Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Hiking Hiking Guide Emerald Park

Alert: On Oct. 1 the federal government began a partial shutdown that will impact National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and U.S. Forest Service lands in Washington. Here's the latest information we have for hikers and campers. 

Emerald Park

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
 48.2002, -120.5915 Map & Directions
Length
13.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
6,250 feet
Highest Point
6,700 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Hard
Photo by jellyfishzeppelin. Full-size image
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None
Saved to My Backpack

Emerald Park is a long thru trail connecting Lake Chelan to the east and the Entiat River Trail to the west. Continue reading

Rating
2.50 out of 5

(4 votes) Log in to rate

14 trip reports for this trail

Write a trip report

Hiking Emerald Park

Emerald Park is a long thru trail connecting Lake Chelan to the east and the Entiat River Trail to the west.

Starting from Lake Chelan, hikers will need to boat to Lucerne to reach the trailhead. Follow the Domke Lake Trail up until the first junction with the Mountain Lookout Trail and keep right. At the next junction, keep right again to find the Emerald Park Trail.
 
Follow Emerald Park Creek up until Milham Pass, the highpoint of the trail, then descend down the Snowy Brushy Creek drainage until joining up with the Entiat River Trail. From the Entiat junction, it is another 6 miles to reach the Entiat River trailhead.

WTA worked here in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021!

Hike Description Written by
Multiple authors contributed to this report, WTA Community

Emerald Park

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 48.2002, -120.5915 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

The easiest access point to Emerald Park is via Lake Chelan. To reach the trailhead, you can take the Lady of the Lake ferry, which leaves from the downtown Chelan area. Or, if you are equipped with your own boat, you can boat up Lake Chelan, dock at Refrigerator Harbor, and hike from there. The trail begins at a junction with the road between Refrigerator Harbor and Lucerne.

Keep in mind that a Federal Dock Site Boat Permit is required from May 1 – October 31 for use of all National Forest and Park Service docks on Lake Chelan. Permits must be pre-purchased before docking. Purchase a $5 Day Permit or $40 Seasons Pass at the Chelan or Entiat Ranger Districts, or Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters Offices; or from one of many Chelan and Manson Area vendors. To order by phone, call the Chelan Ranger District @ 509-682-4900 and pay via credit card during business hours. Permits may also be purchased at Stehekin.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan

Emerald Park (#1230), Snowy Brushy (#00)

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Entiat Ranger District

Learn

How to Hike in Bear Country

Learn

How to Drive on Forest Roads

You can improve or add to this guidebook entry!

Get WTA Trailblazer's app to check trip reports for the latest conditions

app_store.png   play_store.png

Emerald Park

14 Trip Reports

Hiked here recently?

Submit a trip report!
 
Trip Reports