Stehekin Tent-to-Tent

The Upper Stehekin Valley is once again accessible!

In an effort to fill the void caused by the washed-out road in the upper valley, we have modified the “hut-to-hut” system used in Europe. In that system, folks hike from hut to hut, without having to carry much gear. Our “tent-to-tent” program is a rustic version, which provides large outfitter tents at Cottonwood and Bridge Creek Campgrounds. These tents have all the supplies needed to make your stay enjoyable, including a wood stove, cots, table, chairs, and a kitchen stocked with staple food items such as dry mixes and seasonings. With these outfitter tents at key locations, the Stehekin Valley is once more accessible to those who wish to carry no more than a daypack!

What you’ll find in camp:

The camps at Cottonwood and Bridge Creek provide everything you need. In fact, with all the comforts we provide, you may even forget that you’re camping!

·         Large outfitter style tent which can sleep up to 6 people

·         Sleeping cots with pads

·         Sleeping bags and pillows*

·         Extra blankets

·         Wood heater stove inside the tent

·         Propane kitchen stove

·         Bear and rodent proof food storage

·         Staple foods**

*Removable liners are provided with the sleeping bags and pillows. Simply put a fresh liner in before using, and remove when you leave.

**See list of what we provide below.

Some Possible Uses for the Tent-to-Tent Sites:

There are many ways in which these camps may be used to meet your recreational needs. Here are a few of our ideas:

·         Hike into Stehekin over Cascade Pass with just a daypack! It is a gorgeous 9 mile hike over Cascade Pass to Cottonwood, followed by an easy 10 miles along the Stehekin Road the next day.

·         Hike into Stehekin via the Pacific Crest Trail. By using the tent at Bridge Creek, it will be 12 miles from highway 20 to Bridge Creek, and then only 3.5 miles to the bus pick-up on the Stehekin Road the next day.

·         Use the sites as base camps for various upper valley day hikes. There are many opportunities in the upper valley for hiking and fishing, which are easily accessible from Cottonwood and/or Bridge Creek. Hikes from Cottonwood include Horseshoe Basin, Cascade Pass, or a bushwhack to Trapper Lake. Bridge Creek opportunities include hikes up Goode Ridge, the North Fork of Bridge Creek, or the Pacific Crest Trail.

Reservation Info:

If you think this is something you would like to try, you can reserve the camps by calling 1-800-536-0745, or by clicking on this link. The cost is $95 for the first 2 people, and $25 for each additional person up to a total of six.

  What We Provide:

We try to keep an ample supply of the following items in each camp by checking and re-supplying them frequently, but previous guests may have used up some of our stock. (i.e. Previous guests may have used up all the macaroni and cheese, but left the spaghetti.) Please be flexible in your meal planning. You may also choose to bring your own food since you will not be carrying a tent or sleeping bag. With this option, you could use the food we supply simply as a supplement.

What we provide

We try to keep an ample supply of the following items in each camp by checking and re-supplying them frequently, but previous guests may have used up some of our stock. (i.e. Previous guests may have used up all the macaroni and cheese, but left the spaghetti.) Please be flexible in your meal planning. You may also choose to bring your own food since you will not be carrying a tent or sleeping bag. With this option, you could use the food we supply simply as a supplement:

Food:

·         Dry Milk

·         Granola

·         Hotcake mix

·         Maple syrup

·         Sugar

·         Peanut Butter

·         Jam

·         Oil

·         Spaghetti noodles

·         Macaroni and Cheese

·         Rice Pilaf

·         Vegetable and onion soup mix

Drinks:

·         Gatorade – 18 servings

·         Cocoa – 15 packets

·         Tea – assorted

·         Coffee and coffee pot – 2/12oz

·         Coffee creamer

Seasonings:

·         Salt

·         Pepper

·         Cajun seasonings

·         Red pepper flakes

·         Garlic powder

·         Dry onion

·         Mrs. Dash

·         Mayo packets

·         Mustard packets

Kitchen Utensils:

·         2 serving spoons

·         Rubber spatula

·         Hotcake turner

·         Tongs

·         Knife

·         Can opener

·         Plates

·         Bowls

·         Cups

·         Silverware

·         2 cooking pots

·         Frying pan

·         Hot water kettle/coffee pot

·         Dish basins

Cleaning supplies:

·         Dish soap

·         Handi-wipes

·         Scrubby

·         Lysol

·         Garbage bags

Miscellaneous:

·         Matches

·         Basic first aid kit

What You Should Bring:

You should bring clothing and any personal items with you. Also bring anything you will need for your recreational enjoyment. This could be anything from a fishing pole to a deck of cards.

We suggest that since you need not carry all your camping supplies, you may want to bring some fresh food with you. What we supply will keep you fed, but it is obviously nothing gourmet and the idea is that it is merely a base which you supplement with fresh items. The decision to bring your own food is entirely up to you, but will probably add to the enjoyment level of your stay. Please note: If you decide to pack in meat, you will need to be much more careful about how clean you keep the camp, how you dispose of food, and you will have to be diligent about deodorizing the kitchen.

You are responsible for packing out all food scraps and garbage in the garbage bags we provide.

Other Uses:

If you do not wish to plan your own trip, feel free to contact us for other options. We have packages, which include all meals (we will cook for you!). You can also combine this experience with horseback riding for the horse lover in your family.

We are excited about supplying this option for your
enjoyment of the Upper Stehekin Valley!