12 Things to Do In the Remote Town of Stehekin
Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Kelly
At the far end of Lake Chelan is one of the most remote towns in Washington State: Stehekin. Stehekin is not accessible by car, and there are no roads that lead to Stehekin. You can only reach Stehekin by water or by air. If you’re looking for a place to completely disconnect and spend time in nature, Stehekin is the place to go. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to plan a trip to Stehekin!
We last visited Stehekin when I was pregnant as part of our babymoon in Lake Chelan. We especially enjoyed the ferry ride to Stehekin, seeing the lodge, and visiting Rainbow Falls. Read on for all the details!
About Stehekin
The name Stehekin means “way through” in the Salishan language and is pronounced as “stuh·hee·kn.” The name is fitting, because Stehekin serves as a gateway to the North Cascades. Many hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, for instance, will stop in Stehekin along their journey to refuel and rest. The elevation of Stehekin is 1220ft, and the town is roughly 50 miles up lake from Chelan, Washington.
There are very few year-round residents that live in Stehekin. Although a lot of articles I found stated that there are around 75 official residents, I found those sources to be very dated. (Most of those population estimates were from the 1990s.) The most recent population data I could find stated that there were 112 year-round residents in 2007. During the summer, the population increases a bit due to tourism and seasonal jobs. Regardless, Stehekin is a very small town!
How to Get to Stehekin
Ferry
You have a few options to reach Stehekin, the most popular of which is boating to Stehekin from Chelan. The journey is roughly 50 miles. The Lady of the Lake takes passengers all the way to Stehekin. Their fastest boat is the Lady Express, which takes 2.5 hours to reach Stehekin. The Lady of the Lake, their signature ferry boat, takes 4 hours to reach the lake. Just recently they added the Lady Liberty to their fleet, which looks like it is only a 1.5 hour journey. Stehekin is more accessible than ever! Be sure to check the current ferry schedule and rates.
If you’re planning on having a day trip to Stehekin, plan to take the Lady Liberty because the schedule provides a 6-hour layover in Stehekin. (As opposed to a 90-minute layover.) Of course, if you stay overnight, you’ll get as much time in Stehekin as you’d like!
Another boat option is to take the Stehekin Ferry, which you can catch from Fields Point Landing (instead of in Chelan).
Plane
If you have a larger budget, you can also charter a float plane to take you to Stehekin. From Seattle, the seaplane takes approximately one hour.
Hiking or Horseback
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can hike to Stehekin or travel there via horseback. If you plan to camp overnight, you’ll need to have a backcountry permit.
Although I was much too pregnant for a long hike myself, I did notice that there were multiple groups of hikers that would disembark from the Lady of the Lake along the route to Stehekin and then hike the rest of the way to Stehekin. Many of the hikers disembarked at Prince Creek, and then took the Lakeshore Trail to Stehekin. The full trail to Stehekin is 17 miles long, so most hikers take a couple of days to get there.
Best Things to Do in Stehekin
Once you make the trek to Stehekin, you will find that there is plenty to do. The best part, of course, is the proximity to true wilderness.
1. Visit the Lodge at Stehekin
When you first disembark from the ferry, you’ll find yourself in the center of “town”. You’ll see the lodge, a restaurant, the general store, and a post office. It’s a good place to rest, grab a souvenir, and get a quick bite to eat. The North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is a beautiful place to stay.
2. Hop on the Bakery Shuttle
You read that right. There is a shuttle charged with the exclusive purpose of taking passengers to the town’s bakery. The shuttle will take you right to the Stehekin Pastry Company, which is just two miles away from the ferry dock. They offer home-baked pastries, coffee, ice cream, and a limited breakfast and lunch menu. When we visited, we had a slice of pizza on their sourdough crust and one of their homemade cinnamon rolls. YUM! Check out their menu to see all offerings. (Seriously, make sure you add the bakery to your itinerary!)
3. Visit Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is probably the most popular destination for visitors to Stehekin. Rainbow Falls is a beautiful natural waterfall that is 312 feet tall. On a sunny day, the mist rising from the falls may create a rainbow, hence its name. The trail to the falls is only .25 miles roundtrip, so it is easily accessible. You can reach the falls by taking the Red Shuttle Bus (what we did), or you can rent bikes.
4. Drop In at the Old Schoolhouse
Wonder what it would be like to be a kid living in Stehekin? If you visit the historic schoolhouse, you’ll get a glimpse of what education looked like in this small community. The schoolhouse was built in 1921 and closed in 1988. It’s only one room and it is officially registered as a historic landmark. There’s a newer school that students attend today, but that one is not open to the public. During the 2018-2019 school year, there were only 6 registered students and one teacher.
5. Go Horseback Riding
Stehekin Valley Ranch has many options to explore the area via horseback. They offer a half day ride to Howard Lake (no experience necessary) and a full day ride to Bridge Creek. Stehekin Outfitters also provides horseback trips to the back country.
6. Go Hiking
One of the best things to do in Stehekin is to go hiking. You will be fully immersed in nature and the trails will be far less crowded than others in Washington State.
If you’re looking for an easy hike, try the Lakeshore Trail. The trail is quite long, but we recommend you hike just as far as you are comfortable with, and then returning back to Stehekin. The trail has beautiful views of the lake and is very peaceful. Another easy trail is the Stehekin River Trail. Whenever you go hiking, be sure to pack the 10 Essentials.
Want to go camping in the backcountry? Stehekin Outfitters has a tent-to-tent option! They have the campsites all set up for you, including the tents, stove, sleeping cots, table, chairs, kitchen supplies, and sleeping bags. You just need to bring your clothes and toiletries.
7. Go Fishing
Stehekin Fishing Adventures will pair you with a trained guide to make the most of your fishing experience. They offer full day and half day fly-fishing, fly-fishing lessons, walk and wade excursions, and evening floats on the river.
8. Visit the Stehekin Garden
The Stehekin Garden has been operating since the 1970s and provides fresh produce, goat cheese, maple syrup, and honey.
9. Go Stargazing
You’ll be miles away from civilization and with very little light pollution. If it’s a clear night, be sure to step outside and see the brightest stars you may have ever seen!
10. Rent a Bike
Head to Stehekin Discovery Bikes and rent a bike by the hour or by the day. If you’re planning on staying in Stehekin for awhile, this is one of the best ways to get around! Most of the main attractions are within a couple of miles, and since you won’t have a car, biking is a great option!
11. Rent a Kayak or a Paddle Board
The Lodge at Stehekin offers rentals for kayaks and paddle boards. Get out on the water and enjoy the lake! Currently the rentals cost $20 per hour.
12. Support Local Artists
Stehekin is home to several local artists, including authors, artisans, and photographers.
Getting Around Stehekin
Once you’ve made it to Stehekin, you have a few options to get around.
The most popular method of transportation is the Red Bus which is operated by North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. The tour buses are red and have large ceiling windows which allow passengers to view the beauty of the forest. During the peak season (typically June through October), the Red Bus also features a tour to Rainbow Falls which coincides with the ferry arrival. When we went, we disembarked from the Lady of the Lake, bought a snack, and then hopped on the bus to the falls.
You can also rent bicycles at Stehekin Discovery Bikes.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Lodging Options at Stehekin
You can visit Stehekin as a day trip from Chelan, but if you really want to see all there is to see, we recommend that you stay overnight. Although it’s a small town, there are plenty of lodging options for guests.
North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin
The North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is the most popular place to stay, as it’s the only hotel in town. The lodge has standard rooms, cabins with kitchens, and even a lake house.
The lodge has a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s also conveniently located within walking distance of the ferry dock.
Stehekin Valley Ranch
Nine miles from the ferry dock is the scenic Stehekin Valley Ranch. You can choose to stay in a cabin, a tent cabin, or even a wagon. Meals and transportation from the ferry are included. All meals are served in their cookhouse.
Cabin Rentals
Stehekin Cedar Cabins offers three cabin rentals, one of which is in the lower valley and two of which are in the upper valley.
There are also beautiful cabins you can stay in right next to the bakery.
Camping
You can check out Lakeview, Purple Point, and Harlequin campgrounds. During peak season, reservations are required. The Purple Point campground is just an 8-minute walk from the ferry dock.
Dining
The final thing to plan for your trip is where to eat! We’ve put together some options below. With the changing nature of covid, be sure to check individual websites for current opening hours and service.
North Cascades Lodge Restaurant
The Lodge at Stehekin Restaurant is the primary restaurant in town. When it’s open, it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Stehekin Pastry Company
As we shared earlier, the Stehekin Pastry Company is worth a visit! Their sandwiches feature homemade breads, their pizza homemade crust, and their pastries are baked from scratch. Get the cinnamon roll.
Stehekin Valley Ranch
During peak season, visitors can make reservations at the ranch (if they are not staying on the property) for dinner in the cookhouse.
Bring Your Own Food
There is not a full grocery store in Stehekin. If you are planning on cooking, be sure to bring your own food. Their is a small general store at the lodge that is stocked with some items, but it is definitely not a full grocery store.
What to Pack
During your visit to Stehekin, we recommend that you bring the following:
- A cooler. The ferry journey is long, and you’ll need to keep your food cold while you’re traveling up lake. Because there isn’t a grocery store in Stehekin, you’ll need to bring your own food if you’re planning on cooking. We bought a Yeti cooler this year for our 3-week road trip and we were super impressed with its durability and how long it kept our food cold. They also make a backpack version of their cooler which we linked below, which would be perfect for a trip to Stehekin. (Don’t forget to also purchase the Yeti Thin Ice pack. You won’t have to worry about picking up ice!)
- Hiking poles. If you are visiting during the summer, you’ll likely want to do a lot of hiking while you are in the area.
- First aid kit. Any time you are hiking in the wilderness, be sure to pack a first aid kit. It’s one of the 10 Essentials.
- Portable charger. Although you won’t be using your cell phone for making calls, you will probably be using it to take lots of photos! This portable charger will make sure that you don’t run out of battery.
- Comfortable hiking shoes. Be sure to pack comfortable hiking shoes. Break them in if they are new prior to your trip. (No one likes blisters on vacation.) I have been using Columbia shoes for years and have liked them.
- Daypack. As you’re hiking, biking, and walking around Stehekin, bring a comfortable daypack to store your snacks, water, first aid kit, and devices.
If you do need access to phone service, we recommend that you purchase a Garmin. Using satellite, you’ll be able to make calls and send messages. This is an important safety device if you plan on hiking in the backcountry.
FAQs About Stehekin
Is there WiFi?
There is some limited WiFi available at the lodge in Stehekin. If you’re planning a trip, it’s best to disconnect and plan to be off the grid for awhile.
What is the population?
The population of Stehekin varies depending on the season. We found out that there were 112 residents living in Stehekin in 2007.
Is there air conditioning?
There are no lodging options that we are aware of that have air conditioning.
Are there cars?
Some residents own cars, but you will not see many during your visit. The most common method of transportation for tourists is the Red Bus.
What is Stehekin like in the winter?
If you like winter sports, you would enjoy Stehekin in the winter! With all of the snow it receives, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing are very popular.
Is there cell phone reception?
There is no cellular service in Stehekin. Be sure to let your family and friends know you’ll be off the grid for awhile. The businesses use satellite phones if needed.
What happens if there is a serious medical emergency?
There are no hospitals or clinics located in Stehekin. There is usually someone from the National Park Service that has received some medical training. If there is an urgent medical issue, help is called.
Can you visit as a day trip?
You can definitely visit Stehekin as a day trip. (We’ve done it ourselves!) You can take an early ferry and spend a layover in Stehekin before heading back to Chelan. It’s a long journey, but we thought it was worth it to see the entirety of Lake Chelan.
Summary
We really enjoyed our babymoon visit to Stehekin! It was honestly the perfect way for us to experience something new in Chelan. I was 8 months pregnant, and my husband recently had suffered an ankle injury, so we weren’t able to be too active. We sat and enjoyed our excursion on the Lady of the Lake, and we took the Red Bus everywhere we needed to go in Stehekin. It’s definitely a place we would love to go back to and spend more time! We hope this guide helps you plan your own trip to Stehekin!
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