Overview

Campgrounds in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are walk-in sites located in the Stehekin Valley at the head of Lake Chelan. Lakeview Campground is a five minute walk from the boat dock at Stehekin Landing.

Stehekin is a remote community with limited facilities and is only accessible by foot, boat, or plane. 

There is a group shared space in Lakeview Campground reserved for backpackers heading out or coming back from a wilderness trip or PCT hikers with a valid PCTA permit. These sites need not be reserved separately; backpackers may camp for ONE NIGHT ONLY.

Facilities

At the Stehekin Landing area, the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin has a small store with very limited groceries and a restaurant. Public showers and laundry facilities are located near the Landing, though not in the campground.  

There are no roads or car access into Stehekin. Accessible by foot, boat or plane only. Visitors may take a passenger ferry or their own boat, which may be moored at the public docks in Stehekin with the purchase of a federal dock permit. Each campsite offers a picnic table but no fires are allowed. Lakeview offers drinking water, flush toilets, and garbage removal, but all waste must be eventually barged downlake and visitors are encouraged to pack out everything they pack in. 

Recreation

Visitors can access several trails from near the campground, such as the Imus Trail, the Purple Creek Trail, and the Lakeshore Trail. Other trails further up the valley can be reached by foot, bike, or shuttle bus. Many of the trails from Stehekin provide the opportunity for longer wilderness backpacks. A backcountry permit is required for overnight stays in the backcountry.  

Visitors can boat, fish, and swim (although the water is a chilly 45 degrees) in Lake Chelan. Bears do inhabit the area, so care should be taken when hiking, picnicking, or camping.

Nearby Attractions

Stehekin is a gateway into the east side of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Many short to multi-day backpacking trips begin in the Stehekin area. Other attractions in the area are the historic Buckner Orchard, where visitors can pick apples in the fall, and Rainbow Falls, a 312-foot waterfall near the Stehekin Valley Road. 

Contact Info

Important Notices

• There is no cell phone reception.

• Wildlife frequents the area. All food must be stored in animal-resistant food lockers or hard-sided vehicles until use.

• There are no shower facilities available at the campground. Laundry and shower facilities are located at the landing.

• There are limited grocery items available, bring what you need. With limited trash services, consider Pack It In/Pack It Out.

• There are no ATM services available in the valley.

• No Show Policy: If you do not arrive at a campground or cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date, your reservation will be cancelled. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. On-site personnel may not be able to assist with reservations or cancellations. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it to makes space available for others.

• Refund Policy  

  Customers may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Customers may also initiate a refund request through the call center at any time after their reservation has ended.

  Fees: Applicable fees, such as reservation fees, service/cancellation fees, lottery application fees, and change fees, are non-refundable.

  Debit or Credit Card Purchases: Refunds for debit or credit card payments made after October 1, 2018 will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. In the event that a customer has cancelled this card, they will need to contact their card company to have the funds released. We cannot issue refunds to any card other than the one used to pay. If a customer paid with a debit or credit card prior to October 1, 2018 their refund will be issued in the form of a Treasury check.

  Check or Cash Purchases: Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. You may update the address at the time you request the refund. It may take up to 6-8 weeks for the Treasury check to arrive. Please make sure your address is up to date in your customer profile.

  Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within your Recreation.gov customer profile.

  Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Notifications and Alerts

• The Stehekin area is prone to flooding, which increases in a post-fire environment. Know before you go - check the forecast prior to your trip for outlooks and messages from the National Weather Service. Be very aware of your surroundings, follow warning signs, and pay particular attention to debris flow areas. Post Fire Safety

Available Activities

• Birding - Birding
• Camping - Camping
• Day Use Area - Day Use Area
• Hiking - Hiking
• Kayaking - Kayaking

Directions

<p>There are no roads that connect Stehekin to the rest of Washington. Access is via foot, boat, or plane. </p>

Contact Information

Phone: 509-699-2080 x 14

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip