Stehekin - North Cascade National Park

Boat Landing at Stehekin

See next destination

Previous

Next

Stehekin

Stehekin is a remote village located on the upper headwaters of Lake Chelan in the North Cascade National Park in WA.  There are no roads to Stehekin, and this pristine wilderness can only be accessed by boat or seaplane from Chelan.  Stehekin is a magical place, offering hikers access to the unspoilt mountain lakes and meadows of the spectacular North Cascades.

Visitors on a day trip should make it a #1 priority to visit the 312-foot Rainbow Falls. In summer a red shuttle bus departs the ferry landing at Stehekin for a 45-minute tour of Stehekin Valley.  This tour includes a 15-minute visit to Rainbow Falls, followed by quick stops at the old log schoolhouse and Stehekin Pastry Company.  If you have more time, consider exploring the valley at your own pace by renting a bike from “Discovery Bikes”, just 5-minutes from the ferry landing.

After returning to Stehekin, stop by the Golden West Visitor Center, and have lunch at the Stehekin Landing Resort.

Day Trips from Chelan

Visitors can take a day trip to Stehekin on the “Lady of the Lake Tour” from the resort town of Chelan (509 682 4584).  The best available tour option is a 3-hour stopover, as the 60-minute and 90-minute layover options don’t allow enough time to explore Stehekin.  When choosing a tour, it’s also useful to know that the “Lady Express” takes half the time of the “Lady of the Lake II”.

Another alternative is a 25-minute trip on Chelan Seaplanes, from Chelan to Stehekin (509 682 5555).

Overnight Stays and Camping at Stehekin

There is a range of overnight accommodation at Stehekin, including the Stehekin Landing Resort, Silver Bay Inn Resort, Rainbow Falls Lodge, and Stehekin Valley Lodge (check below for options).  Visitors can also stay at the Purple Point Campground in the North Cascades National Park, 10-minutes from the boat landing.

Adventures at Stehekin

During your stay at Stehekin you might also consider a high country adventure tour including pack trips, horseback riding, fishing, photography, river rafting and kayaking.  A full list of options is provided below.