Frequently Asked Questions

During public outreach and our discussions with lake-front property owners, some questions popped up regularly that you might have as well. If you don’t find the answer to your question here, use the Contact page to connect with our project team directly.

Q. If the trail project moves forward, when would construction begin?

A. There is currently no known construction schedule. If the project moves forward into design and construction, it is likely to be implemented in a series of phases. At this time, we are not expecting construction to begin on any phase of the project in the next five years or before 2025.

Q. If implemented, how would the trail be funded?

A. : The funding mechanism is unknown at this time. However, there are a number of state and federal grants that support projects like the Northshore Trail that provide multimodal connectivity, increase access to recreational opportunities, and have the potential to improve public health. If the project moves into design and construction, the City of Chelan will be exploring all possible funding mechanisms, independently and with other agencies such as WSDOT, Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council, and Chelan County.

Q. Who is the trail intended to serve?

A. Everyone! The mission of the Northshore Trail is to create a non-motorized facility that can be used by people of all ages and abilities for both recreational and practical transportation purposes. We anticipate that residents and visitors alike would benefit from having a safe place to walk or bike along the north shore of Lake Chelan. Families living or staying on the lake front might use it to get into town. Neighbors might use it to visit each other on their docks. Teenagers might use it to get to their summer jobs.

Q. Would the trail be open year-round or on a seasonal basis?

A. Details about the seasonality of the trail have yet to be determined. Maintenance over the winter months is definitely a consideration and there is a chance some or all of the trail would not be cleared during snow events.

Q. What side of the highway will the trail be on?

A. The previous Northshore Pathway Feasibility Study (2000) recommended that the trail be located on the lakeside of Highway 150 because the intent was to increase access to and enjoyment of the waterfront. As a result, a lakeside trail has been the working assumption, but we are open to considering other alternatives. However, there are locations along Highway 150 where there is no room for a trail on the uphill side, such as at Rocky Point. There, the trail would most likely have to be constructed over the water, either as a boardwalk or cantilevered from the road. Therefore, if the trail were to be located on the uphill side of the highway, safe crossings would need to be provided to get trail users from one side of the highway to the other at these pinch points.

Q. What about a trail that connects Manson and Chelan by going over the hills instead of along Highway 150?

A. We have looked at non-lakeside alternatives but found that the existing grade of roads like Boyd Road make a trail inaccessible for the majority of the population. However, while a non-motorized route on these roads does not meet the mission of the Northshore Trail project, these routes and others may still have merit when looking at the regional bicycle network. For instance, we know that avid cyclists are already using Boyd Road for recreational purposes. As such, these potential bike routes are being considered as a part of Chelan Douglas Transportation Council’s Lake Chelan Bike Plan.

Q. Traffic volumes and congestion, especially in the summer months, have increased over the years. Has WSDOT considered a bypass of Highway 150 over the hills instead of along the lake shore?

A. As of today, WSDOT has not identified the need for a Highway 150 bypass route. As a part of this effort, we are working with WSDOT to better understand when, if ever, a bypass might become a necessity.

Q. What about a speed reduction on Highway 150?

A. WSDOT is unlikely to further lower the speed on Highway 150 absent of geometric changes to the roadway. Regardless of the posted speed limit, people tend to drive as fast as they feel comfortable. As a result, reducing speed limits by changing signage alone, is often ineffective and can sometimes lead to additional conflicts and safety issues. However, implementation of a trail, which is likely to involve roadway realignment, changes to lane markings, and/or new edge treatments, may calm traffic and help make the case for a speed limit reduction.