Photo: NPS Photo / Bryanna PlogHarlequin Campground
High DemandNorth Cascades National Park · Chelan County, Washington
🏞️Lake AccessRiver Access
Photo: NPS Photo / Bryanna PlogBest For
Serious tent campers and small groups who want deep Stehekin Valley immersion, 4.5 miles from the landing along the river. Best for those arriving by boat with enough time to shuttle or bike up the valley road — not a casual choice.
7
Sites
No
Hookups
Harlequin Campground sits along the Stehekin River 4.5 miles up the Stehekin Valley Road from the landing, with 6 tent-only sites and 1 group tent area. Getting here requires arriving in Stehekin by boat or floatplane and then traveling up the valley — which adds a layer of commitment that keeps casual traffic low relative to Purple Point. The 384 reservations across July through September represent strong demand for 7 sites. July offers the best last-minute odds at 28.7%, but August tightens sharply with only 11.0% of reservations coming last-minute and 11.0% booked 6+ months out. The limited data (no May or June records) suggests this campground may not be open for the full season — confirm dates before booking travel to Stehekin.
Content from North Cascades National Park park guide
July and August are peak season with nearly 5,900 reservations each month and 19–20% of bookings made 6+ months in advance — beautiful weather but zero margin for flexible planning. May offers the most last-minute opportunity (22.6% of bookings) and lighter crowds, though some campgrounds and facilities may not be fully open. September is counterintuitively the hardest month to get a site last-minute at 18.0%, driven by high-planning campers who want fall color and cooler temperatures without the summer crowds — if that's you, book in January.
State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) is the primary corridor connecting Newhalem-area campgrounds to the Colonial Creek and Diablo Lake campgrounds — it typically closes for winter between November and April, effectively ending the camping season at those sites. Stehekin and its campgrounds (Purple Point, Harlequin, Lakeview) are entirely inaccessible by road and require travel by ferry, floatplane, or on foot; once in Stehekin, the valley road is served by a seasonal shuttle bus. Hozomeen is only accessible via a long unpaved road from Hope, British Columbia — do not plan to reach it from a US highway.
Total reservations in July 2024: 195
Address
Chelan County, Washington
Coordinates
48.3477, -120.7138
Very high demand - sites typically fill up immediately when the booking window opens. Plan to book the moment reservations open.
North Cascades National Park
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North Cascades National Park
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
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North Cascades National Park does not charge a standard per-vehicle entrance fee for most of the park, though the Stephen Mather Wilderness and specific recreation areas may have associated permit costs — verify current fee schedules at recreation.gov before arrival. Campsite nightly rates vary by campground and site type; group shelter sites cost more than standard individual sites. The America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass covers entrance fees where applicable and is worth carrying, but it does not cover campsite reservation fees.
All reservable campgrounds enforce a 14-day maximum stay, and the data shows demand is Very High every day of the week with no seasonal slack at the peak campgrounds. Cell service is extremely limited to nonexistent throughout most of the park — do not rely on mobile data for navigation, weather updates, or campsite changes once you leave Sedro-Woolley or Marblemount. Dogs are generally permitted at campgrounds but restrictions apply on trails within the national park boundaries; bring adequate food, water filtration, and supplies from Marblemount or Burlington before entering the park corridor, as services inside the park are minimal.