Summer Day Hikes in Stehekin Valley, North Cascades National Park, Washington

The Trip

The Stehekin Valley -- “the way through” in the language of the Skagit tribe -- provided the area’s earliest inhabitants with a passage through the North Cascade Mountains. To reach this remote place, you’ll need to travel along glacier-carved Lake Chelan -- a 55-mile-long, 1,450-foot-deep inland fjord. Lake Chelan, meaning “deep water,” is the largest natural lake in Washington State and the second deepest in the country. (From ridgetop to lake bottom, it is the deepest gorge in the U.S.)  The mountainous region surrounding the Stehekin Valley and the north end of Lake Chelan is so outstanding that it merits three wilderness areas, two national recreation areas, and a national park.

The valley is accessible only by foot, boat, or floatplane, which keeps it both peaceful and barely developed. From the small village of Stehekin, at the upper end of Lake Chelan, a partly paved and partly gravel road runs into the heart of the North Cascades, providing access to many hiking trails. The road was built to support limited early mining activity and doesn’t connect to any other road. As a result, the only vehicles you’ll see here belong to the Park Service and the valley’s few permanent residents.

A mid-week unstructured day affords participants an opportunity to take advantage of other recreational activities in the area, which include horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and bike riding. The cost of these is not included in the trip price. The little village of Stehekin boasts espresso and homemade pastries, hiking maps, books, and a post office, as well as historic buildings that we can visit.

In the evenings, we will gather at the main lodge, where our meals will be served. The fjord horses, raised by the Courtney family, are released to graze, enhancing the scenery as twilight arrives in the valley. Each evening’s dinner is topped off with a choice of as many as eight kinds of home-baked pie. 

All meals, accommodations, and transportation up the lake and within the valley to our day hikes are included in the trip price.

Please let the leaders know if you have any medical problems, allergies, or dietary restrictions that should be noted ahead of time.

Day 1: We will be taking a boat from the Field’s Pt. Landing in Chelan Village on the south end of Lake Chelan up to Stehekin Landing on the north end. Upon arrival at Stehekin Landing, we will be transported to Stehekin Valley Ranch. After checking into our cabins, we will walk on trails near the ranch until dinnertime.

Day 2: Depending on the schedule of ranger talks at the visitor's center, we will hike either the Agnes Gorge Trail (5 miles roundtrip; rated easy/moderate) or a portion of the Lakeshore Trail (variable distance; rated easy). If we hike the Agnes Gorge Trail and time permits, we can also hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail at Agnes Creek.

Day 3: Depending on the schedule of ranger talks at the visitor's center, we will either hike the Rainbow Loop Trail (5-mile loop; rated moderate) or a portion of the Lakeshore Trail (variable distance; rated easy).

Day 4: Today will offer a choice of activities in the morning, including guided kayaking on the lake, guided horseback riding on trails near the ranch, or relaxing at the ranch or in Stehekin village. If time permits, we may also hike the Stehekin River Trail (4 miles roundtrip; rated easy) in the afternoon, or schedule a group bicycle ride. Cost of the kayaking, horseback riding, or bicycle rental is not included in the trip price.

Day 5: Depending on the schedule of ranger talks at the visitor's center, today we will hike the Old Wagon Road Trail to Bridge Creek (part of the Pacific Crest Trail; rated moderate) or the Lakeshore Trail.

Day 6: Depending on the schedule of ranger talks at the visitor’s center, today we will either hike on the Lakeshore Trail or on one of the other easy to moderate trails we hadn’t already done.

Day 7: After breakfast we will be transported to Stehekin Landing to return by boat to Chelan Village. The trip officially ends there.

Breakfast is served between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. After breakfast we will pack bag lunches before heading out for the day. Anyone who wishes to stay at the ranch for the day may do so -- lunch will be available. We will generally return from our day’s activities between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Dinner is served between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Getting There

Chelan, Washington is equidistant from Seattle and Spokane (3.5 hours by car). You should plan to stay overnight in the Chelan area the night before the trip. The trip leaders and Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce (800-4-CHELAN) can help with travel and lodging information. In addition, trip leaders will disseminate information about other participants who are interested in participating in carpools from the Seattle area or Spokane. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in comfortable ranch cabins. These are described on the Ranch’s website as follows: “Ranch Cabins are fully enclosed sleeping cabins with their own private bathroom with shower. These cabins also have electric lights and limited outlets. Furnished with queen and twin beds, a futon or daybed, armoire, and a table with chairs, guests find these cozy cabins to be quite comfortable." Each ranch cabin will be shared by two to three participants of the same gender or by couple.

There is one wooden covered wagon available for a single supplement. As described on the website: "The Wagons are fully enclosed sleeping cabins with their own private bathroom with shower. These cabins also have electric lights and limited outlets. Furnished with a queen or twin beds, as well as a table with chairs, guests will find these unique cabins to be quite comfortable." Single supplement cost will be supplied upon request.

Meals are cooked and served buffet-style in the dining hall, which also serves as a local restaurant. The food is homemade, generous, and delicious -- the pies alone make the long journey to Stehekin worthwhile. Trip members will not have any cooking chores. Vegan and other special diets can be accommodated at the ranch kitchen.

Trip Difficulty

Some introductory mountain hiking experience is necessary, and the goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves. The group will hike on a relatively flat trail the first day to get used to the altitude and environment. Each hike will be at least 5 miles round-trip with increasing elevation gains possible. You should be in good physical condition; the principal criteria for acceptance on this trip are physical and cardiovascular fitness and an open attitude toward moderately challenging group hikes. A regular fitness program, including hiking with some degree of hill climbing, is beneficial.

Equipment and Clothing

Each cabin has beds, with pillows and blankets, sheets, and towels. Daytime temperatures usually range from the low 60s to the high 80s.  Bring a good day pack, hiking gear, quality broken-in hiking boots, raingear, and clothing that can be layered to maintain your comfort. Don’t forget sunscreen and bug repellant. The leaders will provide an equipment list to registered trip members.

References

Maps:  

• Green Trails maps: “McGregor Mountain # 81” and “Stehekin # 80”
• Trails Illustrated 1:100,000 topo map (metric) “North Cascades National Park Complex.” An excellent map of the area, available from Trails Illustrated, Box 4357, Evergreen, CO 80437, (800-962-1643).

Books:

• Darvill, Fred T., A Guide to the Enchanted Valley.
• McConnell, Grant, Stehekin: A Valley in Time.
• Spring, Ira and Harvey Manning, 101 Hikes in the North Cascades.

The Green Trails maps, Trails Illustrated maps, and some books are usually available in Stehekin and at the Ranch. Additional maps, books, and other materials about the natural history and resources of the area are available at the National Park Service Visitor Center in Stehekin and through the Pacific Northwest National Parks and Forests Association.

Conservation

Your volunteer leaders have a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club mission: “to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth.” We hope to impart to you some of our love for this area and for the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club’s outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. While on this trip, please feel free to share the local conservation issues from your area.

We will discuss the Wilderness Act and its relevance to the area we’ll be hiking. Spending time in a true wilderness setting, we’ll gain insight into the value of wilderness, along with a better basis for discussing issues such as access to wild lands by extractive industries.

In addition, Leave No Trace ethics will be used and emphasized on our trip. Our goal will be to alter the wilderness as little as possible, preserving it for the next group.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.