6 Night Adventure Itinerary

7 Days, 6 Nights – Taking advantage of all Stehekin has to offer

Day 1

Board the Stehekin Ferry at Field’s Point at 1:00pm. You arrive in Stehekin at 2:45pm  and are met by the bus that takes you to Stehekin Valley Ranch in time to settle in to your cabin before dinner.

Take an optional stroll up the road towards High Bridge to stretch your legs before dinner at 5:30pm.

Day 2

The horse lover in your group will love the chance to ride one of the sweet Norwegian Fjord Horses from Stehekin Outfitters. Spend the morning taking a trail ride to Coon Lake, with spectacular views all along the way. The ride will get you back to the Ranch in time for lunch.

Rent an Electric Bike for the afternoon, and explore Stehekin on your own schedule. Take the opportunity to see things you can’t see from the bus such as Buckner Orchard and the other side of Harlequin Bridge. Or take them to the end of the road to see Carwash Falls. Or both! Then after a stop at the Bakery for a quick treat, head on down to the lake in the heat of the afternoon and enjoy a swim at one of the public picnic areas.

Day 3

This morning finds you heading down-valley for a Kayak Tour on Lake Chelan. Follow your guide through marshland, over “Old Stehekin” and out to the Native American pictographs as they give you some of the history of the area.

After the tour, you have the option to head back to the Ranch for lunch, or stay down by the lake where you can spend the afternoon hiking on the Lakeshore Trail or taking a swim – or both!

Day 4

After breakfast, hop on the shuttle bus, and head down-valley to the Rainbow Loop Trail. 4.5 miles will wind up through the wooded side hill, and then open up to spectacular views of the valley and lake as you descend back down. Take a left at the road, and go another 1/2 mile to end at the Bakery for a tasty treat! Sit and relax, or take a stroll down along the lake before catching the bus back to the Ranch.

A relaxing Massage awaits you when you return to the Ranch. Then time to kick back before another fabulous meal, topped off with pies from the Bakery.

 

Day 5

Have a fisherman with you? Then take advantage of the river float trips offered by Stehekin Fishing Adventures. Their guide will take you to all the best fishing holes as you make your way down the river. They also offer first class instruction, and can provide all the gear you need. A fantastic way to spend the day!

(Not into fishing? No worries. There are still plenty of trails to explore instead if you prefer, including Bridge Creek, the River Trail, the Lakeshore Trail, and even the Pacific Crest Trail!)

Day 6

Enjoy a hearty breakfast, and pack a lunch for another day of breath-taking hiking.

Catch the bus to High Bridge again, and strike out towards some spectacular views. Hike to your skill level, going as far as your skill and interest will take you:

  • Coon Lake (AKA. Howard Lake) Loop – 1.0 mile of moderately steep trail takes you to Coon Lake-a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by rugged mountains. Sit and enjoy the peaceful view before  continuing on, taking every left when the trail splits. 1.0 miles past the lake, you will return to the main road. Take a right for 500 yards to see the “end of the road” where it washed out at Carwash Falls. Or, just go left to head back towards High Bridge. Along the way you will cross Tumwater Bridge which is another beautiful spot. (3.5 miles total)
  • Optional side-trip on McGregor Mountain Trail:  Continue past the lake a short ways. You will see a trail taking off to the right towards McGregor Mountain. There are 2 great vantage points 1 mile and 2 miles above Coon Lake, and these are great destinations. Beyond that, the views to the south just get better and better the farther you climb up the side hill – turn around when you like. (additional 2+ miles, depending on how far you decide to go)
  • McGregor Mountain – For those looking to get some elevation, this is the best hike in the valley for views. Follow the trail to Coon Lake, but continue past the lake a short ways. You will see a trail taking off to the right towards McGregor Mountain. The summit is another 7 miles from this point, and will give a 360 degree view. The last mile is a bit of a scramble, so be sure to get clear instructions of the route before attempting to summit. Do NOT feel like you must summit to make this hike worthwhile though! Fantastic views will be encountered throughout the trail.  (up to 16 miles total)

Return to the Ranch on one of the scheduled afternoon shuttles, and then enjoy another fantastic meal – you’ve earned it!

Day 7

Breakfast is served and then it is back on the bus for your trip down valley stopping at all the points of interest including Rainbow Falls, The Old Stehekin School and of course, the bakery. The Stehekin Ferry arrives back at Fields Point at 12:30 pm. This gives you ample daylight to travel to your next destination.