Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [300]
Where to Stay
There aren't a lot of choices for lodging in the park. To the west, along Wash. 20, you can find places in and near Marblemount and Rockport; to the east there's Mazama and Winthrop, also on Wash. 20.
INSIDE THE PARK
North Cascades Stehekin Lodge
P.O. Box 457, Chelan, WA 98816. ☎ 509/682-4494 or 509/682-8206 (reservation office). Fax 509/682-5872. www.stehekin.com. 28 units. $98–146 double high season, $78–126 double off season. DISC, MC, V.
Located right at Stehekin Landing, the North Cascades Stehekin Lodge sits in the shade of tall trees and overlooks the lake. It has a variety of rooms, ranging from basic units with no lake view to spacious apartments. The studio apartments, which have kitchens and lake views, are the best deal. Fishing boat and bike rentals are available. Snowshoeing has become popular; Saturday moonlight snowshoe walks are held January to March. Narrated bus tours are also offered.
Ross Lake Resort
Rockport, WA 98283. ☎ 206/386-4437. www.rosslakeresort.com. 15 cabins. $100–$213 double. Most cabins 25% discount June and Oct. MC, V.
There may not be another lodging of this type in the United States. All 15 of the resort's cabins are built on logs that float on Ross Lake. If you're looking to get away from it all, this place comes pretty close. No roads run to the resort. To reach it, you first drive to the Diablo Dam on Wash. 20, then take a tugboat to the end of Diablo Lake, where a truck carries you around the Ross Dam to the lodge. Alternatively you can hike in on a 2-mile trail from mile marker 134 on Wash. 20. There is no restaurant or grocery store here, so be sure to bring enough supplies for your stay. All cabins have some cooking facilities, ranging from stovetops to full kitchens. Most cabins have private bathrooms; some share with one other cabin. What do you do once you get here? Rent a boat and go fishing, rent a kayak or canoe, do some hiking, or simply sit and relax.
Stehekin Valley Ranch
P.O. Box 36, Stehekin, WA 98852. ☎ 800/536-0745 or 509/682-4677. www.courtneycountry.com. 5 cabins, 7 tent cabins. Cabins: $85 per adult, $65 per child 4–12, $20 per child 3 and under. Tent cabins: $75 per adult, $55 per child 4–12, $15 per child under 4. Rates include all meals and transportation in lower valley. MC, V for advance phone payment only. No credit cards or checks accepted at ranch.
If you're a camper at heart, then the tent cabins at the Stehekin Valley Ranch should be just fine. With canvas roofs, screen windows, and no electricity or plumbing, these "cabins" are little more than permanent tents. Bathroom facilities are in the nearby main building. For slightly more comfortable accommodations, opt for one of the permanent cabins. Activities (available at additional cost) include horseback riding, river rafting, mountain biking, and kayak tours and instruction.
IN ROCKPORT
Clark's Skagit River Resort
58468 Clark Cabin Rd., Rockport, WA 98283. ☎ 800/273-2606 or 360/873-2250. Fax 360/873-4077. www.northcascades.com. 36 cabins. TV. Cabins $69–$139; Brookhaven Lodge $79-109; call for seasonal rates. AE, DISC, MC, V.
The first things you notice when you turn into the driveway are the rabbits. They're everywhere—hundreds of them, in all shapes and sizes, contentedly munching the lawn or just sitting quietly. Although the bunnies are among the main attractions at Clark's, the theme cabins keep people coming back. Western, nautical, Victorian, American Indian, Adirondack, hacienda, and mill are the current decor choices. There are also five new chalets named for local wildlife. Other cabins on the property are equally comfortable, but the theme cabins are what make Clark's just a bit different. The cabins are especially popular in winter, when folks flock to the area to watch bald eagles congregate on the Skagit River. The resort also has a B&B Lodge with a conference room and patio for groups. Also on the property are