Echo Ridge Ski Tour

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 7-1/2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Skiing time: 2-1/2 - 3-1/2 hours

Season: Mid-December through mid-March

Maps: Echo Ridge Winter Trails map

Info: Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, (800) 424-3526

SKI TOURING TRIP NOTES

Access: From Chelan, drive west on State Highway 150 toward Manson 1-1/2 miles and bear right on Boyd Road. Drive 7 miles and stay to right, passing Echo Valley downhill ski area. Just beyond parking lot, turn right on narrow Echo Ridge Road. Drive 9-1/2 miles to trailhead at end of road. (Don’t stop at Zoom trailhead.)

Attractions: Nearly 14 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails plus numerous opportunities for off-trail skiing. Echo Ridge mostly open, offering spectacular views of Lake Chelan and beyond to Stuart Range. Grooming done by snowmobile; not to standards of Mount Spokane, but trails well conceived and fun.

Comments: Pay fee at parking area’s self-serve station to support plowing and grooming because area NOT part of state Sno-Park system. Cost: $5 for skiers over 12.

Grooming not always wide enough for comfortable skating.

From parking area, bear left on Chickadee Trail short way, then up on Upsy Daisy. Go 3/4 mile to Grand Junction.

Turn left onto Ridge View Trail. Scenery gorgeous, but trail exposed to occasional winds. Go 1 mile to High Five Junction, passing short spur to viewpoint that’s high-point of trail system.

Bear left onto 1-1/3-mile Little Critter Trail (skis best clockwise). Pass side trip to Tele-Ridge, delightful open downhill play area when snow conditions good. Trail returns to High Five Junction.

Featured route continues on 3/4-mile Morning Glory Trail. But skiers who want less technical route can take 2-mile Outer Rim, a road grade that drops steadily down (quite fast in icy conditions) then steadily up.

Morning Glory Trail noted as system’s toughest trail to groom. Tight turns give groomers gray hair, but spell fun for skiers.

At Grand Junction, continue through onto Zippidy Doo Da Trail. This pleasant route winds nearly 1 mile to Chaos Corner junction.

Watch for snowmobile connector trail that runs through junction. Bear left slightly onto 1-1/2-mile Alley Oop Trail. Beware of crossing with snowmobile route as trail drops through scattered ponderosa pines.

Trail returns to Chaos Corner. Bear left (not too sharply to avoid dropping down onto snowmobile trail) and up slightly to junction with Zippidy Doo Da. Then bear left again onto 3/4-mile Windsinger, gentle trail heading back to Grand Junction.

Chickadee leads nearly 1 mile back to trailhead parking area.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map: Echo Ridge Ski Tour

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