Stehekin River
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The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the
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of the
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. 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. The river's name comes from the Columbia-Moses word stxwíkn', which means "the way through."


Course

The Stehekin River originates in the
North Cascades The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and ...
near Cascade Pass in
North Cascades National Park North Cascades National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in Washington (state), Washington. At more than , it is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the No ...
. 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 Boston Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington (U.S. state), Washington and within North Cascades National Park. At in elevation it is the 26th highest peak in Washington. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buckner ...
,
Buckner Mountain Buckner Mountain (sometimes called Mount Buckner) is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington (U.S. state), Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At in elevation it is the highest in Skag ...
, 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 Goode Mountain is one of the major peaks of the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. Named for topographer Richard Urquhart Goode of the United States Geological Survey, it is the highest peak located in North Casca ...
, Storm King,
Mount Logan Mount Logan ( ) is the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest peak in North America after Denali (McKinley). The mountain was named after Sir William Edmond Logan, a Canadian geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Canada ...
, Black Peak, and others. Bridge Creek's source is located near Rainy Pass and Washington Pass along
Washington State Route 20 State Route 20 (SR 20), also known as the North Cascades Highway, is a State highways in Washington, state highway that traverses the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. It is the state's longest highway, traveling across t ...
. The Stehekin River continues generally southeast below
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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 Wenatchee ( ) is the county seat and most populous city of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925, and has increased to 35,508 as of 2020. Located in the north-central part of the stat ...
. 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 The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which lie ...
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.


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 A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishers and fish farmers. Fishermen may be professional or recr ...
as well as miners.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.
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 Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
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. The Buckner Homestead was one of the earliest farms along the Stehekin River. It is now listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. 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. 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 The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...
. With the establishment of the Stehekin Ranger District in 1905, reliable seasonal work became available to valley residents. 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.


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.


Tributaries

These are the main tributaries of the Stehekin River:"Stehekin River"
, North Central Washington Portal, ''ncwportal.com'', 18 June 2009.
*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


See also

*
List of rivers of Washington (state) This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Washington. By drainage basin This list is arranged by drainage basin. Respective tributaries are indented under each larger stream's name and are ordered downstream to upstream. Strait of Georgia ...
*
List of tributaries of the Columbia River Tributaries and sub-tributaries are hierarchically listed in order from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream. Major dams and reservoir lakes are also noted. List of major tributaries The main river and tributaries are (sorted in order from t ...


References

{{authority control Rivers of Washington (state) North Cascades of Washington (state) Rivers of Chelan County, Washington