< PreviousCASCADE LOOP SCENIC BYWAY 2. Past and Present Conditions 50 railroad and see one of the historic rail cars onsite. East of the pass, at milepost 71.8, the Forest Service established the Bygone Byways interpretive trail, where a self-guided tour highlights portions of the first auto route across Stevens Pass and the remains of a rock oven used by European railroad workers to bake bread, as well as other historic sites. The Forest Service also offers a video with interpretation of the Stevens Pass Historic District at the Skykomish Ranger District and has developed curriculum, “Climb Aboard the Iron Goat,” which provides educational history about the railroad development through Stevens Pass for students in grades 9-11 throughout the region. Stevens Pass Summit, home to the Stevens Pass Ski Resort, provides food services to resort visitors and offers year-round recreation opportunities such as skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Coles Corner marks the end of this region of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway, and although not a formally incorporated town, it serves as a popular stop for food and supplies before heading on to other mountain destinations. From here, byway travelers can take a side loop tour to Lake Wenatchee and through Plain, as a scenic back road route to Leavenworth, or they can continue along SR 2 following the scenic winding Wenatchee River. Known as Beaver Valley in the late 1800s to early 1900s, Plain got its name when the postal service did not accept the name Beaver Valley, claiming it was too long. According to town folklore, residents asked the postmaster for a “plain” name, thus Plain was born. Plain was settled by pioneering families who were drawn to the valley by its scenic beauty and homesteading opportunities. With the nearby forests and park lands, including Lake Wenatchee, Fish Lake, Lake Wenatchee State Park, and Wenatchee National Forest, Plain draws visitors year-round and in the winter is a popular destination for sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Recreationists also enjoy miles and miles of hiking trails, camping, fishing, horseback riding and zipline touring in the warmer months. Full moon at sunrise on the Stevens Pass Greenway2. Past and Present ConditionsCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 51 REGION 3 Region 3 of the Cascade Loop begins at the junction of SR 2 and SR 207 at Cole’s Corner, and continues to Leavenworth and Cashmere. As byway travelers descend from the forested eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains into the foothills of the Cascades, they encounter a more arid landscape, where there is a distinctive year-round climate with more than 200 sunny days per year (compared to less than 60 sunny days on the west side of the mountains). Leavenworth/ Cascade Foothills Geography Nestled in the Cascade foothills, this segment of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway follows SR 2 through the Wenatchee River valley, and the river is visible for most of the route as it makes its way east eventually meeting the Columbia River. The climate conditions of this region, along with access to irrigation water from the rivers and tributaries, create ideal conditions for growing fruit and other crops. Scenic views across the valley encompass miles of orchards filled with apple, pear, cherry, and other fruit trees. In spring, the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooms from the trees, and in late summer up to harvest time, the aroma of ripe fruit and their vibrant colors greet the senses. Given the abundance of fresh foods, small artisan bakeries, farm-to-table restaurants and cafes, wineries, breweries, cideries, and other culinary destinations offer tasty delights throughout the region. At harvest time, visitors can enjoy hay rides, corn mazes, and cider pressings, and in winter, holiday events, sleigh rides and ice skating under clear skies, Christmas tree farms, and other activities offer fun times for the whole family. Bavarian Leavenworth, located in the heart of this region is the focus of many of these events and festivals. A visit to this region showcases once again a unique part of the Cascade Loop experience—one that will build lasting memories and draw visitors back again and again. Native American Life Native Americans were the first to live in the foothills of the Cascades thousands of years prior to Euro-American exploration and settlement. Because the foothills were often too cold for year-round habitation, many of the tribes on the east side of the mountains traveled seasonally and came to this area for fishing, gathering, and hunting, particularly spring through fall. Tribes and bands of the Wenatchi-P’squosa, Yakama, and Kittitas likely frequented the area. The Wenatchi-P’squosa were a peaceful, seminomadic group who spoke Salish. They wintered along the Columbia River and moved up the Wenatchee River in the spring to dig camas roots, pick berries, fish for salmon, and hunt for deer and other game. Every year they hosted large gatherings of tribes for the plentiful salmon harvest at Wenatshapam, a fishery that was located in what is now the Leavenworth area. In the present-day vicinity of Cashmere, a village known as “Ntuatckam” was once occupied by the Sinpesquensi (or Sinkaensi or Sinpeskuensi) band of the Wenatchi. There were 400 people in the village in 1850. They referred to Mount Cashmere as “Po-Kum” in their native Salish language. CASCADE LOOP SCENIC BYWAY 2. Past and Present Conditions 52 Many ancestors of the Wenatchi-P’squosa and other tribes and bands of the area are now part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Explorers, Pioneers, Settlement, and Community History The 1800s brought fur trappers and explorers to the area, followed by prospectors and settlers. Miners were some of the first non-native people that came to this area after gold was discovered at Blewett Pass in 1860. The mining camps brought a diversity of immigrants including Irish, Scandinavian, Chinese, German, and English who depended on the small settlement in the valley (present-day Leavenworth) for shipping, supplies, and liquor. This settlement was named “Icicle” an English adaptation of the Native American word “nasikelt” for the area, meaning “narrow-bottom canyon.” Meanwhile a small townsite across the river, named Leavenworth, was originally settled in the 1890s and incorporated in 1906. Captain Charles Leavenworth, president of the Okanogan Investment Company, purchased the land and platted streets. The town boomed with the construction of the Great Northern Pacific Railway, supporting railroad-related industries as well as providing transport for growing timber and mining industries. However, rerouting of the rail line and relocation of the rail yard to Wenatchee in the 1920s combined with the Great Depression of the 1930s and the closing of the sawmill led to instability in the local economy that lasted for 30 years until the town reinvented itself as a Bavarian Village in the 1960s. Business leaders, troubled by the economic downswing and inspired by the alpine scenery, decided to adopt a southern German theme for their small town. The idea was such a success that in 1978, the city council required a Bavarian theme for all new construction as a condition of a building permit. By the mid-1980s, a million tourists a year visited the slice of Bavaria surrounded by 9,000-foot peaks of the Cascades. The picturesque town of Cashmere was settled in the late 1800s on the southern bank of the Wenatchee River about half way between Leavenworth and Wenatchee, with the 8,500-foot Mount Cashmere and neighboring peaks of the Cascades clearly visible to the west. The first non-native settlers called the tiny village, “Mission” or “Old Mission.” During the period before the major influx of Euro-American settlers, Catholic missionaries, particularly Father Urban Grassi, worked to convert the Native Americans of the area and built several small missions. The primary mission was St. Francis Xavier, constructed in 1873. Mission Creek, which flows into the Wenatchee River in this vicinity, is also named for the historic missionary work. Timber and sheep ranching became popular activities in the valley and during the early days, Mission became a trading center. Before the railroad, early settlers and supplies to the area arrived by way of nearly impassable roads and trails from Ellensburg over Blewett Pass, treacherous even well into the automobile era. Others came by steamboat on the Columbia River and by trails along the Wenatchee River. The town of Mission shared its name with several other towns in the Northwest, which caused confusion for mail and train service. Judge James Harvey Chase, famed for his public readings, suggested the name Cashmere from a popular and sentimental poem, “Lalla Rookh,” by Sir Thomas Moore, extolling the mountainous beauty of the Vale of Kashmir in Himalayan India. The new name was officially adopted on July 1, 1904. The Great Northern Railway not only played an important role in the development of Leavenworth, but also many communities in the Cascade foothills, on both sides of Stevens Pass. One of these communities, the little town of Peshastin, was established in 1890 with a post office and a tavern located along the Blewett Pass cutoff road. In 1892, when the railway laid tracks up the Wenatchee River Valley, the town was moved to its present location, across the Wenatchee River to the north and along the tracks. A depot was established there and the town thrived. In 1889, pioneers built the Peshastin Ditch, which became instrumental to the overall irrigation system of the area, delivering water by 1901 to the orchards in the slopes above Cashmere. This ditch eventually became part of the complex Wenatchee Valley system that included other ditches and the larger Highline Canal, an irrigation network that waters orchards and fields from Dryden to Wenatchee. The introduction of irrigation throughout the Wenatchee Valley greatly enhanced agriculture, particularly the growing of apples and other fruit. Armenian immigrants Armen Tertsagian and Mark Balaban arrived in the Cashmere area in 1918 and bought an apple farm they named Liberty Orchards in honor of their adopted country. Burdened with surplus Wenatchi Chief John Harmelt at a pow wow in Cashmere2. Past and Present ConditionsCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 53 perishable fruit, they came up with a method to dehydrate apples and to make Applum, a jam from apples and plums. In the early days, the Armenian orchardists used their fruit to make Rahat Locoum (also spelled Locoum and known as “Turkish Delight”), a candy they had enjoyed as children in their native Turkey. After much experimentation on a kitchen stove, they transformed their recipe into Aplets made from apples and walnuts and later Cotlets made from apricots. Visitors can see how these world-renowned candies are made during their Factory Tour. Modern Characteristics and Communities Leavenworth is now a center for culture, history, art, and recreation, and is a landmark destination in the Cascades that receives over two million visitors each year (and has a permanent resident population of 1,965 per the 2010 census). Outside of the developed areas, scenic forests, meadows, and clear creeks abound. The area is known for year-round recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, rafting, kayaking, bouldering and other activities. While much of the present economy in the Leavenworth- Cascade Foothills region is generated from tourism, hospitality, and recreational activities, the long-term fruit-growing and agricultural activities of the valley continue to help stabilize the region. In the early 2000s, wineries also began establishing themselves in the valley and other nearby regions. Since its founding, the small town of Peshastin’s economy has been driven by agriculture, particularly fruit orchards (this is the same for the nearby small town of Dryden). Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is a popular rock-climbing destination. Like its neighboring communities, Cashmere’s economy is based on agriculture and tourism, and the community is home to many fruit-related businesses including orchards, cider mills, and wineries. Cashmere (population 3,063 as of 2010) also has recently become a well-known hub for white water rafting on the Wenatchee River. Guests enjoy beer and fresh pretzels during Leavenworth's OktoberfestCASCADE LOOP SCENIC BYWAY 2. Past and Present Conditions 54 REGION 4 Region 4 of the Cascade Loop passes through the Columbia River Valley, known for its strong agricultural history and as a thriving hub of North Central Washington. From the base of the Cascade foothills byway travelers can visit the “Apple Capital of the World” (Wenatchee) and enjoy a wide variety of cultural and recreational activities before heading northward to Entiat along the great Columbia River. Wenatchee/ Columbia River Valley Geography As the Wenatchee River flows eastward to the confluence with the Columbia River, the elevation drops, and the valley opens to an even broader landscape known geographically as the Columbia Plateau. As a result of the rain shadow effect of the Cascade Mountains, this region is drier than the west side of the mountains with over 200 sunny days per year. Irrigation systems extend the waters of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers to miles of agricultural lands surrounded by the shrub-steppe and Ponderosa pine dominant ecosystems that thrive in the naturally arid environment. The Wenatchee mountains are located to the south and west of Wenatchee with extensive recreation opportunities, including the Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort. Native American Life and Early Exploration The Wenatchi-P’squosa people lived along their namesake river (now spelled Wenatchee), which flowed from the Cascades into the Columbia River. They spoke a version of the Salish language, also called Salishan and Interior Salish, which was similar to that spoken by the native peoples of Puget Sound and northern Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The name Wenatchi was referenced by the Yakama people to explorer Captain William Clark in 1804. Clark, part of the Corps of Discovery (Lewis and Clark expedition) was mapping the locations of tribes along the Columbia River and as the Yakama people pointed upstream, they used the word “Wenatchi,” which was Sahaptian (Yakama language) for "water coming out," and this became a name used by later explorers and settlers. The native people that lived in the area now known as Wenatchee actually called themselves the P’squosa people. They were semi- nomadic and lived closely with nature, traveling seasonally to gather, fish, and hunt. When fur-trader and surveyor David Thompson canoed down the Columbia River in July of 1811, he was one of the first non-natives to explore the area. He noted two men on horseback at the mouth of the Wenatchee River that were probably Wenatchi- P’squosa. Thompson visited present-day Rock Island, where he recorded that he saw a village of approximately 120 families living in homes woven from tule rushes. The Entiat people were another Columbia Plateau tribe that occupied the area from the Columbia River to the Cascade Mountains along the Entiat River. They also spoke a dialect of the Salishan language and eventually became part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which now has over 9,000 descendants from twelve aboriginal tribes.2. Past and Present ConditionsCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 55 The confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers was the location of many tribal gatherings, including inter-tribal councils called by Chief Moses, the great leader of the Sinkiuse-Columbias. Because the location was accessible to the Entiat, Chelan, Methow, and other bands of the north, as well as the Columbias, Spokanes, Yakamas, Umatillas, and Walla Wallas to the south, it became a grand meeting place. Today this area is occupied by Wenatchee Confluence State Park. In 1855, Wenatchi chief Tecolekun and other Native American leaders signed the Yakama Treaty at the Walla Walla Council with Governor Isaac Stevens. The treaty terminated the indigenous peoples’ title to 10.8 million acres of land in the region in exchange for a much smaller reservation land, cash, and other incentives. The treaty lumped together the Wenatchi and Chelan peoples as being part of the Consolidated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation even though they spoke a different language from the Yakamas. Most of the native people from the Wenatchee area eventually settled with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Not long after the 1855 treaties were signed in Walla Walla and other areas of the region, many tribes rejected the requirements imposed by Stevens, and there were conflicts across the Northwest. Historians have surmised that several of the Native American leaders who signed the treaties did not clearly understand what the tangible outcomes would be and felt they had been tricked into signing. A series of small wars broke out and tragically at one of these, American soldiers massacred native villagers on the White River, a tributary of Lake Wenatchee. Fishing rights to the Wenatshapam fishery (at present-day Leavenworth) were retracted, and only restored recently in 2008. Only a few small Native American villages near Lake Chelan remained by the late 1800s. Eventually, most of the native people of the Columbia Plateau moved onto either the reservations of the Colville, Yakama, or Umatilla (where several confederated tribes were gathered). Trappers from the Pacific Fur Company, the North West Company, and the Hudson's Bay Company visited the Wenatchee and Chelan Valleys from the 1810s through the 1840s primarily to harvest beaver pelts. A few decades later, prospectors and miners came to the area. Pioneers, Settlement, and Community History Settlers arrived in the Wenatchee Valley in the 1870s and 1880s. The valley’s arid climate, rich and fertile volcanic soil, and proximity to the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers proved to be an excellent combination for agricultural success. Within just a few decades, Wenatchee became the center of the greatest apple-producing region in the world. The fruit industry drove the region’s growth and remains vital to today's economy. After 1888, state governance also influenced Wenatchee’s development as a town. At that time, the Chelan Valley was part of Okanogan County to the north, and the Wenatchee Valley was part of Kittitas County to the south. Anyone with official business had to travel upriver to Conconully or over Blewett Pass to Ellensburg. Judge Thomas Burke of the Wenatchee Development Company offered to clear title to five lots and a brick hotel as a courthouse if the county seat was placed in Wenatchee, and hence, the city was written into the bill as the county seat. In 1899, the State Legislature created Chelan County out of the two other counties with Wenatchee as the county seat. The railroad continued to bring more settlers and provided a means of shipping their stock and produce, but the real path to prosperity came with irrigation. The region is naturally arid, but as it is located within the watershed of the vast Columbia River and the tributary rivers and streams flowing eastward from the Cascades, a sophisticated system of irrigation was needed. Cash crops could not succeed without water. Farmers began to develop the system, piece by piece and found that with water and the long growing season with many days of sunshine, conditions were perfect for crops, particularly fruit trees. The Great Northern Railway provided access to the nationwide market for the region’s apples, pears, and cherries. Wenatchee incorporated in 1892, facing a bright and successful future. Chief Moses, leader of the Columbia-Sinkiuse CASCADE LOOP SCENIC BYWAY 2. Past and Present Conditions 56 Many of Wenatchee’s early leaders were tree fruit growers or owned agricultural businesses and supporting enterprises such as hardware stores and shipping companies. Businessmen and landowners began raising money for the Wenatchee Canal and the Highline Canal to run 14 miles from Dryden down to Wenatchee in 1901. This later became the Wenatchee Reclamation District. The federal Reclamation Act of 1902 allowed organization and funding of irrigation districts that had the authority of government in acquiring land and issuing bonds. Soon, construction of reservoirs and canals brought the rapid growth of the fruit industry. By the 1930s, the US government began construction of irrigation and flood control dams on the Columbia, including the Rock Island and Rocky Reach Dams. Shoppers at the 2019 Farmers Market in Wenatchee Modern Characteristics and Communities Wenatchee is still the county seat of Chelan County and is one of the oldest and largest communities on the Cascade Loop. The City is the center of commerce for North Central Washington and a busy hub for residents, workers, farmers, ranchers, and industrialists of the surrounding region. The city’s population has been growing for many years and was 31,925 at the time of the 2010 census (a 14.6 percent increase from 2009). East Wenatchee, located directly across the Columbia River from Wenatchee in Douglas County had a population of 13,190 in 2010 and is also growing. Agriculture continues to play an important role in the economy and serves as a solid base for the region. In spite of global competition in the fruit industry, particularly with Asian markets, the Washington state apple industry remains the largest in the country and includes the most efficient apple producers in the US. Many tree fruit growers in the area have been exploring ways to diversify and expand into other markets. For example, the wine industry continues to grow in the region with orchards being converted to vineyards. Entiat, located north of Wenatchee, also in Chelan County, at the confluence of the Columbia and Entiat rivers along US Highway 97A is another growing community with a year-round population of 1,112 in 2010. Entiat hosts seasonal residents including vacation homeowners and migrant agricultural workers. Historically, the city’s economy was driven by the timber industry and produce warehouses. With the decline in these industries, Entiat’s current economic development strategy aims to capitalize on the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Entiat Valley, particularly commercial and recreational development of Lake Entiat waterfront.2. Past and Present ConditionsCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 57 REGION 5 The Lake Chelan Valley region follows US 97A to spectacular Lake Chelan (the third deepest lake in the U.S.), the towns of Chelan and Manson and then back to the Columbia River. Stehekin, at the head of Lake Chelan is one of the most remote locations on the Loop, accessible only by passenger ferry, hiking, or helicopter. Lake Chelan Valley Geography The focal point of the Lake Chelan Valley is beautiful Lake Chelan, 50.5 miles long and a mile wide at its widest point. Fed by streams from the Cascade Range, the lake flows into the Columbia River via the Chelan River. Lake Chelan is the largest natural lake in Washington and is a remnant of ancient glacial activity in the region. The City of Chelan is located at the southwest end of the lake, where water flows into the Chelan River through the hydroelectric Chelan Dam. The village of Manson is located on the east side of the lake, seven miles north of Chelan. Stehekin, with a year-round population of less than 100 is a remote town located at the northwest end of the lake, and is only accessible by boat, helicopter, or hiking in. The Stehekin River Valley extends from the north end of the lake and the Stehekin River is the largest inflow to Lake Chelan. Native American Life The first people in the area were from the Chelan tribe. The name “Chelan” is derived from the word "Tsill-ane” or “Tsi-laan” a Salish word that means “deep water.” Alexander Ross, a fur trader in the 1800s, described the local tribe in his journal as the “Tsill- ane.” Lake Chelan is indeed very deep at 1486 feet at "full pool", and the third deepest freshwater lake in the country and ninth deepest in the world. The Chelan Tribe spent winters along the south end of Lake Chelan and the short Chelan River that drains the lake to the Columbia River. Historical journals have indicated that the Chelan people paddled canoes 50 miles to the head of the lake and then followed a trail over the mountains to trade with the tribes of Puget Sound. This is consistent with the name of the river and place at the north end of the lake, Stehekin, which is derived from a Salish word that means “the way through.” The culture and economy of the tribe centered around fishing, but they also gathered roots and berries and hunted game. Early fur traders taught them to cultivate potatoes. Extended families generally spent winters in permanent settlements of mat-covered longhouses and then dispersed from spring to autumn to fish and hunt. The Wenatchi- P’squosa shared the Wenatshapam fishery (present day Leavenworth) with the Chelans and other tribes. In the late 1700s, the tribes acquired horses for transportation and for food. The Chelan tribe had several permanent villages in the Lake Chelan Valley. One at Willow Point, near Manson, had up to 500 occupants. Another on Wapato Point was home to about 100 people. They were frequently on the move, traveling in and out of the mountains with the seasons, collecting plants, and hunting game. Lake Chelan provided a relatively easy water transportation route from the Columbia River deep into the Cascades. To trade with or visit coastal relatives, the Chelans would canoe up to Stehekin, cross between the glaciers and cliffs on the crest of the mountains, and descend through the tall forests to the land of the Skagit people. The Chelan Tribe often traded mountain goat wool for dried clams and salmon, or for seashells, which they used for future trade or ornamentation.CASCADE LOOP SCENIC BYWAY 2. Past and Present Conditions 58 By the 1860s, tribes of the region were decimated by smallpox epidemics and wars that broke out after the treaties. Native populations were drastically reduced, and the US government set aside reservation lands for various tribes and bands to live together. The Chelan people became part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Pioneers, Settlement, and Community History Similarly to the history of the Wenatchee Valley, miners were some of the first non-natives to come to the Lake Chelan Valley area. Chinese miners looking for gold in the rivers and streams came from California to the area starting in about 1863 and established a village on the Columbia opposite the mouth of the Chelan. The settlement featured a store, a large garden, and buildings made of split cedar planks. In 1875, Native Americans from the Methow River attacked Chinese miners there and at the diggings near the village. An unknown number of Chinese were trapped against a cliff over the river and all were killed. This hastened the abandonment of the village. With concerns about potential conflicts between tribes and settlers in the 1870s, the US Army established Camp Chelan at the foot of Lake Chelan to help bring security to the area and control the native population on the Moses Columbia Reservation. The fort was only active for about a year and then relocated to Spokane. Also in the 1870s, Father Alexander Diomedi, S.J., built a mission house at Chelan, but it was burned it down when the priest was absent in 1880. Native American parishioners built a new church along the lake near what would become Manson. The first Euro-American settlers in the Lake Chelan area were William Sanders and William Dumke (also spelled Domke). They arrived at the south end of the lake the hard way, from the north, in 1886. They crossed the mountains from the Methow Valley and found the steep shoreline impassable. After losing their horse to a fatal fall, they had to carve a cedar log into a crude canoe and made their way 50 miles to the south end of the lake. In 1888, L.H. Woodin of Minneapolis arrived in the valley constructed a sawmill at the foot of the lake. Chelan's main street is named for Woodin. At the same time, local ranchers were beginning to realize that the climate was perfect for growing fruit trees. More settlers came and the town was platted, after which lots sold quickly. A post office was established in 1890, followed by a school in 1892 and the first resort hotel on the lake. Chelan was officially incorporated in 1902. The Ruby Theatre, which is still open today, was constructed in 1914. Float plane service to Stehekin was available from 1945 until 2016. Helicopter flights are now common. The nearby village of Manson was established in 1911 and named in 1912 for Manson F. Backus, president of the Lake Chelan Land Company. Never officially incorporated, Manson maintains the sense of a friendly village just as it was when occupied by Native Americans for hundreds of years. Modern Characteristics and Communities Today’s main industries in the Lake Chelan Valley are tourism and agriculture including orchards, vineyards, and other crops. The dry, four-season climate makes the area ideal for year-round visitors. Recreational opportunities include hiking, golfing, fishing, boating and numerous other water-centric outdoor activities in the summer, and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and tubing in the winter. Miles of trails in the Echo Ridge area to the south are available for hiking and mountain biking in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Festivals and events offer something interesting for visitors throughout the year. Lake Chelan is the 11th American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Washington State, a designation granted by the federal government. The Lake Chelan AVA is encompassed completely within the larger Columbia Valley AVA, but Lake Chelan has a higher elevation and more temperate climate than the more southern AVAs also contained within the Columbia Valley. The 24,040-acre Lake Chelan AVA includes the southern and eastern portions of land surrounding the lake and shares a northern border with the Columbia Valley AVA. Due to the ice age glaciers that formed Lake Chelan, the soil surrounding it has distinctive properties such as coarse, sandy sediment with notable amounts of quartz and mica, and these result in grapes with discernible textures, minerals, and nutrients. The wineries and viticulture activities draw thousands of visitors each year. Wapato Point, once home to approx. 100 members of the Chelan Tribe, 19272. Past and Present ConditionsCORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 59 Chelan had a population of 3,890 in the 2010 census, but this only represents the permanent year-round population. The population of the small community swells during the summer, when thousands of visitors are attracted to the valley for vacations and holidays. Manson has a year-round population of 1,468 (based on the 2010 census), and like the City of Chelan, the population increases substantially during the summer. Both Chelan and Manson gradually increase in population each year, as the area continues to thrive as a resort and retirement destination and agricultural center. Wapato Point on Lake Chelan in Winter, 2020 Stehekin, located at the north end of Lake Chelan, is also an unincorporated community with fewer than 100 year-round residents. The community is a National Historic District and part of the North Cascades National Park Complex. Unlike Chelan and Manson, Stehekin is not accessible by car, only by boat, helicopter, or on foot. A passenger ferry from Chelan to Stehekin offers regular service, the trip can take up to 3 hours one way.Next >