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 a Complete Guide to Upper Lake Chelan, Stehekin and the 
North Cascades Recreation Area and How To Get There!

Click Here for Stehekin Valley Services

Click Here for Stehekin Landing Lodging

Stehekin "Gateway to the North
Cascades National Park"
Named by the Indians, STEHEKIN means "the way through", in their case, the way through the mountains to trade with Pacific Coast tribes. Although there are twenty some miles of road up the Stehekin River Valley, the only way to reach this remote community is by water, float plane, or hiking over mountain trails. The residents and businesses in Stehekin rely on boats and barges to bring them everything from groceries and supplies, to cars, equipment, building materials, and of course, tourists.

There are approximately 70 year 'round residents of Stehekin.

There are approximately 70 year ‘round residents of Stehekin, who join us in the tourism activities of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.. The community is one of strength, with neighbors helping neighbors. A small convenience store is open for some basic staples, but for most groceries, the closest grocery store is down lake in Chelan. Residents are able to send a grocery list along with a blank check to the store in Chelan for their order to be filled. Their groceries are then picked up and delivered to the dock in Stehekin by Lake Chelan Boat Company. As you would suspect they may be a little better at planning than those of us who have a store just down the street. The U.S. Mail travels on the passenger boats also. The average Stehekin resident possibly writes more letters than we do, as there is only a single pay phone in Stehekin.

Park of the North Cascades National Park Complex, Stehekin is a natural destination for hiking and camping. The outdoor possibilities are truly world class. Because of the natural barrier of the Cascades and the fact that there are no roads in or out of Upper Lake Chelan or Stehekin, there are fewer hikers and campers, making it nice for the fortunate few.

North Cascades National Park &
Lake Chelan Recreational Area
Stehekin District || P.O. Box 7 || Stehekin WA 98852 || 360-856-5700
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.

Click Here for a Complete Guide to Upper Lake Chelan, Stehekin and the
North Cascades Recreation Area

National Park Service Activities

Golden West Visitor Center:
The Visitor Center is open daily from spring through fall. Short talks on special natural or cultural history topics are provided. Some evening programs are also offered. Check schedule for details. Other information on maps, backcountry permits, bus reservations, informative publications and interpretive activities; are available at the Golden West Visitor Center.

Exhibitions of art and other pieces related to the Stehekin area are presented by local artists.

Exhibitions of art and other pieces related to the Stehekin area are presented by local artists. Periodic special workshops take place in the adjoining workshop center.

The Junior Ranger program is available to all interested candidates. Pick up your activity instruction sheet at the Golden West Visitor Center. Badge and certificate available upon completion of activities. Check with a ranger for details!

Special programs will be offered at different times during the summer. Check activity schedule posted at the Golden West Visitor Center or ask a ranger. In addition, there are three self-guided nature trails in the Stehekin Valley. Two are located at the Landing area and one at Rainbow Falls.

Click Here for more information about the National Park

Ranger Station:
Located at the Landing above the post office, the ranger station houses Park Service administrative offices. Backcountry information, permits and books, maps and brochures are available year-round. Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

The interpretive staff at North Cascades National Park present a wide variety of programs. Enhance your Stehekin experience by participating in one or several National Park Service Ranger programs. Topics and presenters vary.

Click Here for program topics and times
 

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.

Remote and isolated, Holden Village is truly "a place apart."

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: http://www.holdenvillage.org/