Harlequin Campground
Campgrounds in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are walk-in sites located in the Stehekin Valley. Harlequin Camp is located along the Stehekin River, 4.5 miles up the Stehekin Valley Road from Stehekin Landing and approximately 6.5 miles from High Bridge. Stehekin is a remote community with limited facilities and is only accessible by foot, boat, or plane. There is some shared parking at the campground for a limited number of vehicles but all sites are considered walk-in.
More like this: reservable in Washington · tent only in Washington · pets allowed in Washington · group sites in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
7 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| 2 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| 3 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| 4 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| 5 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| 7 | Tent only | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / – | Yes | Standard |
| Harlequin Group | Group tent | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 24 / – | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:30 PM, checkout 11:30 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Harlequin has pit toilets and garbage containers, though all trash must be eventually barged down lake and visitors are encouraged to pack out everything they pack in. The campground has no running water; plan on boiling or filtering water from the Stehekin River or bringing what you need. Each campsite offers a picnic table and fires are allowed in designated fire pits. Most sites are large, with space to arrange multiple tents (no specific tent pads). There are no roads or car access into Stehekin. Accessible by foot, boat or plane only. Visitors may take a passenger ferry or their own boat, which may be parked at the public docks in Stehekin with the purchase of a federal dock permit. (4.5 miles from Harlequin). At the Stehekin Landing area, the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin has a small store with very limited groceries and a restaurant. Public showers and laundry facilities are located near the Landing, but not in the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
There are no roads that connect Stehekin to the rest of Washington. Access is via foot, boat, or plane. Head north on Stehekin Valley Road from the Landing approximately 4.5 miles and turn left at the large Harlequin Bridge. The campground is the first left after crossing the river.
| Coordinates | 48.3477° N, 120.7138° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireSisi
5 mi from the campground · 4,615 acres · 34% contained
- WildfireLittle Giant
24 mi from the campground · 172,912 acres · 95% contained
- WildfireLuna
40 mi from the campground · 8,553 acres · 42% contained
- WildfirePtarmigan
41 mi from the campground · 25,566 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Goat's Beard Mountain Supplies ↗ | 22.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 55.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miCompany Creek ↗10.3 mi trail
- 2.6 miDevore Creek ↗12.6 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
- inOkanogan-Wenatchee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,858,129 acres
- 0.6 miGlacier Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 566,161 acres
- 2.1 miLake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 152,980 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Stehekin SchoolBuilding · Stehekin · 0.9 mi
- Buckner CabinBuilding · Stehekin · 1.1 mi
- Courtney CabinBuilding · Stehekin · 2.1 mi
Recreation
Visitors can access several trails from the campground area, such as the Stehekin River Trail, Company Creek Trail, and Rainbow Loop. Many of these trails also lead to other backcountry trails and the opportunity for longer wilderness backpacks. A backcountry permit is required for overnight stays in the backcountry. Other trails along the Stehekin Valley Road can be reached by foot, bike, or shuttle bus. Visitors can boat, fish, and swim (although the water is a chilly 45 degrees) in Lake Chelan or the Stehekin River. Bears do inhabit the area, so care should be taken when hiking, picnicking, or camping.
Nearby
Stehekin is a gateway into the east side of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Many short to multi-day backpacking trips begin in the Stehekin area. Other attractions in the area are the historic Buckner Orchard, where visitors can pick apples in the fall, and Rainbow Falls, a 312-foot waterfall near the Stehekin Valley Road.
Guidebooks for North Cascades National Park and Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Harlequin Campground?
Sites at Harlequin Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Harlequin Campground?
Check-in 12:30 PM, checkout 11:30 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Harlequin Campground have?
8 sites, including 6 tent-only sites and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Harlequin Campground?
Harlequin Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Harlequin Campground?
Public showers and laundry facilities are located near the Landing, but not in the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Harlequin Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Harlequin Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Harlequin Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Harlequin Campground?
Visitors can access several trails from the campground area, such as the Stehekin River Trail, Company Creek Trail, and Rainbow Loop. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Harlequin Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Moore Point Campground (9 mi, first-come), Twisp River Horse Camp (10.4 mi, first-come), and South Creek (10.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Harlequin Campground in?
Harlequin Campground is a North Cascades National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: North Cascades National Park