Where to Stay in North Cascades: Inside the Park, Gateway Towns & Campgrounds

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide North Cascades

The short answer. For most visitors, the ideal base is Winthrop on the east side, where it's warmer and services are better, or Marblemount on the west side, the gateway from Seattle. For a true escape, Stehekin, accessible only by ferry or floatplane from Chelan, is in a category of its own. Plan on at least two nights in the area. Our Itinerary & Length of Stay page lays out options for the time you have.

North Cascades is one of the least-visited parks in the NPS system, and its lodging infrastructure reflects that. It's intentionally limited and geared mainly toward camping and the surrounding towns. Plan early, especially for summer.

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Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (10)

All Gateway townsLodgesCampgrounds

• Campground Newhalem Creek Campground recreation.gov · 107 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Goodell Creek Campground recreation.gov · 19 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lower Goodell Group Campground recreation.gov · 2 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Gorge Lake Campground recreation.gov · 8 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Colonial Creek North Campground recreation.gov · 38 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Colonial Creek South Campground recreation.gov · 93 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lakeview Campground first come, first served · 9 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Purple Point Campground first come, first served · 6 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Harlequin Campground recreation.gov · 7 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Hozomeen Campground first come, first served · 75 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

⚠ Gateway town & Lodge data is undergoing editorial review.

title: "Where to Stay in North Cascades: Inside the Park, Gateway Towns & Campgrounds" description: "Stehekin lodges, SR 20 campgrounds, and gateway towns. Our guide to choosing where to stay in North Cascades." park: North Cascades type: ou-dormir author: "Jocelyn Pion"

The short answer. For most visitors, the ideal base is Winthrop on the east side, where it's warmer and services are better, or Marblemount on the west side, the gateway from Seattle. For a true escape, Stehekin is accessible only by ferry or floatplane from Chelan. It's a full-fledged experience, not just a place to sleep. Plan on at least two nights in the area. Our Itinerary & Length of Stay page lays out options for the time you have.

North Cascades is one of the least-visited parks in the NPS system, and its lodging infrastructure reflects that. It's intentionally limited and geared mainly toward camping and the surrounding towns. Plan early, especially for July and August.

Stay Inside the Park or Outside It?

Geography forces a choice. The North Cascades complex spans two dramatically different sides, separated by the Cascade Range.

West side. SR 20 runs through Newhalem and along Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. You'll find NPS campgrounds here, but no lodge accessible by car. The nearest lodging with solid walls is in Marblemount, a few miles west.

East side. After Washington Pass, Methow Valley opens into a drier, warmer climate. Summer temperatures regularly top 86°F. Winthrop has most of the area's hotels, B&Bs, and lodges.

The Stehekin exception. This hamlet at the far end of Lake Chelan is accessible only by boat or floatplane. There are no roads and barely any cell service. Just two lodging properties and a handful of services. The experience is completely different from the rest of the park, which is exactly why people come here.

Our take. If you're crossing the park from west to east on SR 20, one or two nights at a campground along the road are enough to break up the drive. For a comfortable home base, choose Winthrop on the east side or Marblemount on the west, depending on your entry point. Plan Stehekin as a separate excursion, with one or two extra nights on your itinerary.

Staying Inside the Park: Lodges and Accommodations

North Cascades has no large resort along the highway. All the comfortable lodging in the complex is in Stehekin, which you can reach only without a car.

North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin

North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is the complex's only hotel-style lodging. An NPS concessioner runs it, offering rooms and lakeside cabins overlooking the peaks on Lake Chelan. Its season follows the ferry schedule, from spring through fall. Book several months ahead for July and August. Capacity is limited, and demand is high for a place this remote.

Stehekin Valley Ranch

About six miles upstream from the landing dock, Stehekin Valley Ranch offers rustic cabins with meals included. The atmosphere is family-friendly, and the deliberately simple accommodations are comfortable enough. A shuttle from the dock serves the ranch. It's a good fit if you want to sleep under the stars without taking on much logistical work.

Backcountry Camping

For self-sufficient hikers, the park offers dozens of backcountry sites accessible with a free wilderness permit. Pick one up at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount before entering the park. The most popular sites, including those along Cascade Pass Trail, fill as soon as the reservation calendar opens.

Camping in North Cascades: Park Campgrounds

Camping is the natural way to stay in North Cascades. The NPS manages several drive-in sites along SR 20, plus a few campgrounds in the Stehekin and Ross Lake areas.

Campgrounds Along the SR 20 Corridor, West Side

Newhalem Creek and Goodell Creek are in Newhalem, at the western entrance to the protected area. Newhalem Creek accepts reservations through Recreation.gov. Goodell Creek is first come, first served. Farther east, Colonial Creek, north and south, sits along Diablo Lake. It's the park's most photographed campground and also the hardest to book. Reserve as soon as the calendar opens, usually in January for the following summer. Gorge Lake is smaller and doesn't take reservations, making it a good option for travelers passing through who need a last-minute site.

All of these campgrounds close in winter, along with the mountain section of SR 20, which is generally closed from November through April.

Campgrounds in Stehekin and Hozomeen

In Stehekin, Purple Point is the walk-in campground from the landing dock, and it's first come, first served. Other sites are accessible by shuttle or bicycle along Stehekin Valley Road. Hozomeen, on the north end of Ross Lake, is a special case. You can reach it only from Canada, via a gravel road from Hope, British Columbia. It's first come, first served, with no reservations available.

For fire rules, seasonal restrictions, and safety guidance in case of a wildlife encounter, the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount and the NPS website are your best references before entering the park.

Where to Stay Around North Cascades: Gateway Towns

Marblemount, West Side Park Gateway

Marblemount is the last inhabited village before you enter the park from Burlington. It's about two hours from Seattle via I-5 and SR 20. Lodging is limited to motels, B&Bs, and a few private campgrounds, but the location is perfect for early starts. The Wilderness Information Center is here, and you'll need it before any backcountry trip. Best for: hikers and visitors who want to maximize time in the park from the west entrance.

Concrete and Sedro-Woolley, West Side Services

Thirty to 45 minutes west of Marblemount, these two towns offer more options, including chain hotels, supermarkets, and gas stations. The daily drive to the park remains reasonable. Best for: families with kids who prefer standard amenities and a tighter budget.

Winthrop, East Side Western Atmosphere

Winthrop has fully embraced an Old West setting, with painted wooden facades, souvenir shops, and saloons converted into restaurants. Beneath the kitsch, it's the best-equipped town on the east side of the Cascades. Methow Valley also offers an impressive trail network for mountain biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing in winter. Allow about 30 minutes to Washington Pass. Best for: adventurers entering from the east, cyclists, and anyone combining North Cascades with a road trip through eastern Washington. Our Regions section provides guidance on routes around Methow Valley.

Chelan, Gateway to Stehekin

Chelan isn't a traditional gateway to North Cascades, but it's the required departure point for the ferry to Stehekin. The town has plenty of services, including hotels, restaurants, and water activities on Lake Chelan. Allow about 2.5 hours from Seattle. Best for: visitors who want to explore Stehekin, or travelers combining North Cascades with a lakeside stop.

When to Book Your North Cascades Lodging

Peak season runs from mid-June through late August. Snow clears from high-elevation trails around mid-July, narrowing the visiting window for the most popular hikes even further.

For NPS campgrounds that take reservations, including Newhalem Creek and Colonial Creek, create an account on Recreation.gov and be ready when the calendar opens, usually in January for the following summer. July weekend sites fill within hours.

For lodges and accommodations in Stehekin, including North Cascades Lodge and Stehekin Valley Ranch, book four to six months ahead during peak season. The hamlet has very limited capacity.

For hotels and B&Bs in Winthrop, book two to four months ahead for July and August. American holiday weekends, including Memorial Day in late May and Labor Day in early September, are also very busy.

Outside peak season, SR 20 is generally closed on the mountain side from November through April, making the heart of the park inaccessible by car. To choose the best time to visit, see our When to Go page.

Lodging Budget: How Much Does It Cost to Stay in North Cascades?

These ranges are estimates for peak season. Rates vary by dates, setup, and provider. North Cascades National Park doesn't charge an entrance fee, which helps keep the overall budget down. For entrance fees and annual passes valid in the complex, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page.

Our Recommendation for Every Traveler

First visit, limited time. Base yourself in Winthrop on the east side. It has plenty of lodging, easy access to Washington Pass and Rainy Pass, and spectacular Cascade views. Two nights give you enough time without rushing. Our complete North Cascades guide provides the context you need before you arrive.

Family with kids. Choose a site at Newhalem Creek or Colonial Creek, with the activities at the Newhalem visitor center just steps away. Kids love the shores of Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. Reserve very early, starting in January.

Tight budget. First-come, first-served campgrounds such as Goodell Creek and Gorge Lake offer the least expensive nights. Arrive on a weekday and early in the day to improve your chances. Marblemount also has reasonably priced motels.

Total immersion in nature. Stehekin, without question. Leave your car in Chelan, board the ferry, and disconnect from the world for two days. Nowhere else in the complex creates quite the same clean break. For hikes in the area, our Hiking page lists the must-do trails around Stehekin.

Washington road trip. Enter from the west via Marblemount, cross the park on SR 20, and leave from the east through Winthrop. One night on each side gives you a full view of the contrast between the two slopes.

Frequently Asked Questions