VISITORS’ GUIDE • GRAND COULEE DAM AREA • 2020-2021
A corner of Lake Chelan seen from about five miles away and across the Columbia River at the top of McNeil Canyon. This route from Grand Coulee to Chelan provides unusual and spectacular scenery, but requires good brakes.
Cruise North America’s Deepest Gorge No trip to North Central Washington is complete without a tour of “North America’s Deepest Gorge” and the mountain community of Stehekin, at the headwaters of Lake Chelan. Just a little over an hour from Grand Coulee, Lake Chelan is an easy jaunt, though the far end of the lake is only accessible by boat or float plane, as there are no roads to the upper half of the lake. Not to worry, the “Lady of the Lake” provides year-round service and tours to the far end of this lake. The boat trip takes you from the lower basin deep into the Cascades. The ultimate destination is the small isolated community of Stehekin, which sits at the head of the ancient lake, and at the foot of a mountain pass once used by Indians traveling on foot over the mountains. Stehekin is an old Indian word meaning “the way through.” During your layover in Stehekin,make sure to enjoy one of the several valley tours offered. Reservations can be made in advance with the Lady of the Lake to ensure availability. The new “Lady Cat“ cuts the travel time to the other end, with speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
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