Stehekin River

Stehekin River
Stehekin River
	Stehekin River near Buckner homestead; (McGregor Mountain in background)
	Location of the mouth of the Stehekin River in Washington
Location
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Chelan
Physical characteristics
Source	Cascade Range
• coordinates	48°27′15″N121°2′24″W / 48.45417°N 121.04000°W
Mouth	Lake Chelan
• coordinates	48°19′10″N120°40′35″W / 48.31944°N 120.67639°W
• elevation	1,102 ft (336 m)
Length	17 mi (27 km)
Basin size	321 sq mi (830 km2)
Discharge
• location	river mile 1.4 at Stehekin, WA
• average	1,403 cu ft/s (39.7 m3/s)
• minimum	58 cu ft/s (1.6 m3/s)
• maximum	18,000 cu ft/s (510 m3/s)

Last updated October 08, 2024

The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the main river flowing into Lake Chelan. Miners arrived in Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by homesteaders in the early 20th century. Today, the Stehekin River Valley is still a remote area that can only be reached by way of a 55-mile boat ride up Lake Chelan.

Course

The Stehekin River originates in the North Cascades near Cascade Pass in North Cascades National Park. It collects the waters of numerous headwater tributaries such as Pelton Creek, Doubtful Creek, and Basin Creek. Major peaks near the source of the Stehekin River include Boston Peak, Buckner Mountain, Booker Mountain, Sahale Mountain, Magic Mountain, Mix-up Peak, and Hurry-up Peak.

The Stehekin River flows generally west and southwest from these mountains, south of Park Creek Ridge to its confluence with Park Creek. Shortly below Park Creek the river receives Bridge Creek, one of its main tributaries. Bridge Creek joins from the north and drains northernmost Chelan County in North Cascades National Park. Bridge Creek and its tributaries drain a number of significant peaks including Goode Mountain, Storm King, Mount Logan, Black Peak, and others. Bridge Creek's source is located near Rainy Pass and Washington Pass along Washington State Route 20. The Stehekin River continues generally southeast below McGregor Mountain to the northwest end of Lake Chelan. Shortly above the lake it receives Agnes Creek, another significant tributary, from the west. Agnes Creek drains the northernmost part of Wenatchee National Forest. Its final mile marks the boundary between North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

At the Agnes Creek confluence the Stehekin River exits the national park and enters the national recreation area. The Stehekin River enters Lake Chelan near Stehekin, a small community accessible only by boat. Roads from Stehekin follow the river up much of its valley. There are numerous campgrounds. The Pacific Crest Trail enters the Stehekin River basin from the south via Suiattle Pass, down South Fork Agnes Creek and Agnes Creek to the Stehekin River, then up the Stehekin to Bridge Creek and up Bridge Creek to Rainy Pass.^[5]

Settlement

Because the region is so remote, the Stehekin River valley remained unsettled until the 1880s, when miners began infiltrating the region in search of mineral wealth. Between the years 1887–1910, a significant number of miners arrived looking for mineral deposits in the North Cascades. By 1890, there was a relatively large hotel Stehekin on Lake Chelan at the mouth of the Stehekin River. The hotel served tourists and fishermen as well as miners.^[6]

Over the centuries, the changing course of the Stehekin River deposited rich, alluvial sediments along the valley floor; however, it also left behind large boulders that made farming difficult. Nevertheless, early homesteaders began farming in the valley around 1910. The most desirable homesteads were located along the Stehekin River and its tributaries since these sites provided a reliable water supply for farming and natural transportation routes leading to Lake Chelan.^[6] The Buckner Homestead was one of the earliest farms along the Stehekin River. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[7]

Because of the harsh winters, few early settlers remained in the valley year around. In the fall most homesteaders would leave the area, choosing to spend the winter in less isolated communities like Chelan. In the spring, families would return the Stehekin Valley to work their farms. Many of the early homesteaders supplemented their incomes by guiding miners into the backcountry and packing goods to remote mining claims. In 1902, the valley's first school was opened in a cabin located at the head of the Lake Chelan. It was later replaced by structure known as the Kronk cabin. Today, the cabin is the oldest school building in the Stehekin Valley. As new families arrived, the need for a real schoolhouse became clear. In 1921, valley residents select a site for a new school. The school was a log structure, built by local volunteers. The Stehekin School still exists, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.^[6]

As mining declined, subsistence farming, logging, and tourism sustained the residents of the Stehekin Valley. Apples were an important crop in the first half of the 20th century. In the winter, hunting and trapping a part of life for year around residents. Perhaps most important to the valley's economy was the arrival of the United States Forest Service. With the establishment of the Stehekin Ranger District in 1905, reliable seasonal work became available to valley residents.^[6]

Today, the Stehekin Valley is still quite isolated. There are fewer than one hundred year-around residents, most employed by the National Park Service. The only way into the valley is a 55-mile boat ride from Chelan. Two boats provided daily service between Chelan and Stehekin during the summer. In the winter, boat service is limited to two trips a week.^[6]

Recreation

During the summer tourism is important since the area in now part of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The Stehekin River is scenic and remote, offering whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities. There are many camp sites available along the river. The Stehekin River is known as for its excellent fly-fishing. Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing is best in the spring, and fishermen come for sockeye salmon in the fall.^[6]^[8]

Tributaries

These are the main tributaries of the Stehekin River:^[9]

Agnes Creek
Arrow Creek
Basin Creek
Battalion Creek
Blackberry Creek
Boulder Creek
Bridge Creek
Buzzard Creek
Cabin Creek
Canim Creek
Clear Creek
Company Creek
Coon Creek
Cottonwood Creek
Doubtful Creek
Flat Creek
Junction Creek
Margerum Creek
McGregor Creek
Moon Creek
Park Creek
Pelton Creek
Rainbow Creek
Sun Creek
Theis Creek
Tolo Creek

Tributary Photos

Bridge Creek
Boulder Creek taken near its outlet into the Stehekin River
Rainbow Falls, Rainbow Creek

Related Research Articles

North Cascades National Park is a national park of the United States in Washington. At more than 500,000 acres (200,000 ha), it is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Complex. North Cascades National Park consists of a northern and southern section, bisected by the Skagit River that flows through the reservoirs of Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area lies on the southern border of the south unit of the park. In addition to the two national recreation areas, other protected lands including several national forests and wilderness areas, as well as Canadian provincial parks in British Columbia, nearly surround the park. North Cascades National Park features the rugged mountain peaks of the North Cascades Range, the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous United States, the headwaters of numerous waterways, and vast forests with the highest degree of flora biodiversity of any American national park.

Lake Chelan is a narrow, 50.5 mi (81.3 km) long lake in Chelan County, north-central Washington state, U.S. It is an overdeepened lake and resembles a fjord, with an average width of 1.3 mi (2.1 km). Near its upper end, the lake surface lies more than 6,600 ft (2,000 m) below peaks less than 3 mi (4.8 km) away. Before 1927, Lake Chelan was the largest natural lake in the state in terms of both surface area and water volume. Upon the completion of Lake Chelan Dam in 1927, the elevation of the lake was increased by 21 ft (6.4 m) to its present maximum-capacity elevation of 1,100 ft (340 m).

Stehekin is a small unincorporated community in Chelan County, Washington. The name "Stehekin" comes from a word in the Salishan language that means "the way through". Stehekin has somewhat more than 100 permanent residents, but vacationers and seasonal workers increase its population during the summer.

Ross Lake National Recreation Area is a US national recreation area in north central Washington just south of the Canada–US border. It is the most accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Complex which also includes North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Ross Lake NRA follows the Skagit River corridor from the Canada–US border to the western foothills of the Cascades. The NRA contains a portion of scenic Washington State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, and includes three reservoirs: 12,000-acre (4,900 ha) Ross Lake, 910-acre (370 ha) Diablo Lake, and 210-acre (85 ha) Gorge Lake. These reservoirs make up the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project operated by Seattle City Light. Nestled in the "American Alps" the Ross Lake NRA bisects the north and south units of North Cascades National Park.

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a national recreation area located about 35 miles (56 km) south of the Canada–US border in Chelan County, Washington. It encompasses an area of 61,958 acres (25,074 ha) including the northern end of Lake Chelan and the surrounding area of the Stehekin Valley and the Stehekin River. The area is managed by the U.S. National Park Service as part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

Lake Chelan is a long, glacially-carved lake in the central part of the North Cascades mountain range in northwestern Washington State. Via the short Chelan River, it is a tributary to the Okanogan River, a tributary of the Columbia. Access to points along the lake has been primarily by water, and in the early 1900s, this was done by steamboat. Located at the head of the lake is Stehekin, a resort community.

The Purple Point-Stehekin Ranger Station House is a National Park Service ranger residence located in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area of northern Washington. The building was built at Purple Point above Lake Chelan in the small, unincorporated community of Stehekin, Washington. It was originally constructed by the United States Forest Service to serve as the residence for the Stehekin District ranger. The Forest Service later converted it into a summer guard station. The building was transferred to the National Park Service in 1968 when the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area was established. The Purple Point-Stehekin Ranger Station House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Buckner Homestead Historic District, near Stehekin, Washington in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area incorporates a group of structures relating to the theme of early settlement in the Lake Chelan area. Representing a time period of over six decades, from 1889 to the 1950s, the district comprises 15 buildings, landscape structures and ruins, and over 50 acres (200,000 m²) of land planted in orchard and criss-crossed by hand-dug irrigation ditches. The oldest building on the farm is a cabin built in 1889. The Buckner family bought the farm in 1910 and remained there until 1970, when the property was sold to the National Park Service. The Buckner Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The rest of the Buckner farm became a historic district in 1989. Today, the National Park Service maintains the Buckner homestead and farm as an interpretive center to give visitors a glimpse at pioneer farm life in the Stehekin Valley.

The Buckner Cabin, also known as William Buzzard's Cabin, located about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northwest of Stehekin, Washington in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area of North Cascades National Park Complex, is one of a group of structures relating to the theme of early settlement in the Lake Chelan area. The original cabin, listed individually as the Buckner Cabin on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1889 by Willam Buzzard and altered in 1911 by William and Harry Buckner. The surrounding structures are included in the Buckner Homestead Historic District.

Buckner Mountain is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At 9,114 feet (2,778 m) in elevation it is the highest in Skagit County and one of about ten of Washington's non-volcanic peaks above 9,000 feet high. It is ranked as the 14th highest peak in the state, and the third highest peak in North Cascades National Park.

Boston Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington and within North Cascades National Park. At 8,894 feet (2,711 m) in elevation it is the 26th highest peak in Washington. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buckner Mountain, 1.66 miles (2.67 km) to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden West Visitor Center</span>

The Golden West Visitor Center is located at the southeast unit of North Cascades National Park Complex in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. It sits at the southern end of the small town of Stehekin, Washington and is the only National Park Service visitor center in the southeast unit of the Park Complex. It is the main ranger station for all traffic in and out from the south end of the park via boat, seaplane or by foot from the many hiking trails linking the Stehekin River Valley to the outside world.

Coon Lake, a 15 acres (0.061 km²) lake, and its associated 3 miles (4.8 km) stream, Coon Creek, are located in the Stehekin River Valley in Washington State’s Cascade Mountain Range. They are both within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, a part of both the North Cascades National Park Complex and the Stephen Mather Wilderness. Howard Lake is located at Latitude +48.3886007 and Longitude -120.8334497.

Rainbow Falls is a waterfall on Rainbow Creek in the U.S. state of Washington. The waterfall is located inside the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in the North Cascades National Park, and is near Stehekin. The falls drops 392 feet (119.5 m) in two tiers. The uppermost tier falls 312 feet (95.1 m) to a basin.

Glory Mountain is a 7,228-foot (2,203-metre) mountain summit located in the North Cascades Range in Chelan County of Washington state. Glory Mountain is situated southeast of Trapper Lake on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Trapper Mountain, 1.72 miles (2.77 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Cottonwood Creek and Flat Creek, both tributaries of the Stehekin River. An unofficially named secondary peak called Halleluja Peak 7,120+ ft lies 0.32 miles (0.51 km) to the west of the summit.

Courtney Peak is an 8,394-foot (2,558-metre) mountain summit located in the Methow Mountains which are a sub-range of the North Cascades in Washington state. Situated on Sawtooth Ridge, Courtney Peak is part of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, a protected area within the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Courtney Peak ranks 80th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 81st on the "Bulger List". The nearest higher peak is Star Peak, 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff on the west side of the mountain drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Fish Creek, whereas the north side of the mountain drains into Oval Creek, and the east side drains into Buttermilk Creek, both of which are tributaries of the Twisp River. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1985 to remember James (Ray) Courtney (1920-1982), a commercial packer and lifelong resident of Stehekin. The immediate vicinity of this peak was a favorite destination for his guided outings. Ray Courtney died in an accident while leading such a pack trip with 29 hikers when the horse he was riding lost its footing and fell down a gully.

McGregor Mountain is an 8,143-foot (2,482-metre) elevation massif located in the Stehekin Valley of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. McGregor Mountain is situated northwest of Lake Chelan in the northern Methow Mountains, on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The closest community is Stehekin, and the nearest higher neighbor is Goode Mountain, 7.3 miles (11.7 km) to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Stehekin River. Topographic relief is significant since the southern aspect of the mountain rises 6,600 feet above this river in approximately two miles. The famous Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western base of this mountain, and the strenuous 7.7-mile (12.4 km) McGregor Mountain Trail gains 6,400 feet of elevation to take hikers within a half-mile of the summit. Reaching the summit requires exposed scrambling the final 1,100 feet, and an ice axe is needed if the trail remains covered by snowpack. The summit was the site of an old fire lookout cabin from 1923 until 1955, but now has a radio repeater for the National Park Service. The views from the top include Glacier Peak, Black Peak, Corteo Peak, Frisco Mountain, Tupshin Peak, Dome Peak, Glory Mountain, and many others. This mountain was named for Billy McGregor, a Stehekin Valley resident who had a cabin and homestead at the base of this mountain during the 1890s. In May 1901, Billy disappeared overnight from a boat docked in Lake Chelan, and was never seen or heard from again.

Mount Benzarino is a 7,760+ ft mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park, in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated in the North Cascades, a subset of the Cascade Range. The nearest higher neighbor is Corteo Peak, 1.67 miles (2.69 km) to the northeast, and Black Peak is set 2.34 miles (3.77 km) to the north.

Hock Mountain is a 7,750-foot-elevation summit located in the Methow Mountains which are a subset of the North Cascades in Washington state. It is situated on the triple-shared boundary of North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, as well as the shared border between Chelan County and Okanogan County. Additionally, it lies one mile southwest of Twisp Mountain, and 2.24 miles (3.60 km) due south of Stiletto Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. The north face is steep, granitic rock, but the west slope is more moderate, allowing a scramble ascent. Precipitation runoff from the north and west sides of Hock drains to the Stehekin River via Bridge Creek, whereas the south and east sides of the mountain drain into the South Fork Twisp River.

Three Wives is a 7,450 foot (2,271 m) mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park, in Chelan County of Washington state, USA. It is situated in the Methow Mountains, a subset of the North Cascades. Neighbors include Hock Mountain 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east-northeast and Bowen Mountain, the nearest higher neighbor, 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from Three Wives drains into tributaries of Bridge Creek, which in turn is a tributary of the Stehekin River. The first ascent of the summit was made by John Roper on October 10, 1980. The mountain's name was applied by Roper, but has not been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, so it does not appear on USGS maps.

References

1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stehekin River
1 2 3 "Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Methow and Chelan River Basins and the Columbia River from Bridgeport to Wells Dam; 12451000 Stehekin River at Stehekin, WA" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
↑ Bright, William (2007). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 461. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4.
↑ Gulick, Bill (1996). A Traveler's History of Washington. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press. p. 345. ISBN 0-87004-371-4.
↑ Course info mainly from USGS topographic maps and Washington Road & Recreation Atlas (Fourth ed.). Benchmark Maps. 2007. ISBN 978-0-929591-98-8.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Luxenberg, Gretchen A., "Corridors of Settlement: Stehekin Valley", Historic Resource Study, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.
↑ Luxenberg, Gretchen A., "Buckner", Historic Resource Study, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.
↑ "Stehekin River", Washington State Tourism Office, experiencewa.com, Bellingham, Washington, 18 June 2009.
↑ "Stehekin River" Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today , North Central Washington Portal, ncwportal.com, 18 June 2009.

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[gnis-1] 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stehekin River

[wdr-2] 1 2 3 "Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Methow and Chelan River Basins and the Columbia River from Bridgeport to Wells Dam; 12451000 Stehekin River at Stehekin, WA" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-06-04.

[3] Bright, William (2007). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 461. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4.

[gulick345-4] Gulick, Bill (1996). A Traveler's History of Washington. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press. p. 345. ISBN 0-87004-371-4.

[5] Course info mainly from USGS topographic maps and Washington Road & Recreation Atlas (Fourth ed.). Benchmark Maps. 2007. ISBN 978-0-929591-98-8.

[GAL-6] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Luxenberg, Gretchen A., "Corridors of Settlement: Stehekin Valley", Historic Resource Study, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.

[7] Luxenberg, Gretchen A., "Buckner", Historic Resource Study, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, Seattle, Washington, 1986.

[8] "Stehekin River", Washington State Tourism Office, experiencewa.com, Bellingham, Washington, 18 June 2009.

[9] "Stehekin River" Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today , North Central Washington Portal, ncwportal.com, 18 June 2009.

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