Here's a guide to hiking in Stehekin, and some beautiful dayhikes you may want to try.  

Interested in going overnight? Try out some great Backpacking trips!

DAY HIKES IN THE STEHEKIN VALLEY

Easy Hikes

Moderate Hikes

Hard Hikes

NOTE: Due to flood damage, the Upper Stehekin Valley Road has be closed at Carwash Falls. Due to lack of turnaround space and poor road conditions, the Valley Shuttle Bus can only take you to High Bridge, 1.5 miles down-valley of Carwash Falls. Private vehicles may travel the entire distance to the end of the road at their discretion.

HIKING IN THE STEHEKIN VALLEY
An article by Clifford Courtney

The Stehekin Valley has many trails that lead out of it for day hikes or extended backpacking trips. The popular Pacific Crest Trail passes through the valley entering from, the south down Agnes Creek and going north up Bridge Creek. There are many books available, the most useful one being Stehekin, A Guide to the Enchanted Valley, by Fred T. Darvil, Jr. This book is available at numerous places in Stehekin.

There are many questions that you may have about hiking and trails that cannot be answered here. I have tried to describe some of the more popular day hikes available and to answer a few of the most pondered questions.

There are a few things that should be mentioned about hiking that I hope do not deter you. One of the most asked questions is the availability of water, and if you should drink it if you find it. As a resident of the Stehekin valley all my life, I drink just about any water I stumble onto, but there have been some recent reports of giardia near the valley.

The National Parks Service does not recommend drinking the water without first filtering, boiling, or treating it. It's your choice - for day hikes, if you are worried about it, you can always bring water with you from a potable source.

Other things that tend to concern people are our bears, snakes, bees, and ticks that a hiker will run into occasionally. Snakes (timber rattlers) are not a real problem with day-hikers as the trails are usually brushed and there is good visibility so you can see the snakes and the snakes can see you. The rattlesnake is not an offensive animal and will try to get away from you if it can. Confrontations only happen when one is stepped on or feels threatened.

Black bears that live in the valley have no history,' of' human confrontation except when they are looking for food. That is, looking for the food that humans may possess, not looking for humans, as food. The most dangerous time is when moth6r bears have their cubs with them and they feel the safety of their offspring is being threatened. Bears have poor eyesight and a very sensitive nose. Many people think they are being aggressive when -they raise up on their hind legs, but they are merely trying to figure out what you are. The only real problems I have heard about have been caused by dogs chasing bears, which leads to the bear chasing the dog. The dog then runs back to his master for safety and hides, cowering behind his master's legs.

That is if he can catch him, for at, this point the master is usually running at a fast clip also. Most of the trails in the valley have restrictions against taking a dog with you. There has been no human injury due to bears in our area. If you should meet one on the trail it will usually run when it sees you. If not wait for it to get off the trail. If you suspect it is a female with cubs, don't rush it, it may become defensive,

Ticks are abundant on some trails in the spring and early summer. Our local ticks do not seem to be a carrier of any diseases, but they can be quite a nuisance all the same. It is a good idea to check for ticks after a hike. They are most commonly found on the scalp.

A bee sting to many people is only a slight annoyance. But if you are allergic it is a life threatening situation. If you are allergic carry your bee kit with you. If you are in doubt about anybody in your group, it is wise to carry one in case of a reaction.

The kits are very light —and can be slipped into your pocket. The kit contains adrenalin and antihistamine tablets. This can't be over-emphasized as most people fail to understand, the importance of the situation and casualty leave their life support system at home. I am not allergic, but if I were I would rather have a couple bears and forty or fifty rattlesnakes in my tent with me (just trying to make a point) than to have one bee and no kit!

Carnivorous insects, such as horseflies, deerflies, and mosquitoes, can often be viewed in the area and the amazing thing about them is they are very curious and like to afflict slight doses of pain to test your tolerance. Since many of you will be fortunate enough to see some of these native insects first hand, it is wise to bring some, repellent along. The repellent rarely works, but at least it takes your mind off the annoyance while you are putting it on.

Easy Hikes                                                                                               back to top

The Lakeshore Trail follows the north shore of Lake Chelan 17 miles to Prince Creek. The day hiker can go as far as he feels up to and turn around. Few will choose to go any further than the seven miles to Moore Point (14 miles round trip) before turning around and heading back to Stehekin. The trail has only slight ups and downs for the first four miles to Flick Creek. This is a good destination spot for a day hike as the lake is easily accessible and there is a campground and shelter.

This is the ideal trail for a morning or evening stroll if you are staying at the Stehekin Landing Resort because the trailhead is close by. It is also a nice day hike with small children as it is easy walking and when they get tired, you can turn around and return without waiting for transportation. Since you don't gain much elevation on this trail, the views are limited to the lake, Stehekin Valley, and the surrounding mountains. The best view on this trail is 5.9 miles down lake at Hunts Bluff where you are 400 feet above the lake with a good view of the surrounding area.

To find the trailhead follow the road past the Golden West Lodge a few hundred feet. It is a good idea to walk in front of small children as there are a few rattlesnake sightings along this trail every season.

NOTE: Due to the 2006 Flick Creek Fire, portions of this trail experienced fire damage. Be sure to check the current trail conditions before using this trail.

Stehekin River Trail takes you four miles to Weaver Point on the south shore of Lake Chelan where you will find a large public campground and a sandy beach for those who like cold water swimming. The way is mostly forested and you are only in view of the river along three different stretches. This is a nice cool hike for a hot, day and comes complete with a few fishing holes along the way.

The trailhead is 4.5 miles up valley from the boat landing and across Harlequin Bridge. Follow Company Creek Road 125 yards and take a left into the NPS maintenance area. Follow the signs.

Agnes Gorge Trail takes you 2.5 miles to a 210 foot deep gorge with only 300 feet elevation gain. As far as scenery is concerned, this is my favorite of the easy trails. The trail opens up in a couple of places for a nice view of 8,115 foot Agnes Mountain. After two miles, you will reach a small stream that crosses the trail - be prepared to get your feet wet in early summer! From this stream it is only a half mile to the edge of the gorge where there was, at one time, a suspension bridge across to the other side. If you backtrack approximately fifty feet, you will find a path that continues upstream. Follow this and it will take you down to the water's edge near a 15 foot waterfall and a view of the gorge. This is also a great place for a lunch stop.

To find the trailhead, cross High Bridge heading up-valley. At the top of the hill you will see Agnes Creek Trail taking off to your left. This IS NOT the trail you want. Continue past the road that leads to High Bridge Campground about 125 feet and you will see where the Agnes Gorge Trail leaves the road on your left.

The Old Wagon Road that was built to service the prospecting community of Bridge Creek has long been rerouted but it now makes a very gentle and quite pleasant hike. Catch the shuttle to High Bridge and continue up the road for another 1.5 miles. The Old Wagon Road trail will take off on your right. The trail splits shortly after you get on it. The left path will take you 3 miles to Bridge Creek Camp. If you stay right on the trail you will connect to the Coon Lake trail system, from which you can access Coon Lake, McGregor Mountain, or High Bridge.

Flat Creek Trail. Be sure to get an early start on this trail. The trailhead is approximately 6.1 miles from Carwash Falls. Take the Old Wagon Road to Bridge Creek Camp, where it meets back up with the Stehekin Valley Road. Flat Creek trail takes off from the road a few hundred yards above Park Creek Bridge. As the name implies this trail is quite flat and only 3.3 miles in length. This trail is enjoyed by many during the fall foliage season. If you don't mind fighting a little brush this is also a good area to catch Cutthroat Trout.

Moderate Hikes                                                                                   back to top

Coon Lake-McGregor-Bullion Loop Trail is full of options with three different trailheads to choose from. One is .5 miles above Tumwater Bridge, one at High Bridge and one at Bullion Campground. At the Bullion Campground trailhead, there is also a small loop trail and another leg of the trail that leads to Cascade Corrals. This is better understood by looking at the map. The easiest route is to start above the Tumwater Bridge, as the road has gained much, of the elevation for you. From this trailhead you may elect to meet the Stehekin Road at High Bridge, Bullion Campground or Cascade Corrals. Starting at Tumwater Trailhead, it is an easy one mile through mostly cedar and fir timber to Coon Lake and McGregor Trail Junction.

An option for those wanting a longer-hike is to turn left onto McGregor Mountain Trail for a ways and then come back and continue on the loop. One mile up the McGregor Mountain trail takes you to a nice view of the valley and to a falls which provides, a scramble trail to water. The higher you go up McGregor Trail, the better the view!

This option is a good half-day hike for those staying at Stehekin Valley Ranch or a good day hike if part of the McGregor Mountain trail is used, since you can hike all the way back to the ranch and not worry about return transportation. Coon Lake is nearly a mile long and rather marshy on the trail end. You will often see wildlife, such as ducks, deer and an occasional beaver on or near the lake. About four-tenths of a mile after leaving the lake a stock trail takes off to your left which goes to the East end of the lake. You do not want to take this turn. Another two-tenths of a mile takes you to a junction that you will need to make a decision at. Keeping right will bring you to High Bridge, a left will continue you on the loop towards Bullion Campground and Cascade Corrals.

On this route you will soon cross a large rockslide and have a good view of the valley and Agnes Creek. Approximately one mile past the junction, you will see a small sign which says loop. A right here will take you to Bullion Campground and the Stehekin Road, keeping left will take you on the north leg of the Bullion loop trail for .5 mile and another junction marked loop. You will need to watch for this sign will closely because the horses that use this trail do not turn here and this turn is hard to notice. What you are looking for is a small 4"x4" post about one quarter mile past the large rock slide. A right here will continue you on the loop. It will soon cross the road and skirt the river for a short distance before crossing the road again and returning you to Bullion Campground. A left will bring you to Cascade Corrals (Stehekin Valley Ranch) and if you are staying there, you can bear left around the barn and field to the camp. If not, bear right on the driveway and it will lead you to the Stehekin Valley Road.

This is the same trail that is used for horseback rides, so don't be surprised to see five or six horses. The best thing to do when meeting horses is to step off the trail on the lower side. Try to avoid abrupt movements. A horse will not spook when he sees you if you don't surprise him. It is best if you let them know you are there, if you are not out in the open, by chatting with the wrangler or guests.

Rainbow Loop Trail is a five-mile loop with the lower trailhead taking off from the road 2.6 miles from Stehekin Landing and the upper trailhead at 5.0 miles up-valley from the landing or .4 miles above Harlequin Bridge. I recommend starting at the upper trailhead as the elevation gain is a little less, Also, the first half of the loop is forested, so it is cooler uphill hiking.

Two miles will bring you to the junction of Rainbow Loop and Rainbow Creek Trails; here you take a right. An optional hike is up Rainbow Creek Trail a little more than a mile which will take you to an exposed bluff with an excellent 180 degree view of Lake Chelan and the Stehekin Valley. Continuing right at the junction you will drop down a short distance to where the trail crosses Rainbow Creek. This is a nice spot for a rest or lunch beside the creek. After climbing up from the creek, the next .4 miles you will be on a flat bench that takes you past Boulder Creek Trail on your left.

Stay right and you will start descending into the valley. On the way down there are several nice views of the valley and lake. If you do not plan on hiking the whole loop ,the lower leg is your best choice for scenery.

There are many other trails that could be considered moderate, depending on how far and how fast you go.

Bridge Creek Trail. Part of the Pacific Crest Trail System, this trail can also make a nice day hike. Six miles takes you to a bridge and a nice spot to rest or try your hand at catching some wild Cutthroat Trout. If you continue on from here you will switchback up about one-half mile to a trail junction. Take a left here and go up the North Fork of Bridge Creek to Walker Park about three miles or continue on to Grizzly Creek for a total of six miles. This trail takes you up a mountain valley with only moderate elevation gain. Although not as picturesque as some of the more strenuous hikes, this is nonetheless a nice place to spend the day.

To get to the trailhead, take the Old Wagon Road to Bridge Creek Camp. Keep going for another 100 yards, and the trail will take off on your right. On a hot day continue another 100 yards past the trailhead on the road and be prepared to jump into a marvelous (but cold) swimming hole when you arrive at the Bridge Creek bridge.

Hard Hikes                                                                                              back to top

McGregor Mountain is a fine choice if you desire to gain some elevation for a grand view. This 8149' mountain had a fire lookout at one time and you can be sure that wherever you find an old lookout site you will find a magnificent 360 degree view. It is 6.8 miles from High Bridge to Heaton Camp which is the only campsite on the mountain. From here the trail takes you about another quarter mile to where the trail ends and a rock scramble begins. While this is not a technical climb it does have a high degree of exposure so use good judgment on whether or not you want to continue from this point. If you do decide to continue do not head straight toward the peak which has the repeater antenna on it. Start out on the right side of the scree slope and angle to your left toward the solid rock and you should start seeing painted blazes to mark the route.

The route will take you through a notch a couple hundred yards to the left of the summit and from there you will gain the peak from the backside. For other options see the section under easy hikes on Coon Lake and McGregor Mountain.

Purple Creek Trail. This trail starts at the Stehekin Landing just pass the Golden West Lodge. Like many of the trails in the area you go as far as you would like to and return since this is not a loop trail. Good views of the lake and the lower valley begin at about 3 miles. For those more ambitious start early and hike 8 miles to 6800' Purple Pass. If you still have some energy left go approximately one-half mile, further to Boulder Butte, there is a former fire lookout site with a supreme view.

NOTE: Due to the 2006 Flick Creek Fire, portions of this trail experienced fire damage. Be sure to check the current trail conditions before using this trail.

Goode Ridge Trail. This trail takes you five miles with an elevation gain of 4400' to the brow of Goode Ridge, an old Forest Service fire lookout location. Although the trail is somewhat relentless in its pursuit of the ridge, it is a good trail with decent tread and grade. If you desire to work for a superb nearly 360 degree view, this is the trail to take as it is very possible to do between shuttle buses for anybody in reasonably good condition. On a hot day bring lots of water and be prepared to jump into a marvelous (but cold) swimming hole when you arrive back at Bridge Creek.