by Andy Dappen
When one door closes, another opens – it’s the optimist’s creed for shrugging off misfortune. Applied locally, the adage captures the sadness local outdoor enthusiasts experience as some of their favorite foothills trails close in December. The recent opening of the Stemilt Wintertime Non-Motorized Area, however, has provided new opportunities for winter hikers, snowshoers, and skiers that are savory seasonal substitutions for the shut downs in the lowlands.
The effort behind the new wintertime non-motorized area in the Stemilt Basin dates back to 2011 when the state-owned lands between Wenatchee and Ellensburg were re-evaluated for their recreational opportunities as part of the Naneum Ridge to Columbia River Recreation Plan. Over the four-year period that the plan took shape, El Sendero Backcountry Ski and Snowshoe Club, based in Wenatchee, lobbied persistently for a nearby, winter recreation area for non-motorized activities. In 2015, when the recreation plan was finalized, 8 square miles of state forests in the Stemilt and Squilchuck drainages near Mission Ridge and Squilchuck State Park were identified for the cause.
Given the location of these lands, state agencies left the determination of the area’s exact boundaries to the Stemilt Partnership, which was slated to start its own recreation planning process in 2016. El Sendero stayed involved with yet another long planning process and, in 2019, the completed Stemilt-Squilchuck Recreation Plan, allocated about 4.5 square miles of terrain to a wintertime non-motorized area and defined its boundaries.
El Sendero did the heavy lifting in this process, but to actually enjoy the wintertime area and to snowshoe or ski to such locations as the Spring Hill Reservoir, Wenatchee Heights Reservoir, or Upper Wheeler Reservoir, still entailed a major hitch: No plowed pullouts or parking areas along the Stemilt Loop Road allowed visitors access.
This is where board members from both WenatcheeOutdoors and the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) stepped in. By applying to the Sno-Parks Program run through Washington State Parks, funds were secured to create a non-motorized Sno-Park near the intersection of the Stemilt Loop Road and Orr Creek Road. This winter the Sno-Park Program will plow a small lot accommodating 6 to 7 cars and a portable toilet. Beyond the parking area, winter visitors will be able to access the area’s snowed-over roads for a variety of trips.
These snowed-over roads are not subject to avalanches, making them well-suited to families, novice snowshoers, or less-knowledgeable skiers. And while the forests occupying these lands are less than jaw-dropping in summer, once covered with snow, they undergo a beautifying facelift.
With the arrival of spring, fortunes will again change. Snow melts, roads in the Stemilt Basin revert to motorized use, and winter visitors see their playground dematerialize at about the same time that the foothills trails in the low lands re-open. Yup. We’re back to what optimists say about closing and opening doors.
Details: Stemilt Non-Motorized Winter Recreation Area
With the arrival of snow, the Orr Creek Road in the Stemilt Basin offers access to several outings in the new non-motorized area. Still relatively unknown, this area provides a quieter, calmer experience than visiting Clara Lake or the Devil’s Spur Trail.
Access. From Wenatchee, drive the Squilchuck Road toward Mission Ridge to milepost 4.4 and turn left onto Wenatchee Heights Road. Drive uphill for 2.1 miles to the intersection with Edgemont Drive (on the left). Veer slightly right onto the Stemilt Loop Road and follow it 3.25 miles to Orr Creek Road. Turn right and follow Orr Creek Road 100 yards to a plowed pullout on the left shortly before a gate. The pullout is small but can accommodate 6 or 7 cars if visitors are conscientious and park efficiently.
Permits. A Sno-Park permit is required and cannot be purchased on location. Purchase a Daily Sno-Park Permit ($25/vehicle) or a Seasonal Non-Motorized Sno-Park Permit ($50/vehicle) online at www.epermits.parks.wa.gov/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx. (Note: the Seasonal Special Groomed Sticker is not required for this area because the trails beyond the gate are not machine groomed but groomed (i.e., packed) through use.)
Trip Instructions. Several trips are possible from the Sno-Park but, because of the many intersections and spur roads, verbal instructions are not particularly useful. Take a map and use it to navigate the area. For a short trip, turn off Orr Creek Road on the spur road overlooking Spring Hill Reservoir (2 miles round trip). For a longer outing, use a map to complete one of the lollipop loops passing Upper Wheeler Reservoir (6.5 to 7.5 miles roundtrip).
Maps. Bringing a map of the area is recommended, but most of the main intersections in the area also have maps posted showing your location.
Difficulty. The roads in the area climb steadily to Upper Wheeler Reservoir and are easily and safely travelled by snowshoers of any ability. For cross-country skiers, intermediate skiing skills are recommended to handle the descents as well as the area’s variable snow conditions. Also the ultralight equipment designed for groomed, Nordic-trail systems is not well-suited to the terrain – sturdier, wider cross-country skis with metal edges and more aggressive no-wax bases (or skinny climbing skins) are more appropriate.
Allowed. Hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, sledding, and snow play. Dogs are allowed, but scoop and carry away their waste.
Not Allowed. Motorized vehicles.
Land Ownership. The Wheeler Reservoir loops span a combination of lands owned by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Chelan County.
Upcoming Events. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for the Dia de los Reyes celebration on January 3, 2026 from 1:00pm to 7:00pm at the Wenatchee River Institute campus. This celebration highlights the cultural tradition found across Latin America that symbolizes the end of Christmas.
Andy Dappen was the founder of Wenatchee Outdoors in 2005 and is a former board member of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust.
Forty for Forty. Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust with 40 stories about places the CDLT has protected and kept open for public access.
