Lakeview Campground
The Quick Take
Lakeview is one of the most unusually accessed campgrounds in the entire national park system. You cannot drive here. There is no road. You arrive by boat, floatplane, or on foot, which means every single person sharing this tiny campground made a deliberate effort to be there. With fewer than ten walk-in tent sites perched at the head of Lake Chelan, this is camping stripped to its essentials -- vault toilets, bear lockers, and a water spigot in summer. The trade-off is real: no showers, no hookups, no cell service, and no fires allowed. But you get a lakeside setting in one of the most remote communities in the lower 48, where the quiet feels earned rather than manufactured. This is the campground for people who think getting there should be part of the adventure.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 9 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. No wheelchair accessible sites available. Bathroom (open during peak season) is wheelchair accessible. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Fires:No fires allowed.
- 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 nine sites disappear fast -- set a calendar reminder and book the moment your window opens. Winter is first-come, first-served, but you will be hauling your own water and packing out trash.
The Lady of the Lake ferry from Chelan is the most popular way in, but the ride takes roughly four hours each way. Book the express ferry if available -- it cuts travel time significantly and gives you more daylight at camp. Alternatively, Chelan Seaplanes gets you there in about 30 minutes.
Pack every ounce of food you will need. Stehekin has a small bakery and a seasonal camp store, but selection is limited and prices reflect the cost of shipping everything in by boat. Bring a camp stove you trust since open fires are prohibited at Lakeview.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
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. Lakeview Campground is located approximately a five-minute walk southeast of Stehekin Landing.
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