A network of 30 miles of fast and flowy trails that are 20 minutes from Chelan. Many of the trails will appeal to intermediate level riders. However, the new trails above provide for some excell
A network of 30 miles of fast and flowy trails that are 20 minutes from Chelan. Many of the trails will appeal to intermediate level riders. However, the new trails above provide for some excellent descents/climbs that can be combined into a large loop. Make sure to ride these trails on your visit: Switchback Alley, Shoe, Divine Intervention, Minor Threat, Dust To Glory, Outback, and Mallorys Trail. The trails are fast and flowy. Shuttling is very easy and provides multiple descent options from the Upper & Lower Echo Parking Lots, North Junction, High Five Junction, and Spaghetti Junction.
Trails are very well marked and most of the trail intersections have maps posted, and you can scan the QR codes on the maps for a map download. New maps have been posted for 2015.
Also, there are great trails for the little rippers in the family. If your kids can ride up some moderate hills, start your ride from the upper most parking lot by the yurt and take Nowhere to Hide, Road 8010,Morning Glory, Chickadee, Nuthatch for a fun loop.
No Camping or campfires are permitted within the trail system or at Trailheads but there are a wide variety of accommodations nearby.
How to Find It
At this time no parking pass is required (except during the winter).
The trails are about 9.5 miles from the town of Chelan. Follow the Manson Highway (SR-150) 2 miles to Boyd Road and turn right. Follow Boyd Road to Cooper Gulch Road, following signs to the end of the pavement at the Echo Valley Ski Area/Chelan Rentals Resorts complex. The small parking area adjacent to the Chelan Rentals Resorts office/Bergman Gulch Trail has been closed to public parking by the private landowner. Also, please don’t park at Echo Valley Ski Area at this time. The closest parking to the bottom of Echo is now at the Forest Service Switchback Alley TH which is approximately .25 miles up the Echo Ridge Road. This unimproved trail head will accommodate 5-6 cars. All the upper trailheads remain fully operational. We hope to reestablish parking at the bottom of the trail system in the future.
Check out the Trail Map and App below. You can download the map and avenza app right off the map below and track your location.
Typical Conditions
Spring - The trail system is normally is open for riding in early-mid April with good trail conditions. Trails on the west side of the system melt out first. Great wildflowers into early June.
Summer - Between the elevation gain on the drive up to the trailhead and the hilltop location, the trails are a bit cooler than down at the lake. To beat the summer heat just ride early in the morning or late evening. Trails on the east side of the system provide some shade but trails on the west side are exposed and there is little tree cover. Trails can get dusty later in the summer.
Fall - Great conditions in the fall after a few rain storms. Trails are usually snow free well into November.
Winter - Specific trails may be open to fatbikes in the winter of 2015-16. Contact the Chelan Ranger District for current info at 509-682-4960.
There is NO WATER here, so be sure to bring plenty.
Local Points of Interest
Chelan and Manson are full sevice resort communties along Lake Chelan. Check out the website for in depth info on the Lake Chelan Valley: http://www.lakechelan.com/
There are rental cabins that provide direct access to the trail system: Chelan Rentals - Cabins.
Nearby Rides: Two East Side Mountain Bike Classics are easily within striking distance if you are staying in the Chelan Valley.....Devils Backbone/Pot Peak Trail and the Angels Staircase Loop. Due to their elevation these trails don't open up until July. Chelan Butte provides a fun 2700' single track descent trail that basically ends in downtown Chelan. Just ride or shuttle up the 2700' climb on what the locals call the "Butte Road" which is located across from Lakeside City Park.
Turn by Turn
Trail maps are posted at the major trail intersections.
Best Descents:
- From Lower Echo Trailhead: Minor Threat, Left or Right on the Shoe, Switchback Alley
- From Top of Spur on the Outback at elevation 4324': Descend Spur, left on the Outback, right on new trail, right on Waterbar Heaven, left on Cooper Road, left on new singletrack
- From High Five: Little Critter, Somewhere to Ride, Shoe Spur, Shoe (either direction), Switchback Alley
- From High Five: Far East, Dust to Glory, Waterbar Heaven, left on Cooper Road, left on new singletrack
Quick Ride: Link these trails together in either direction: Waterbar Heaven, Somewhere To Ride, Shoe (either direction), Switchback Alley.
Bigger Loop:
1. Park at the'Courtesy Parking" just past Chelan Rentals Resorts cabin complex, at the junction of 8020, 8021 and the end Bergman gulch trailhead. (lower left on the map)
2. Ride back down the paved road and look for the new section of the Switchback Alley Trail on your left..... next to a wooden fence.
3. Climb the new section of 'Switchback Alley' and continue up the old section of 'Switchback Alley'
4. At the intersection with 'The Shoe' go right or left and continue to climb. You will end up at the same place. Don't Worry..
5. When you come to the Shoe trailhead cross the road and continue on the single track.
6. At the next intersection go left on 'Somewhere to Ride'. It has a grunt of a climb at the end.
7. Turn right at the next junction going up a short segment of road to 'Litte Critter'.
8. Go left on 'Little Critter' to High Five Junction
9. At High Five take 'Ridgeview' for a fast descent after a short climb.
10. At the bottom of 'Ridgeview' take a hard left on 'Morning Glory' back to High Five Junction.
11. At High Five veer right and then immediately left onto 'Far East'.
12. About half way down the Far East descent look for the new 'Dust to Glory' Trail on your left. (It is easy to miss if your are flying....also don't lock up your brakes if you miss it)
13. Follow 'Dust to Glory' and ride the bonus loop to the right as it comes right back to the trail and then descends to North Junction.
14. From North Junction, start climbing up 'Outback'. When you reach the split, take a right to do the loop counter-clockwise.
15. 'Outback' climbs for a while, then flattens out, then climbs again and comes to a Mallory's Trail on the left for the summit option. (Option: Taking Mallory's Trail to the Summit will provide you with the longest continual downhill at Echo Ridge. The spur is an out and back with great views and may require some pushing.)
16. Ride back down Mallory's Trail go left on the 'Outback' which begins a fast descent with great views of the Lake Chelan Valley.
17. Go right on 'Waterbar Heaven Trail' and right at next junction and continue all the way down to the end of pavement at Echo Valley
This loop can easily be ridden in reverse for a totally different riding experience.
