Water Tower Hill
You're standing at Water Tower Hill, a high point within Lake Chelan State Park where the land rises above the shoreline and the long, narrow lake stretches out before you. At nearly 50 miles in length, Lake Chelan carves deep into the Cascade foothills, and from this elevation you get a sense of just how far that water reaches — a blue corridor threading between ridgelines until it disappears into the distance.
The hill takes its name from the water tower that once served the park's infrastructure, and the rise you're on puts you meaningfully above the campground activity below. Take a moment to orient yourself: the park's swim area and boat moorage lie downhill toward the water, and the sounds of the lake — wind, the occasional motor, voices carrying across the surface — drift up to meet you here.
This park has drawn generations of families to its shores, and the campground below has been a summer anchor for many households across Washington for decades. The lake itself sits at roughly 1,098 feet above sea level, yet plunges to depths that make it one of the deepest lakes in the country.
If you have time before heading back down, the trail network from here connects to other viewpoints and picnic areas. The kitchen shelter is accessible from the main path, and water rentals — kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, hydro bikes — are available near the concession stand at the shoreline when you're ready to get out on the water.