The Vision

The City of Chelan’s Northshore Trail Study is part of a larger community vision for a public trail system that surrounds the southern half of Lake Chelan. The entire trail, known as the Lower Lake Chelan Shoreline Trail System, consists of several segments that would improve access, mobility, and safety for non-motorized users along Lake Chelan’s shoreline, serving residents and visitors alike.

The focus of this study is the Northshore Trail segment which would provide a safe and accessible way for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities to travel between Chelan and Manson, or any destination in between, along the Highway 150 corridor.

Project History

The idea of a non-motorized connection between Chelan and Manson has been included and discussed in a number of City and County planning documents over the last thirty years. In 2000, the Lake Chelan Public Trails Association initiated a feasibility study for this stretch, which was then called the Northshore Pathway. Since that time, a portion of the trail has been built between Don Morse Memorial Park and the recently constructed No See Um Road roundabout.

Building on this earlier work, the City of Chelan is now taking a closer look at the feasibility of completing the Northshore Trail. As a part of this effort, the City is actively engaging the local community and regional stakeholders in the process.

Our Goal

The purpose of the Northshore Trail Study is to help determine the best way to move forward with the project. It will consider the best location for the trail, what trail types make sense and where, what impacts and permitting can be anticipated, how much would the trail cost, and what opportunities there might be for phasing.

With this information we can create a preliminary trail design to give us a better understanding in practical terms what it would actually take to construct the trail, recognizing that there are many challenges that need to be considered and addressed.

The final report will help guide decision makers, on both the local and regional scale, about how to proceed with the Northshore Trail project.

Schedule

This is an ongoing project, but the Northshore Trail Study final report is expected to be completed by Summer of 2020. As the study progresses, information on this website will be kept current. You can visit the Updates page to see recent project news. 

Our project is running in parallel with Chelan Douglas Transportation Council’s Lake Chelan Bike Plan effort which will incorporate our study findings.