OVERVIEW:
An outdoor hiking adventure with a group of friendly people and gentle horses.
DESCRIPTION:
Our trips get you into the high country, above the tree line and into some of the most remote and beautiful locations of the North Cascade Mountains. These trips are designed to help you take the intimidation factor out of camping. Our horses are capable trail stock, many of whom have grown up right here in the valley and have spent their lives packing along our trails. Trip staff are experienced campers, horsemen, cooks, and also love to hike! Let us guide you into the wilderness and help you explore the mountains.
Don’t see a trip that suits your adventurous palate? Ask us about private trips, we can help you put together the trip of your dreams.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY, This trip is not planned for 2023
Friday: Arrive at Prince Creek on the Lady of the Lake for a relaxing afternoon hike to Rex Creek
Saturday: Hike up the Lake Shore to private camping accommodations at Moore Point.
Sunday: Layover day: Choose to explore up Fish Creek to Round Lake and beyond or head to the water for swimming and fishing.
Monday: Hike 7 miles up to Stehekin for an additional stay in the valley or transportation home.
View close to Pride Rock
Saturday August 19: Start your morning with a ride to Stehekin on the Lady Cat, we’ll meet you off the boat to swap duffle bags for lunches and get you right on the trail to Rainbow Meadows. Enjoy a 9 mile hike into camp before enjoying a hearty dinner and relaxing by the campfire.
Sunday August 20: Layover day; Explore the Meadows and Lake with excellent fishing and short day hikes.
Monday August 21: Hike 3.2 miles back to Bench Creek and then climb 5.5 miles on a well maintained trail into picturesque Hidden Meadows.
August 22 & 23: Layover days at Hidden Meadows. Explore numerous day hikes or relax in camp and enjoy the scenery.
Thursday August 24: Hike down from the Meadows into the Stehekin Valley in time for boat transportation back to your vehicle or additional lodging.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY: This trip is not offered 2023
Tuesday: Arrive at Moore Point and spend the afternoon by the lake or exploring before dinner around the campfire.
Wednesday: Get a nice early start up Fish Creek trail and hike into Blue Grouse Basin.
Thursday: Layover day at Blue Grouse.
Friday: Hike from Blue Grouse over to Twin Springs.
Saturday: Layover day at Twin Springs. Bountiful day hiking options include Robinson Pass, Gray Peak, Courtney Peak, Surprise Lake and more.
Sunday: Hike back down Fish Creek back to Moore Point in time to hop on the boat back to Chelan or head up to Stehekin for additional lodging.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY: Trip not offered 2023
Thursday: Hike a gentle 3 miles to Bridge Creek Camp
Friday: After breakfast, hike 6.5 miles to Cottonwood Camp
Saturday: Layover day; Explore the Black Warrior Mine at Horseshoe Basin, hike to Cascade Pass or Sahale Arm or try your hand at fishing the numerous streams
Sunday: Hike 9 miles to Stehekin for boat transportation home or for Stehekin lodging.
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
An experience of a lifetime in an opportunity to get into the heart of the Cascades and see their splendor up close.
WHAT YOU PROVIDE:
An adventurous attitude and a healthy curiosity to explore the North Cascades.
How do I make a reservation?
Call us at 509-682-7742
Winter Office hours are Monday – Friday 9-4
Summer Hours: (mid-May through mid-September)
Monday – Friday 8-5
Saturday 8-5
Sunday 12-5
Email us anytime: StehekinReservations@gmail.com
Where are you located?
Stehekin, Washington is located at the head waters of Lake Chelan, sixty miles north of the town of Chelan. The Stehekin valley is nestled among the giant snow capped peaks of the North Cascades mountain range. Getting to us can be a little tricky as there are no roads that lead in or out of our remote community, but these two companies make traveling easy with daily services.
The Lady of the Lake Boat Company offers daily ferry service on two of their passenger boats.
www.LadyoftheLake.com
509-682-4584
Chelan Seaplanes gets you high above the water where you can enjoy a birds eye view of the half hour trip.
www.ChelanSeaplanes.com
509-682-5555
Do I need Experience?
No, this is the beauty of our trips. They are designed for all experience levels and make camping fun and easy. Our staff will meet you right off the boat and send you down the trail with good instructions on how to get to camp. After we load the gear on the horses, we’ll be right behind you. Once in camp, we will work on getting settled in which means unpacking, setting up tents and breaking out dinner preparations. We’ll have a fire to sit around, hot water for tea or cocoa and cowboy coffee. Wash basins are available if you’d like to wipe the dust from the day off or feel free to drop your belongings and explore a bit of the area before filling up on dinner.
When we move from camp to camp we’ll have you pack up your duffle bag and tent in the morning and send you down the trail with a hearty lunch and water for the day. You can travel at your leisure, take pictures or short jaunts off side trails. We’ll meet you at the next camp. On layover days we will give you the lay of the land and help you make decisions about what to see and how to spend your day. Many guests bring fishing poles and try their hand at fishing the alpine lakes, others trek to nearby mountain peaks to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Is there an age limit?
We feel that age should not dictate signing up for our trips, but hikers should be realistic about their physical ability. Please take a look at the mileage per day and make sure it is within your athletic ability to accomplish. We do our best to provide a variety of trips for all levels using closer destinations and shorter trips for those who just want to get their feet wet, and longer trips for those with a greater appetite for adventure.
What about meals?
Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry out in the woods. We pack a wood cook stove on every trip and prepare hot, hearty breakfast and dinner meals every day. At breakfast, you’ll find cowboy coffee roasted over the fire along with hot water for tea or cocoa and a menu that rotates between pancakes, french toast, breakfast burritos, bacon, biscuits, fresh fruit, bagels, wholesome oatmeal and breakfast sandwiches. This is also the time to pack a lunch with items such as a sandwich, fruit, trail mix or chips and dessert bar to keep you going through the day. At dinnertime meals coming off the stove include salmon fillets with pesto made from Stehekin Pastry Company, wild rice, vegetables, steak and caramelized onions, pulled pork and coleslaw or chicken, broccoli Alfredo pasta with corn on the cob. We won’t forget a sweet dessert to finish it off and there’s always a pot of hot water for tea around in the evenings.
What clothing do I need?
We recommend dressing in lightweight layers, in our mountains it can be chilly in the morning and get pretty toasty while hiking during the heat of the day. You will want a good pair of sturdy hiking shoes or boots plus a comfortable pair of sneakers for in camp, a couple extra pairs of socks is nice in case the morning brush is damp or your feet get wet along the way. We’ve found hikers enjoy water resistant hiking pants and those that convert to shorts enable you to be extra prepared. Wool and fleece are hard to beat and you’ll want to pack warm gear even if the temperatures are hot when we depart. A knit hat and a pair of mittens are also a good idea to throw in. For a more detailed list, please visit our What to Bring Page by clicking here.
Can I cancel if I can’t make it?
Try as we all might, sometimes life throws us unpredictable changes that may alter our plans. There are several scenarios that might revise our trip schedule. If you need to cancel, please call us as soon as possible so we can open your spot. Deposits are non-refundable and we highly encourage travel insurance. If Stehekin Outfitters or any governing agency within the park cancels our trip due to unforeseen circumstances, we will refund all money.
Beginner to expert, there is no experience required to join our trips. We make the back country fun and take the challenge out of camping. Our trusty, trail wise horses will carry your gear from camp to camp, our camp cook will provide hearty, healthy meals and our staff will help you decide which day hikes are right for you. Each camp location has a variety of hiking options from easy to strenuous to satisfy your need for adventure. Explore the multitude of lakes for alpine fishing or just relax in camp and take in the beautiful scenery, don’t forget to pack your camera.