Today in Chelan, I wanted to do a different route than just the climb and descent on the north side of the Butte. So I decided to circumnavigate the Butte just as I had done in May of 2020. I parked at the Reach trailhead and headed East on the Gorge road towards Chelan Falls and the Columbia River. It turns into gravel and follows the Chelan River canyon on the Butte side. The scenery is pretty and has a couple neat vantage points for pictures. Finally in Chelan Falls you take roads parallel to the river railroad tracks until you get to a private gate. At that point you jump on to the rails and ride the rail bed for about 3.5 miles to Stayman Flats road. The first track mile marker will say 36 after you start and soon you will need to go through a tunnel about 75-100 yards long so be careful at that point. The track isn’t used too often but is an active rail line. After 35 and 34, you will get to the next community and Stayman Flats road around 33. Follow Stayman Flats road about a mile to the south end of the Chelan Butte Road and head north and begin your climb. This climb is more strenuous than the routine climb on the north side because your starting elevation is 800’ on the Columbia not 1250’ at the lake/trailhead. 

The downhill trail was in good shape after the recent rains and I got my second best descent time. The Trailforks ride log and pictures along the route are here.