The Path to Elephant Head
Lake Chelan's Go-To Hike
Have you hiked to Elephant Head? The route offers amazing views, a lovely destination, and an approachable 1200 foot climb. Here's the best part: you will find the trailhead a short five-minute drive from downtown Chelan.
The Hike
The trail to Elephant Head climbs 1190 feet over two miles with the majority of the gain occurring in the first mile. If you find yourself breathing hard early on, press on! The second mile is a lovely traverse.
Hike Elephant Head in the spring for the best beauty. The slopes of the Butte beckon in a new coat of fuzzy green grasses. Fields of Balsam Root, Lupin, and Phlox sway in May breezes.
The hike can be done relatively quickly in a morning or afternoon. My favorite is to head up before sunset on a spring evening in May. The route presents amazing views of Lake Chelan framed by the shoulders of the Butte. A setting sun tops it all.
The Route
Here are the steps to get to Elephant Head:
Drive a quick five minutes from downtown Chelan to the Reach One Trailhead Parking Lot.
Cross the street and start hiking up the jeep trail.
At a quarter mile, follow the hiking trail sign down into a gully and out the other side. Follow a second jeep trail as it continues steeply up the hill.
As you approach the top of the grade, follow two more hiking trail signs to the left.
Continue along the trail
At 1.9 miles you will encounter a saddle. Follow the trail left to the top of a small knoll. This is Elephant Head.(The trail to the right leads to the top of Chelan Butte)
Once at the top, drink some water, take a photo, and enjoy views of the town, lake, Deer Mountain (to the north), and the Columbia River.
If you hike the trail during the hot months (June-September) be mindful of snakes.
The Name
Most folks who call Chelan home know how to spot an elephant on the Butte. From downtown Chelan, the top of the Butte appears to be the elephant’s back.
Several ridgelines extend down to the valley creating its legs. And to the east, a small knoll constitutes the top of its head. Follow the ridge line east to see the trunk.
The next time you walk main street Chelan, look up. The elephant on the Butte is not hard to see.
Trail Evolution
The Elephant Head route is technically a ‘social trail’.It has not been formally approved as an official trail. The majority of the trail crosses private property and no formal permission has been granted by the land owners. Similarly, other sections owned by governmental agencies will require formal environmental review.
A mystery trail enthusiast has installed four benches along the route along with directional signs. These benches and signs have given the trail an official air but hikers should know that much work remains to preserve this route for future enjoyment.
If you care about trails in the Lake Chelan valley and Elephant Head in particular, stay informed. Please sign up to receive the Lake Chelan Trails Alliance newsletter.
