Upper Lake Chelan, Stehekin, Holden Village & The North Cascades National Park

Where No Roads can take you...
A trip to the head of Lake Chelan is a journey into an unspoiled frontier, forgotten by time. Nestled in the deepest gorge in North America, Lake Chelan is one of Washington's largest bodies of fresh water.

Though the average width is less than two miles, the lake extends 55 miles into the heart of the Cascade Mountain Range with peaks that exceed 9,000 feet. A trip uplake bridges the gap between the arid desert-like climate of the lower Lake Chelan Valley, through fiord-like gorges carved by glaciation, to the headwaters of the lake deep in the Cascade Mountains. Along the way, you will lay witness to some of Mother Nature's finest work, though she certainly didn't spend much time polishing up. She left behind some of the roughest mountain peaks anywhere in the world.

• Click Here for the Lady of the Lake Ferry Schedule

• Click Here for a guide to Upper Lake Chelan, Stehekin and the 
  North Cascades Recreation Area and How To Get There!

• Click Here for Stehekin Valley activities and services

• Click Here for Stehekin Landing Lodging 

• Click Here for Stehekin Silver Bay Inn

Stehekin: Gateway to the North Cascades National Park                         

A trip to Stehekin at the head of the lake takes you to a land of glaciers, vast forests, and the drama of young mountains still being shaped by the forces of nature.  The rugged grandeur and unique features of this special place were recognized as a national treasure in 1968 when the United States congress created North Cascades National Park Complex.  Congress designated the lower Stehekin valley as the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, one part of the Complex.

The Indians named it Stehekin - “the way through” - because it was one of few travel routes through the formidable barrier of the North Cascades.  They traveled to trade between tribes east of the mountains and tribes on the Puget Sound coast and beyond. Today you’ll find a community of 95 people who thrive in the isolation of this beautiful valley. They’ve made the choice to create a life in a place apart from many of the conveniences that most of us take for granted.  You can’t drive to Stehekin in your car.  Although there are 15 miles of road in Stehekin, the fact that no roads come into the valley from the outside helps shape the character of this remarkable place and the thoughtful quality of life that its residents share. Most visitors arrive by boat, a few come by air, but a surprising number hike into this remote valley following the same cross-mountain routes used for centuries by the Indians. 

Stehekin is a natural destination for hikers, campers and climbers.  But there’s much more to do and more places to stay than in a tent.   Fishing, river-rafting, birding, trail-rides and kayaking barely begin to cover the possibilities you’ll find in Stehekin.

North Cascades National Park & Lake Chelan Recreational Area
Stehekin District || P.O. Box 7 || Stehekin WA 98852 || 360-854-7365 ext 14
North Cascades National Park Service Complex, located in north-central Washington State, is characterized by a mix of jagged mountain peaks, glaciers, huge evergreens and tumbling waterfalls. The Park Complex includes North Cascades National Park and two National Recreation Areas: Ross Lake and Lake Chelan. The Stehekin District and Lake Chelan N.R.A. encompass the upper 4.5 miles of Lake Chelan and the Stehekin Valley.

National Park Service Activities

Golden West Visitor Center:

The Golden West Visitor Center is just up the hill from the boat landing. It is open daily from April 1st until October 31st.  Through late fall and winter the Visitor Center opens only on days when the boat runs and only during the time that the boat is docked in Stehekin. 

Evening Programs relating to Stehekin’s natural and cultural history are presented nightly during the summer.  A 15 minute “Naturalist Talk” is given every summer afternoon at 1:30.  At the Golden West you’ll find helpful rangers to give you camping permits, trail reports, and advice for planning your activities.  They welcome your questions about animal and flower identification and about the human history of the valley.

The Visitor Center has a bookstore, children’s activity area, and 10 minute video program called “A Wilderness Place” concerning Stehekin and its place in the world.   The Golden West Gallery features a yearly series of art exhibits inspired by the North Cascades.  Ask about the Junior Ranger Program, check out a Family Fun Pack and get a copy of the “Self-Guided Walking Tour to Rainbow Falls.”

The National Park’s Stehekin Ranger Station offices are also in the Golden West.

Holden Village
Located 11 miles up-valley from the Lucerne Landing, Holden Village is a year-round ecumenical Christian retreat center, rooted in the Lutheran tradition. Once the site of one of the largest copper mines in the United States, Holden is nestled in the enchanting beauty of Cascade peaks, up Railroad Creek Valley.

Each year it attracts over 6,000 people for renewal through worship, study, work, recreation, celebration and conversation. Holden's community is formed by its guests and volunteer staff, totaling up to 450 people in the summer months. A diverse collection of couples, families and singles, young and old join in becoming a community of renewal and challenge. Holden enjoys a longstanding relationship with the Lutheran Church, and the Village welcomes all, regardless of denomination, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age.

Bible studies and conversations on Christian faith, science, the arts, as well as social justice and global concerns offer a range of learning opportunities. Daily worship sets the rhythm of life in the Village. Crafts classes, concerts, forums, special events and Holden hilarity further stimulate creativity and celebration. Located in a beautiful valley on the edge of Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, Holden offers countless opportunities for scenic mountain hiking and alpine lake fishing.

Holden's summer program session runs from the first Monday in June through the third Saturday in September. Holden is near capactiy every week from around mid-June to the end of August. September is busy as well, though without many school-age children. Holden is an "on-going" community and is not a conference center. Facilities are not regularly rented out, but rather people register to participate in an existing community.

In the fall, winter, and spring, Holden becomes a much smaller community. From mid-October through May the Village is primarily occupied by long-term staff and fewer short-term guests. Because of the limitations on electrical power and the difficulties of winter transportation amid 250 inches of snowfall each season, the Village population drops to 65-70 people. During holidays and special retreat weekends the Village hosts more visitors; capacity is approximately 130.

Remote and isolated, Holden Village is truly "a place apart." You can travel there only by Lady of the Lake on Lake Chelan, followed by an 11-mile ride up Railroad Creek Valley. There are no roads connecting Holden to the rest of the world. Telephones, televisions, fax machines and pagers don't work there. Nor is there a link to e-mail or the World Wide Web.

Accomodations are comfortable but not elaborate. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. The summer program runs from the first Monday in June through the third Saturday in September. Volunteer staff are needed year-round, but especially from May through October.

For more information about Holden Village, please write:
Registrar
Holden Village
HC00 Stop 2
Chelan WA 98816-9769

There is no telephone service or e-mail connections to Holden Village. But you may find much helpful information, including photos, descriptions of programs and registration forms at Holden's own web site.