Explore the North Cascades and experience all that they have to offer. Just two hours east of Seattle is this most spectacular area of pristine wilderness in Washington state. Immerse yourself in a sea of rich green foliage; sparkle in the glow of deep blue waters; inhale the crisp mountain air; indulge your senses with the wonders that only nature holds.
Experience Wilderness
Spotlight
On The Trail
Favorite Places
Did You Know
News You Can Use
Activities & Events
Experience Wilderness
Your Journey Starts Here
The North Cascades continues to be one of the most pristine and unspoiled locations in our region - a place where imaginations can come to life, a place where we go to get away from everything and a place where we can discover what is truly important.
View photos from a variety of North Cascades locations and trails.
Learn more about this outdoor wonderland.
Find out how you can get involved in the many year-round activities.
Spotlight
Photo courtesy of the North Cascades National Park
Ranger Mark gives a naturalist talk in front of the Golden West Visitor
Center in Stehekin. These 15-minute naturalist talks, given daily during the summer
season before the Lady of the Lake II boat departs, cover a variety of natural and
cultural resource topics.
Stehekin
Stehekin is a small community tucked deeply away in the beautiful North Cascades on the north end of Lake Chelan. With a population of less than 100 permanent residents, this unique community is a rustic haven and a gateway to the surrounding wilderness and recreation areas. The Lake Chelan National Recreation Area that surrounds Stehekin provides outstanding opportunities for family fun. This area at the head of 50-mile Lake Chelan offers educational ranger programs and is a great place for cycling, rafting the Stehekin River, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking.
Stehekin is accessible by foot, air, or passenger ferry. Hikers can reach Stehekin by the Pacific Crest Trail from Washington Highway 20 or over Cascade Pass and along the Stehekin River to arrive in Stehekin. The Lake Chelan Boat Company operates two passenger ferries in the summer, the Lady of the Lake II and the Lady Express. They each travel up the 50 mile-long Lake Chelan and back daily. Chelan Airways flies their floatplane several times a day based on reservations.
On The Trail
Old Wagon Trail (Pacific Crest Trail)
This short and relatively easy hike begins at High Bridge and rises through wooded switchbacks, one mile (1.6 km), to Coon Lake. As the trail climbs, hikers have beautiful views of Agnes Creek Valley and the glaciers on Agnes Mountain and Gunsight Peak. Coon Lake is a great stop with excellent birding. Look for the active beaver lodge and osprey nest at the lake's outlet.
Past the lake, hikers move through forests of douglas-fir and western red cedar, with easy stream crossings and some open meadows. Three miles (4.8 km) beyond Coon Lake the trail passes through the site of the 2005 Shady Fire. Listen for the buzz of hummingbirds grazing on fireweed nectar and the tapping of black-backed, hairy and downy woodpeckers excavating fire-killed trees for insects. Near the end of the trail, Bridge Creek Camp straddles a clear, tiny creek. Just past the camp, the trail arrives at the real Bridge Creek, a thundering river. Cross the bridge to find an emerald green swimming hole.
Enjoy Bridge Creek as the destination for a family day hike, or use Bridge Creek Camp as the perfect base camp for multiple day trip excursions. With Bridge Creek Camp as a base, several options exist for the the second day of a multi-day trip: try the steep but scenic Goode Ridge for expansive valley and peak views, explore the peaceful upper reaches of the Stehekin River and go fishing at Flat Creek or follow the Pacific Crest Trail up Bridge Creek to its confluence with the North Fork Bridge Creek. Multi-day adventurers can use this trail as the jumping off point for the Upper Stehekin Valley where you can visit the spectacular scenery of Horseshoe Basin or even hike over Cascade Pass or Park Creek Pass to Thunder Basin. It is 5.1 m (8.2 km) one-way from High Bridge to Bridge Creek. Stop by the Stehekin Pastry Company to pick up goodies to fuel your trip up the trail.
Getting there: The Stehekin Shuttle operates daily from May 26 through October 7 between the Stehekin Landing and High Bridge. The bus accommodates backpacks, bicycles and pets. You may get off the bus at any location. For more information about the Stehekin shuttle, click here. A backcountry permit is required for all overnight stays. Day use permits are not required.
Favorite Places
Stehekin Landing Resort
The newly renovated Stehekin Landing Resort is entering its second summer season of operation. Guests to this resort are treated to rustic comfort in rooms overlooking Lake Chelan and delicious food in the top notch restaurant. This North Cascades National Park concessionaire has a variety of accommodations available and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the summer. The resort is also offering a number of packages throughout the summer. Check out Women’s Week in Stehekin and other resort details at the Stehekin Landing Resort's website or call 509-682-4494 for more information.
Did You Know?
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan is named from the Salish word Tsi-laan, meaning deep water. The 50-mile long lake is 1.5 miles at its widest and 1,486 feet at its deepest, making it the third deepest lake in the United States. The peaks surrounding Chelan rise to heights of up to 7,000 feet, providing highland valleys that are home to the glaciers that feed Lake Chelan and lush forests that cover the scenic mountainsides. This spectacular setting and the abundant natural resources within it have inspired federal protection in the region. Portions of a national park, two national forest wilderness areas and a national recreation area encompass much of the Chelan drainage.
Share Your Stories
Do you have a favorite place in the North Cascades? Take a moment to share your story or photos with us and you could be featured in an upcoming edition of our e-newsletter or on our website!
News You Can Use
President Bush signed Wild Sky Wilderness into law!
President Bush signed into law the Wild Sky Wilderness Act (H.R. 886/S. 520) on May 8th, as part of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (S. 2739), creating the first new national forest wilderness area in Washington state in more than 20 years.
Thanks to Congressman Larsen’s and Senator Murray’s unwavering commitment to Washington’s one-of-a-kind wildlands, the new Wild Sky Wilderness protects 106,000 acres of forests, rivers, valleys and mountains in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Much of this area is in low elevation forest, allowing easy access for recreationists and protecting vital habitat for wildlife.
Permanent protection of this diverse landscape ensures the ecological future of fish and wildlife throughout the region, safeguards world-class recreational opportunities and bolsters the economies of local communities. Thousands of visitors come to enjoy the Wild Sky’s world-class rafting, fishing, rock climbing, and many spectacular miles of hiking trails. Additionally, visitors and residents alike can enjoy Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and many other forms of recreation. This steady flow of visitors is crucial to the economic stability of many small towns throughout the region.
Years of hard work by our congressional champions now ensures that visitors and residents alike will be able to enjoy this world-class recreational destination and know that their children and grandchildren will be able to do the same.
Activities & Events
Note: events and activities may change. Please check the presenting organization's website before heading out on any event or activity to ensure that it is still occurring on the same date and time.
Get Out and About this Summer!
Summer is on its way and it's time to get out and enjoy the many activities available to us in the North Cascades. Lots of snow fell in the mountains this winter but the snow is melting and revealing more and more recreation opportunities. Learn more about all the great outdoor opportunities that await you.
The North Cascades are Calling
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of North Cascades National Park Service Complex by volunteering in Stehekin. Hike, fly, or take the passenger ferry to where you will be provided with rustic camping accommodations with a refrigerator, cooking facilities, restroom, and access to bicycles. Work for 2 ½ days (Friday afternoon through Sunday) and then stay and use the campground and bicycles for an additional 2 ½ days (Monday through Wednesday morning) of exploration. Learn more about the available volunteer opportunities.
Share Your Love for the Great Outdoors
We want to hear from you! Take a moment to share your wilderness experiences and photos (Please send low-resolution photos) with us. Your photo or story could be featured in a future e-newsletter or on our website.
Click here for more upcoming activities in the North Cascades.
The Wilderness Society
We protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places
Wilderness. Pass it On.
