ATTRACTIONS. This 20-kilometer groomed trail system begins at the Nason Ridge Sno-Park at Kahler Glen, within the South Park trail system. The first 7k (“Lower Nason”) has rolling hills. At 7k a challenging 13k loop option begins (“Upper Nason”). The trail climbs 1,500′ to access miles of rolling, open, ridge-top terrain. The trail climbs 1,500 feet to access miles of rolling, open, ridgetop terrain. The panoramic views of Lake Wenatchee, Glacier Peak, and the North and South Cascades from the top of Nason Ridge are spectacular. All trails are groomed with one track lane and a wide skating lane. Challenging loop trip options are possible by way of the un-groomed Nason Ridge hiking trail.
The lower section of Nason Ridge near Kahler Glen. Picture by Sarah Shaffer.
NOTE: An option for the climb mentioned above is to climb 1200 vertical feet up the ungroomed Nason Ridge hiking trail, then ski the groomed ridgetop loop trail counter-clockwise down and out to Kahler Glen (total trip distance of this trip is approximately 19 km, total elevation gain 1,600′). Climbing skins recommended to ski up the hiking trail.
Mark Shaffer enjoying a quick snack before continuing on back to the car. Picture by Sarah Shaffer.
GROOMING. Lower Nason is groomed Thursday – Monday and Upper Nason Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Here is the grooming report.
ACCESS. Drive Highway 2 about 14.5 miles west of Leavenworth to Coles Corner (Milepost 84.3). Turn right on State Route 207 and drive 3.6 miles to Cedar Brae Road (same road that accesses the south entrance of Lake Wenatchee State). Turn left and in 0.3 miles turn left again rather than going straight into the park. Drive about 0.25 miles and turn left on Kahler Drive and drive roughly half a mile following the skier signs to the Sno-Park at the Kahler Glen Golf Course.
TRAIL HOURS. Trail use allowed from 8 a.m. to dusk.
PERMITS. You’ll need a Sno-Park Permit. As of 2019 a day use Sno-Park permit costs $20 per car. If you have a season’s Sno-Park Permit, you’ll also need a Special Groomed Trail Permit for your car. Day passes can be purchased at the park. Season-long passes can be purchased at many regional sports stores, regional Forest Service offices, regional State Park offices. More info about the Sno-Park permits can be found at the state parks website (www.parks.wa.gov) at this link.
ALLOWED. There is a snowshoe route beginning at Nason Ridge Sno-Park or Lake Wenatchee State Park.
NOT ALLOWED. Pets, sledders, snowmobiles are not allowed on the ski trails.
Sticky snow made the uphill feel like a snowshoe trek yet we had enjoyable downhill skiing on the same snow that day. Photo by Sarah Shaffer.
The uphill portion at Nason Ridge. Around 500 feet below the summit. Picture by Sarah Shaffer.
EQUIPMENT NOTE.Here’s a tip that can help many intermediate skaters who are not fit enough to skate the 1,500-vertical-foot climb up to the ridge: Carry 1-inch-wide skins and, after skating the first 6 kilometers of trail that contours above Nason Creek, skin uphill for 4.5 kilometers to knock off the climbing leg of this loop. Do the loop in a counter-clockwise direction for this approach because most of the elevation is gained fast along this leg. After climbing about 4.5 to 5 kilometers (before actually reaching Nason Ridge), the trail flattens out. Strip the skins and then you’ve got a few miles of undulating terrain to enjoy before the long, downhill drop leading back to the intersection where you started the climb.
Post Updated On: 1/11/19 by Sarah Shaffer.
INFORMATION. Call Lake Wenatchee State Park: 509-763-3101
Leave It Better Than You found It. This should be every user’s goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull noxious weeds along your route, disperse old fire rings, throw branches over unwanted spur trails…
Disclaimer. Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Conditions change and those contributing these reports are volunteers–they may make mistakes or not know all the issues affecting a route. You are responsible for yourself, your actions, and your safety. If you won’t accept that responsibility, you are prohibited from using our information.
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