Chelan might be famous for its long summer days, but fall has a magic all its own. Think crisp air, fresh grape harvests, and a golden glow over the hills. Locals and visitors know this is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the best the season has to offer. If you're planning a trip, you'll find there’s much more to do than just sipping wine. The list of fall activities in Chelan is long enough to fill a whole weekend.
This guide will show you some of the best ways to experience autumn in Chelan. These are authentic ways to connect with what makes Chelan so unique in the fall.
Wine Harvest Tours and Tastings
Chelan’s wine country hits its peak during the fall harvest season. Vineyards bustle with activity as grapes are handpicked, pressed, and prepared for the next vintage. Many wineries open their doors for harvest tours, where you can see the winemaking process up close. Lake Chelan Winery, Tsillan Cellars, and Benson Vineyards often host behind-the-scenes experiences where visitors can walk the vines and taste juice before it transforms into wine.
This is also prime time for special tastings. Barrel samples let you try unfinished wine, while seasonal flights often showcase limited releases that are only available in the fall. For those who love wine, fall activities in Chelan are compelling, as the region’s wineries are alive with energy and offer more interactive experiences than other times of the year.
This is also prime time for special tastings. Barrel samples let you try unfinished wine, while seasonal flights often showcase limited releases that are only available in the fall. For those who love wine, fall activities in Chelan are compelling, as the region’s wineries are alive with energy and offer more interactive experiences than other times of the year.
Hayrides Through Orchards
Orchards surrounding Chelan embrace fall with hayrides that bring you right into the heart of apple country. Many local farms organize wagon rides pulled by tractors, creating a nostalgic and scenic way to enjoy the harvest. These tours often include stops to pick apples or pears, making it a hands-on seasonal activity.
Hayrides also provide a different perspective of the valley, showing off the rolling hills and fruit-laden trees in their autumn colors. In particular, the small family-run farms around Manson often welcome visitors during this time. Hayrides capture the spirit of the season and remain one of the most underrated fall activities in Chelan.
Hayrides also provide a different perspective of the valley, showing off the rolling hills and fruit-laden trees in their autumn colors. In particular, the small family-run farms around Manson often welcome visitors during this time. Hayrides capture the spirit of the season and remain one of the most underrated fall activities in Chelan.
Scenic Drives Around the Lake
Fall color transforms the Chelan Valley, making it an ideal time for long drives. Highway 97A along the lake's south shore offers sweeping views of the water framed by bright foliage. Alternatively, taking the route up to Echo Valley delivers mountain scenery and a quiet look at smaller farms preparing for winter.
Scenic drives are perfect for pairing with other stops, such as farm stands, cideries, or viewpoints overlooking the water. You don’t have to go far to find breathtaking views — the landscapes shift quickly and the light changes throughout the day. For those who enjoy slower travel, drives are among the most accessible fall activities in Chelan and provide a chance to take in the region without a set schedule.
Scenic drives are perfect for pairing with other stops, such as farm stands, cideries, or viewpoints overlooking the water. You don’t have to go far to find breathtaking views — the landscapes shift quickly and the light changes throughout the day. For those who enjoy slower travel, drives are among the most accessible fall activities in Chelan and provide a chance to take in the region without a set schedule.
Harvest Festivals and Seasonal Events
Chelan hosts a number of fall festivals that celebrate the season’s bounty. The annual Lake Chelan Wine Harvest brings together local vendors, wineries, and food producers for a weekend of tastings, crafts, and live entertainment. Smaller towns around the lake also host events, allowing you to explore beyond Chelan's main strip.
These festivals showcase the valley’s agricultural roots while offering visitors a way to sample everything in one place. Pumpkins, fresh cider, and seasonal foods create a celebratory atmosphere that defines October in the valley. For travelers who want a more immersive experience, these events highlight why fall activities in Chelan stand out compared to other times of year.
These festivals showcase the valley’s agricultural roots while offering visitors a way to sample everything in one place. Pumpkins, fresh cider, and seasonal foods create a celebratory atmosphere that defines October in the valley. For travelers who want a more immersive experience, these events highlight why fall activities in Chelan stand out compared to other times of year.
Apple and Pear Picking
Fruit is at the heart of Chelan’s agricultural scene, and fall is when the orchards open for picking. Visitors can grab a basket and head into rows of apple and pear trees to select their own produce. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Bartlett pears are at their peak during the season, giving you a crisp, fresh taste that’s hard to beat.
U-pick experiences also allow for direct connection with local growers, who are often on hand to share stories about farming in the valley. It’s a straightforward activity that appeals to anyone who enjoys the rhythm of harvest season.
U-pick experiences also allow for direct connection with local growers, who are often on hand to share stories about farming in the valley. It’s a straightforward activity that appeals to anyone who enjoys the rhythm of harvest season.
Wine and Dine Pairing Experiences
Several wineries and restaurants create special menus during the fall to highlight seasonal produce alongside local wines. Places like Sorrento’s at Tsillan Cellars or Wapato Point Cellars craft dinners that bring out the richness of food and wine. Expect dishes featuring roasted squash, wild mushrooms, and other autumn staples paired with red varietals harvested only weeks earlier.
These events typically require reservations and draw both locals and out-of-town visitors. They’re designed to celebrate the culmination of harvest season and give guests a more elevated take on fall dining. This is where Chelan’s reputation as a wine destination shines, combining culinary creativity with the valley’s vineyard-driven identity.
These events typically require reservations and draw both locals and out-of-town visitors. They’re designed to celebrate the culmination of harvest season and give guests a more elevated take on fall dining. This is where Chelan’s reputation as a wine destination shines, combining culinary creativity with the valley’s vineyard-driven identity.
Exploring Local Trails
Hiking around Chelan in the fall is noticeably different from summer. Cooler temperatures make the trails more comfortable, and the views are framed by seasonal colors instead of dry hillsides. Popular hikes like Echo Ridge Trails or Chelan Butte offer panoramic views of the lake with far fewer crowds than the summer months bring.
Hikes also connect with other activities — you can combine a morning on the trails with an afternoon winery visit or orchard stop. The slower pace of fall gives you room to enjoy the outdoors in a way that feels restorative and balanced. For those who like to stay active, exploring local trails should be on Chelan's list of fall activities.
Hikes also connect with other activities — you can combine a morning on the trails with an afternoon winery visit or orchard stop. The slower pace of fall gives you room to enjoy the outdoors in a way that feels restorative and balanced. For those who like to stay active, exploring local trails should be on Chelan's list of fall activities.
Cider Tasting Rooms
While wine dominates the Chelan Valley, cider has gained traction in recent years as local orchards diversify. Fall is the prime season to visit cideries like Chelan Craft Cider or Rootwood Cider Co. in Manson, where fresh-pressed apples are turned into crisp, seasonal beverages. Many cideries offer tasting flights that highlight both classic and experimental flavors.
Cider tasting complements the region’s focus on fruit, tying back to the valley’s apple-growing heritage. It’s an approachable way to try something new and adds variety to the standard wine-tasting circuit. The fall season makes it especially appealing, as the drinks feel tied to the harvest around you.
Cider tasting complements the region’s focus on fruit, tying back to the valley’s apple-growing heritage. It’s an approachable way to try something new and adds variety to the standard wine-tasting circuit. The fall season makes it especially appealing, as the drinks feel tied to the harvest around you.
Experience Fall in Chelan as a Local
Exploring Chelan in the fall gives you a taste of the valley’s beauty, but living here year-round means you never miss a season. If the idea of a lakefront home or vineyard-view property has crossed your mind, working with a trusted local expert can make it happen.
Justin Skaar, premier agent with Sotheby’s International Realty in Lake Chelan, has guided clients through more than $600 million in residential sales. Justin’s deep understanding of the Chelan real estate market, paired with the global reach of Sotheby’s, ensures your property goals are met with precision and care.
Whether you’re searching for a second home, an investment property, or a full-time residence, Justin knows how to position you for success. Reach out today and let him connect you with a home that captures the essence of Chelan in every season.
Justin Skaar, premier agent with Sotheby’s International Realty in Lake Chelan, has guided clients through more than $600 million in residential sales. Justin’s deep understanding of the Chelan real estate market, paired with the global reach of Sotheby’s, ensures your property goals are met with precision and care.
Whether you’re searching for a second home, an investment property, or a full-time residence, Justin knows how to position you for success. Reach out today and let him connect you with a home that captures the essence of Chelan in every season.
