Stehekin

Harlequin Campground

Book on recreation.govForestRiverside / CreeksideWaterfallOff the beaten pathRustic / HistoricHikingFishingSwimmingMotor-boatingBackpackingVault toiletsFire pitPicnic table

Availability

Each day shows how many of this campground’s sites are open.

About this spot

Overview

Campgrounds in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are walk-in sites located in the Stehekin Valley. Harlequin Camp is located along the Stehekin River, 4.5 miles up the Stehekin Valley Road from Stehekin Landing and approximately 6.5 miles from High Bridge.  Stehekin is a remote community with limited facilities and is only accessible by foot, boat, or plane. There is some shared parking at the campground for a limited number of vehicles but all sites are considered walk-in.

Recreation

Visitors can access several trails from the campground area, such as the Stehekin River Trail, Company Creek Trail, and Rainbow Loop. Many of these trails also lead to other backcountry trails and the opportunity for longer wilderness backpacks. A backcountry permit is required for overnight stays in the backcountry.   Other trails along the Stehekin Valley Road can be reached by foot, bike, or shuttle bus. Visitors can boat, fish, and swim (although the water is a chilly 45 degrees) in Lake Chelan or the Stehekin River. Bears do inhabit the area, so care should be taken when hiking, picnicking, or camping.

Facilities

Harlequin has pit toilets and garbage containers, though all trash must be eventually barged downlake and visitors are encouraged to pack out everything they pack in. The campground has no running water; plan on boiling or filtering water from the Stehekin River or bringing what you need. Each campsite offers a picnic table and fires are allowed in designated fire pits. Most sites are large, with space to arrange multiple tents (no specific tent pads). There are no roads or car access into Stehekin. Accessible by foot, boat or plane only. Visitors may take a passenger ferry or their own boat, which may be parked at the public docks in Stehekin with the purchase of a federal dock permit. (4.5 miles from Harlequin). At the Stehekin Landing area, the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin has a small store with very limited groceries and a restaurant. Public showers and laundry facilities are located near the Landing, but not in the campground.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (360) 854-7200.

Nearby Attractions

Stehekin is a gateway into the east side of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Many short to multi-day backpacking trips begin in the Stehekin area. Other attractions in the area are the historic Buckner Orchard, where visitors can pick apples in the fall, and Rainbow Falls, a 312-foot waterfall near the Stehekin Valley Road.

Typical weather

Air temperature

Average daily high-low
Average daily high and low air temperature, January through DecemberEach vertical bar shows a monthly average daily high and low in degrees Fahrenheit.41°29°JJanuary: average high 41°F, average low 29°F42°29°FFebruary: average high 42°F, average low 29°F48°33°MMarch: average high 48°F, average low 33°F55°38°AApril: average high 55°F, average low 38°F66°45°MMay: average high 66°F, average low 45°F73°51°JJune: average high 73°F, average low 51°F83°56°JJuly: average high 83°F, average low 56°F84°58°AAugust: average high 84°F, average low 58°F74°52°SSeptember: average high 74°F, average low 52°F61°44°OOctober: average high 61°F, average low 44°F48°35°NNovember: average high 48°F, average low 35°F40°29°DDecember: average high 40°F, average low 29°F

5-year average · Open-Meteo

Stehekin River

Estimated
Average water temperature
Average water temperature for Stehekin River, January through DecemberEach point shows the monthly average water temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.35°JJanuary: average water temperature 35°F36°FFebruary: average water temperature 36°F37°MMarch: average water temperature 37°F40°AApril: average water temperature 40°F43°MMay: average water temperature 43°F47°JJune: average water temperature 47°F51°JJuly: average water temperature 51°F53°AAugust: average water temperature 53°F50°SSeptember: average water temperature 50°F44°OOctober: average water temperature 44°F39°NNovember: average water temperature 39°F36°DDecember: average water temperature 36°F