Greg

Casade Loop:...Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Lake Chelan,Winthrop, North Casdaes Park etc. Anyone done this or part of it? Comments or input wanted. Some association put together a 440+ mile loop drive that covers these areas of Washington and more. We have never been to any of these places but are thinking seriously about a week trip to this Cascade Loop in a few weeks. Also would like to go to Stehekin by boat (wilderness area) on Lake Chelan. Anyone done this? Interested in hiking in all areas. Any hiking trail advise? Any problems with bears
on trails?

G

Oops. I mispelled a word above. It's CASCADE loop (and North Cascade Park)

John

Hi, Greg,
It's a beautiful route, covering a wide range of landscapes - mountains, green river valleys, red rock old west scenery..

A suggestion - if possible do a detour over to Grand Coulee Dam. The dam itself is a marvel, but the coulee and pothole country in that area is really beautiful and fairly unique.

Lake Chelan is interesting - very desert-y at the southern end but becoming progressively more alpine as you travel up the lake. The Lady of the Lake is a beautiful trip.

There are jilions of hiking alternatives, from tenderfoot to vertical. Check out the N. Cascades NP web site or gorp.com for some choices. I wouldn't sweat bear issues - make noise as you hike and they will head the other way. Try not to spread peanut butter on your clothes.

The City of Seattle's Ross Dam complex on SR 20 west of the N. Cascades hwy. summit is very interesting - you can tour the dam, including a ride on a boat across one of the lakes, followed by a family-style chicken dinner at the dam village. A local tradition. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/tours/sk5_ross.htm

sheri

Yes, I've done this loop or parts thereof many times. With a week, I'd suggest 2 nights in the Leavenworth area (you may or may not want to stay IN Leavenworth, depending on your tolerance for oom-pah-pah bands and lederhosen ;-)), 2-3 nights in Stehekin, and 2-3 nights in the Winthrop/Mazama area. I personally don't care much for the south end of Chelan...too many jet skis! A couple years ago, I took a float plane from Chelan to Stehekin, then the boat back, and the flight was definitely worth it, IMO. I don't remember specific hiking trail names, but you can't go wrong. What amazed me was that even in July, I wouldn't run into more than 2-3 other parties out hiking over the course of a day! Everyone warned me about bears and rattlesnakes, but I didn't see either (I purposesly tried to make alot of noise). Dehydration was a much bigger problem...carry WAY more water than you think you'll need. I stayed at the Silver Bay Inn and it was wonderful. Another highlight of my stay was a rafting trip on the Stehekin River--easy whitewater but wonderful on a hot day.

In the Winthrop/Mazama area, there is so much good hiking you'll be spoiled for choice. A highlight there is driving to the top of Hart's Pass (not for the fainthearted!) and hiking stretches of the Pacific Crest Trail. There's also excellent mountain biking and rafting the Methow is a blast. For places to stay, I like the Sun Mountain and Freestone Inn for splurges; the Mazama Country Inn is a wonderful inexpensive choice.

julie

Have done all these things. Be sure to book in Leavenworth during high season. We stay at a small B&B called the "Abenblum" which is a very elegant german chateau. If you take the "Lady of the Lake" to Stehican be aware that it is a LONG ride, and there is nothing much at the end of the ride..a small hotel, very rustic, and some campgrounds, I think. But it is one of the most scenic places in the US.

sheri

Julie, actually there's quite a bit more in Stehekin than what you see at the ferry landing, including several other places to stay, a great bakery (somehow related to the Honey Bear in Seattle--can't remember the exact story), and a network of excellent, uncrowded hiking trails served by the Nat'l Park Service bus. I stayed in Stehekin for three nights and wished I had had more time. If you enjoy outdoor activities, it's a great, uncrowded place to go.

Agree with you that Abendblume is very nice! We really enjoyed our stay there.

Robert

I liked Leavenworth as it is scenic and there are lots of activties around there and the German food is good. When I went I saw a play (Sound Of Music) in a outdoor arena in the summer and they did a good job with it.

Bob Brown

I took a similar trip once.
I found it mildly interesting.
The boat trip to Stehekin was boring.
(We went both ways.) If you take the boat there is an intermediate stop on the west side of the lake north of Chelan.
If you can still take the boat there, it shortens the ride.
We were there in late August and it was almost 100 degrees, which is very hot -- even for a man from Georgia. Also on the trail, black flies were vicious.
The motel in Stehekin (don't recall the name) was fairly nice and the restaurant was fine.
It is the scene of one of the funniest incidents in our long travel history.
We were eating dinner one evening listening to the sound system which was playing some of our favorite classics. Just before the main course arrived, the big "swan" theme from Swan Lake came out loud and clear. My wife smiled and remarked to me "Here come the swans!" A woman at the next table heard her, got up, walked over to the big window and looked out on the lake. With a snort of disgust she sat down again and said to her companion, "There are no swans out there."

Al

Highly recommend this trip. We ended up in Snohomish and I went over to the Boeing 747 assembly plant one morning to get tickets for the tour through this enormous, magnificent place. They have only so many tickets per day, first come first served. Also, as one poster says, be sure to go through the Grand Coulee Dam on its tour.

sheri

I just read a nice article about hiking etc. in Stehekin in the Sunday Seattle Times travel section. You might check to see if it's available online at www.seattletimes.com. Apparently there's a new high-speed ferry from Chelan that only takes an hour (of course not everyone in Stehekin is happy about this "progress" ;-)!).