Nordic trails.
- Expected Weather: 'Often above the clouds that frequently cover the
Lake Chelan valley'
- When would I go? Several club members are thinking late January ought
to be good. And it's reported that several places do pairings of
chocolate and red wine over Valentine's Day!
- Places to stay / price range:
- The Apple Inn has reasonable rates and is next door to the Apple Cup
Restaurant which has good food at a reasonable price and is a favorite
of locals.
- Or stay at the River Walk Inn at the end of Lake Chelan. It gives
you easy walking access to downtown Chelan. They allow dogs and
is next to a long, beautiful public walking path. It has a cafe, or
you can cross the street for Mystic Pizza (and delicious calzones).
- A third option is to stay in a cabin next to the Echo Ridge downhill
area. Then you are only 2 miles from the x-country trails. They have
kitchens so you can bring your own food and hot tubs! Check out: https://www.chelanrentals.com/2br/. Studio cabin
is $80/night, 1 bedroom is $185, 2 bedroom is $230, pets $10
fee/night.
- Trail
fees / passes needed: Day ski passes are $15 per person and can be
purchased at the self service fee areas located at the trailheads with
cash or check. Kids 17 and under ski free! The ski trails are open 24/7.
- Equipment rentals are available from nearby vendors
- Special Events: There should be good skiing all season long. But a
race/tour gives you a chance to be part of an event! Join others for
specially marked trails, feed stations, and the fun of a race! Keep an
eye out for the Echo Ridge Ski Loppet in February. From 5 - 30 km and a
great way to see the ski area. It was canceled last year due to covid,
it's not clear if it will be held this year.
- Other things to do: downhill skiing at the Echo Valley Ski and Tubing Area. And
if you need more, there are over 15 wineries there to check out! Vin Du
Lac had great dining and live jazz when we were there.
- Want to talk about it? Want some stories? Want a suggested itinerary?
This is a forwarding email address, your questions will be sent to 'the
'experienced user' – questions@nooksacknordicskiclub.org
What I would do/ski:
- Don't miss 'Zippity Do-Da'!
- Caution with 'Zoom'. It's a steep, black-diamond trail!
'