Only accessible by boat, plane or foot

For an off-the-grid experience, plan a trip to Stehekin at the head of 50-mile long Lake Chelan. The relaxing tour takes you into the heart of the wilderness where you can choose to leave technology behind, and explore off-the-beaten path! The Lake Chelan Boat Company has been running passenger ferry service for over 60 years and currently has a fleet of vessels offering a variety of combination trips there and back.   

At the Stehekin Landing, hop on the shuttle and see where pioneers in this region established fruit orchards – the Buckner Orchard and Homestead are managed by the Parks Service and is still producing apples to this day. 

The shuttle will also take you to Rainbow Falls, with a 392-foot drop in two tiers. For more information and reservations for the passenger ferry, shuttle, or overnight accommodations, as well as great hiking trails for day trips see https://stehekin.com/.

No matter how long you visit, you must trek the 2 miles from the Landing to Stehekin Pastry Company for scratch-made pastries, pies, breads, breakfast and lunch options, and espresso and ice cream!

North Cascades National Park Service Complex 

Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

Things to Know Before you Come

• Make lodging reservations before arriving in Stehekin. Advance reservations recommended, especially from May to September.
• There is no cell phone reception. A public phone is located near the landing.
• There are limited grocery and food services available in the summer and none in the off-season. With limited trash services, consider Pack It In/Pack It Out.
• There are no ATM services available in the valley. Many businesses accept credit card, but some do not.

The park is open year-round with recreation opportunities—hiking, fishing, boating (fall and spring), skiing or snowshoeing (winter), and wildlife viewing (year-round). There are limited services outside the park operational season. From October-May, the Golden West Visitor Center is closed and there is no shuttle.

Learn more here: https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/lake-chelan-national-recreation-area