Getting to Stehekin

The village of Stehekin lies at the north end of Lake Chelan in the heart of the North Cascades.  The Stehekin Valley runs for almost 30 miles from the landing up to the source of the Stehekin River in the North Cascades National Park, and is connected to the outside world only by footpath and passenger ferry.  With less than 100 year-round residents, Stehekin is a quiet community during the winter when the lake is low and most everything is closed.  Stehekin wakes up for the summer and becomes a bustling community with three to five daily ferries bringing visitors and hikers, and all the stores, restaurants and lodgings are open.

It is not possible to drive to Stehekin.  This simple fact makes Stehekin what it is – a unique village that, while in Washington State, is as remote as some villages in Alaska.  There are three ways to get to Stehekin: by boat, by plane or by foot.  Most visitors arrive on one of the three Lady of the Lake ferries which leave Chelan in the morning and return in the afternoon, or on the Stehekin Ferry, a catamaran that leaves Fields Point in the early afternoon.  Visitors can also fly in on a chartered seaplane with Northwest Seaplanes, or hike the 17-23 miles in from various trailheads.  Being this remote means that things one normally takes for granted elsewhere are not readily available, and planning ahead is a must.

Food and supplies

A limited selection of grocery items – cereal, frozen meats, bacon, eggs, milk, beer, wine, canned goods – are available at the store at the landing.  Baked goods – bread, pizza, cakes, sandwiches – are available at the bakery.  Fresh vegetables and fruit can be purchased at The Garden.  While many items are available locally, most visitors bring some food supplies.

The restaurant at the landing serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while the Stehekin Valley Ranch at the upper end of the valley serves dinner.  The Bakery offers a limited breakfast and lunch menu.

Medical

The is no doctor or pharmacy in the valley.  The park service has an EMT on staff, but medical emergencies may require evacuation by helicopter.  Bring whatever medicines you require.  We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance and becoming a member of Airlift Northwest ($60/year for the entire family) or Life Flight ($85/year for the entire family) in case you require medical evacuation.

Money

Most vendors accept credit cards, but some do not.  There is no ATM machine in the valley, so remember to bring some cash.  Small bills – 1’s and 5’s – are appreciated.

Transportation

Biking

The Stehekin Valley Road from the landing to Harlequin Bridge is flat, surfaced and easy to bike.  The roads past Harlequin Bridge are gravel, less flat and more challenging.  Except for midday when the ferries arrive, there are few cars on the road.

Bus

There are two buses that run along the Stehekin Valley Road passing by the end of lane where the cabin is located: the park service’s red buses operated by the lodge and the white bus operated by the ranch.  Both buses will stop and pick you up if you wave them down and drop you off anywhere along the Valley Road.  Neither bus goes up Company Creek Road. The red bus goes to High Bridge, while the white bus only goes to as far as the Stehekin Valley Ranch.  Bicycles transported for an additional fee.

Summer 2023 bus schedule (verify these times at the landing)
The red buses leave the landing going up valley at 8:15, 11:30, 2:00 and 5:30
Note: The iconic red bus is currently not scheduled to run for the 2023 season

The Stehekin Shuttle Bus leaves the landing for High Bridge at 8:00, 11:30, 2:00, and 5:30

The white bus leaves the landing for Stehekin Valley Ranch at 11:00 and 2:30

Both buses take about 20 minutes to Harlequin Bridge and an hour to High Bridge (shuttle bus only).

The red bus leaves High Bridge at 9:15, 12:30, 3:00 and 6:15 and takes an hour back to the landing.
The Stehekin Shuttle Bus leaves High Bridge for the landing at 9:00, 12:30, 3:00, and 6:30

The fare is $10/adults, $5/children each way.