Beebe Springs Wildlife Area - Cultus Jim and Chelan Bob Loop

The Cultus Jim and Chelan Bob Loop climbs through sagebrush steppe above the Columbia River at Beebe Springs Natural Area, gaining 450 feet over 1.7 miles. The trail is expertly built with native rock steps providing stable footing on the steep sections. Views expand as you climb: the Columbia River, McNeil Canyon, and the Waterville Plateau spread out below.

The trail commemorates two Chelan Tribe members who refused to relocate to the Colville Reservation in the late 1800s, instead settling in the lower Lake Chelan area. The loop can be accessed from either the Chelan Fish Hatchery or from an upper parking area off Highway 150. In winter, Beebe Springs freezes into a large cascade visible from the trail.

Spring brings early wildflowers to the hillsides well before mountain trails are snow-free. The dry, exposed landscape makes this a year-round option when west-side trails are buried under clouds, though summer afternoons get hot. The area draws birders and wildflower seekers in spring, and the views reward far more than the modest mileage might suggest.