STEHEKIN 101
Three Itineraries - Three Days or Less
Stehekin: that magical valley at the inlet of Lake Chelan. A hundred years ago, my great-grandpa fell in love with its fish. I love the fishing, biking, hiking, and simple, cell-phone-free serenity. Here are three itineraries that offer a bit of the magic.
Three Day Trip
It's been my experience that it takes a good two nights in Stehekin to soak up the valley’s calm. Here's my preferred three-day trip:
Day 1
Arrive on the Lady Express (see more on travel below). Rent bikes at Discovery Bikes for the afternoon. Eat lunch at the Bakery (yes, the one you’ve heard about). Bike to Rainbow Falls, the Historic Stehekin School, and Buckner Orchard. Return to the landing (where you rented bikes) and catch the 5:15 bus to the Stehekin Valley Ranch. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner at the Ranch before glamping for the night in your private tent cabin.
Lake Chelan from the Rainbow Loop Trail
Day 2
Pack your lunch after breakfast and catch the 9:30 am Ranch bus. Have the driver drop you off at the upper Rainbow Loop Trailhead. This is a 5-mile hike with lovely views. I’ve led kids as young as six on this hike. Very family-friendly. (And if you want a bit of adventure, ask a local how to find the Emerald Pool along the way.) Catch the return bus around 1:30 pm (or the later afternoon bus). Relax and meander around the Ranch for the balance of the day.
Day 3
By this time you won’t want to leave, but the boat won’t wait. Pack up, enjoy your last Ranch breakfast and depart on the Lady Express at 12 pm.
Two Day Trip
Day 1
Arrive on the Lady Express and look for the owners of the Stehekin Log Cabin #2 waiting for you at the landing. Cabin #2 is your abode for the night and it comes with the use of a private car. The valley is yours!Lunch at the Bakery.Drive to Rainbow Falls, the School, and Buckner Orchard. Also don’t miss the Garden, fresh organic goodies straight from the soil. Dinner at the Ranch (you can make a reservation at the Bakery earlier in the day). Drive up to High Bridge before or after dinner for a scenic gaze into the Stehekin River.
Roadside Gumball Machine – My daughter’s favorite.
Day 2
With your own car for transportation, you can snooze a bit longer before packing up. Grab breakfast at the Bakery. Point the car to the landing and catch the Lady Express. If you have kids ten or younger, look for the road-side gumball machine at the entrance to the Garden. Get your quarters ready.
One Day Trip
Day 1
Arrive on the Lady Express at 11 am. Rent bikes from Discovery Bikes. Do the Bakery / Falls / Orchard / School / Garden / Gumball loop described above. Return to the landing by 1:30 pm and catch the Lady of the Lake II down lake at 2 pm. (Yes, you need to peddle right along to make the boat!)
Getting There
The main form of transportation to Stehekin is the Lady of the Lake. See the Lady's website for complete schedules. During the main summer season, two boats operate daily: the Lady Express (the "fast boat") and the Lady II (the "slow boat"). I recommend catching the "fast boat" at Fields Point on the south shore. This will save you time on what can be a bit of a long boat ride.
And the Fishing
My grandpa showed me the favorite family fishing holes he learned about from his dad. Whether we were casting on the river or dropping a fly into one of the tributary streams, fishing was a big part of my Stehekin childhood. Now, of course I'm not in a position to comment on specific locations. But I can direct anglers to John Wilsey over at Stehekin Fishing Adventures. He'll set you up.
