The Chelan River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the state of Washington. Just 4.1 miles long, it is the shortest river in Washington. The Chelan River originates at the outlet of Lake Chelan, in the city of Chelan at the southern end of the lake. Lake Chelan Dam, built in 1928, also in the city of Chelan, blocks the river. The dry riverbed runs 3.9 miles (6.3 km) through a steep and rocky gorge, dropping 401 feet (122 m) before reaching the Columbia River near the community of Chelan Falls. Only the first short section of the river between Lake Chelan and Lake Chelan Dam is filled with water. I live one block from this river, which is where I put in my kayak. The rest is called the "bypassed reach".
There is a dirt road that follows along part of the gorge, which I had heard about but not actually set eyes on, until today. I'll be back in the spring when our landscape is green, full of flowers and the gorge will have some water running through it from winter run off. And it's not so damn cold. In the sun it wasn't too bad, but those shady bits were a keen reminder that winter is closing in on us.
Not concerned about getting lost - just practicing using this GPS unit.
cool skulls on my "textile" riding pants....(which reminds me to get out my stash of Mr. DP stickers to enhance the decor of the bike)
Friendly nanny state admonition
Many people don't find this landscape particularly appealing, but I like it very much - elemental and spare.
A bit of the gorge from the road....yikes - no guard rail....
The bridge crossing the gorge on the now closed old highway - now more of a "bridge to nowhere" after the highway was rerouted several years ago.
View across Columbia River and the Waterville Plateau
The only thing missing on this short adventure was spotting the herd of bighorn sheep that live in this locale.
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:42 pm
