Chelan Butte Fire Lookout

Chelan Butte is the site where once stood a fire lookout tower at 3,835’ elevation. The first tower built was a 40' pole L-4 in 1936. It burned down, replaced in 1939 by a 28' treated timber tower with L-4 cab. In 1995, the tower was moved to the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center 1 mile north of Entiat alongside US-97A.

If you’ve got the time and are feeling a bit more adventurous, drive to the top of Chelan Butte where this tower once stood. From US-97A at the South Shore of Lake Chelan, take the Chelan Butte Road for about 3 miles, then left on Butte Lookout road for about a mile.

The view from Chelan Butte is incredible. From the top, looking northwest, you can see Lake Chelan stretching toward the North Cascades. On the other side, looking south, you can see the Columbia River and towards Wenatchee and Mission Ridge.

Chelan Butte is also one of the premier Hang Gliding and Paragliding locations in the world.

Photo via Chelan Butte Fire Lookout