Harlequin Campground
The Quick Take
Harlequin is the campground you have to earn. Tucked into the Stehekin Valley, it sits in one of the most inaccessible pockets of the lower 48 -- you cannot drive here from any road. You arrive by ferry across Lake Chelan, by floatplane, or on foot over a Cascade pass, and that barrier to entry is the whole point. With only a handful of walk-in sites along the Stehekin River, this is camping stripped to its essentials: no running water, no flush toilets, no cell signal, and absolutely no crowds. The vault toilets and food lockers are about where the amenities list ends. At twenty dollars a night, it is arguably the best deal in the North Cascades ecosystem, but only if your idea of a good time involves self-sufficiency and silence. Choose Harlequin if you want to feel genuinely remote without a multi-day backpacking commitment.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 7 sites are reservable.
Book at North Cascades LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Access to sites is on flat dirt surfaces that can be soft and uneven. Vault toilets are wheelchair accessible. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:Campfires in designated campfire rings only.
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am.
- Bear Safety:Do not feed or tease wildlife - keep your food and other appealing items in your vehicle at all times except when eating/using them.
- Checkout:Checkout time is 11:00 am on day of departure.
- Stay Limit:Camping is limited to no more than 14 days from July 1 to September 1 and no more than 30 days in a calendar year.
Pro Tips
Summer reservations open six months out on Recreation.gov and these seven sites vanish fast -- set a calendar reminder and book the moment your window opens. In winter, it flips to first-come, first-served, which sounds easy until you remember you still need a boat or plane to get here.
The Stehekin Valley shuttle runs in summer and stops near Harlequin, saving you the 4.5-mile walk from the landing with a loaded pack. Check the current shuttle schedule at the Golden West Visitor Center the moment you step off the ferry -- it changes year to year and runs on limited loops.
Pack out all garbage outside the Memorial Day-to-mid-September window, because there is no trash service the rest of the year. Bring a water filter for the river, extra fuel for cooking, and every supply you might need -- the tiny Stehekin pastry company and a small general store are your only resupply options in the entire valley.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
From Stehekin Landing, head north up Stehekin Valley Rd for 4.5 miles. Turn left on Company Creek Rd, which crosses the Stehekin River on Harlequin Bridge. The turn-off to Harlequin Campground is the first left. From High Bridge, head 6.5 miles south on the Stehekin Valley Rd for the turn-off to Company Creek Rd. From the public airstrip, continue away from the airport, past the NPS maintenance complex until you reach Company Creek Rd. The turn-off to Harlequin Campground is immediately on the right.
Get directions
