Purple Point Campground at Purple Point Campground North

Introduction

The boat from Chelan drops you at Stehekin Landing, and from there it's a ten-minute walk along the lakeshore to Purple Point Campground. That last bit of distance - short as it is - separates this place from nearly every other campground in the national park system. No cars. No drive-up sites. Just six tent pads at the head of Lake Chelan, accessible only on foot after you've already committed to getting here by boat, plane, or a very long hike. As of 2026, Purple Point Campground in North Cascades National Park remains one of the more unusual camping options in Washington, and the current conditions make understanding the logistics before you go essential.

Getting to Purple Point: Remote Access Only

Stehekin itself is the hard part. There are no roads into this community at the head of Lake Chelan. The passenger ferry from the town of Chelan takes about four hours each way, and private boats can tie up at the public docks near the landing. A handful of small planes also serve the airstrip. Once you arrive at Stehekin Landing, Purple Point is a straightforward ten-minute walk along the valley road. The trail narrows here near the campground entrance, where the path becomes a single track through the trees.

What This Means for Your Gear

All six sites are walk-in only and designed for small to medium tents. You are carrying everything from the boat dock. The park service recommends keeping your load manageable - think a 40-liter pack, not a family-sized cooler on wheels. If you are coming by passenger ferry, there are baggage limits to factor in as well. Pack extra water for this stretch if you arrive midday, as the walk, while short, can feel longer under a full pack in summer heat.

The Campground: Six Sites, Minimal Infrastructure

Purple Point Campground in North Cascades National Park is small on purpose. Six tent-only sites, no RV or trailer access, no drive-up parking. This is a quiet, primitive camping experience at the edge of a deep lake at the base of the valley.

What You Get

• Vault toilets year-round. They are maintained regularly during peak season, less so in winter.
• Potable water from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September only. Outside that window, you filter or treat lake water.
• Trash service during the same summer window. Pack out what you pack in during the off-season.
• No showers, no dump station, no electric hookups. None of that exists here.

Reservations and Fees

• Peak season (late May through mid-September): $20 per site per night. Reservations are required and can be made 2 to 180 days in advance at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
• Off-peak (mid-September through late May): Free, first-come, first-served. No water or trash service during this period. The vault toilet remains open.

Rangers will tell you that the off-season is a different experience entirely - quieter, colder, and requiring more self-sufficiency. Most visitors underestimate how much the services drop off after mid-September. There is no fee, but there is also no one checking on anything.

Peak Season vs. Off-Season: Two Different Campgrounds

Summer (Memorial Day to mid-September)

This is the window when Purple Point operates like a conventional campground. The $20 fee covers water, trash pickup, and maintained vault toilets. Reservations open six months ahead and fill, especially for weekends. Early morning is your best bet for booking a site that becomes available due to cancellations.

The campground is busy during summer, but "busy" here is relative. Six sites max out at around 24 to 30 people, assuming every site has its full capacity of eight. The lake provides natural cooling, but afternoon temperatures can reach the mid-80s Fahrenheit on the valley floor.

Winter and Shoulder Seasons (mid-September to late May)

Free camping. No reservations. No water. No trash pickup.

The trade-off is substantial. You are entirely self-sufficient for water and waste. The vault toilet is still there, but that is the only service. Temperatures drop significantly in the shoulder months - overnight lows in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit are common from October through April. Snow is possible at this elevation (roughly 1,100 feet) during winter storms.

The common mistake - and almost everyone makes it - is arriving in October assuming the water spigot still works. It does not. The park service turns it off and drains the system for winter. Bring your own filtration or enough water for your stay.

Current Conditions for 2026: What You Need to Know

The NPS has several active alerts that directly affect Purple Point Campground in North Cascades National Park.

Flood Damage at Stehekin Landing

The park complex experienced severe weather and flood damage in December 2025. Operations at Stehekin Landing are limited as of 2026. This means the visitor center, concession services, and dock facilities may not be operating at full capacity. Check the current status before you book boat tickets - if the landing facilities are restricted, your trip logistics change.

Flash Flood and Debris Flow Risk

The Stehekin area is prone to flooding, and this risk increases in post-fire environments. The research data notes that visitors should "know before you go" and review the Post Fire Safety page. If you are camping here during or after heavy rain, be aware of the terrain around you. The campground sits near the lake, but the drainage from the surrounding slopes can send water and debris down quickly.

Other Relevant Closures

• State Route 20 is closed at milepost 130 (Colonial Creek Campground) in both lanes. This does not directly affect Purple Point (you cannot drive here anyway), but it affects access to other parts of the park.
• Cascade River Road is closed to vehicles at milepost 20, two miles before the trailhead. Foot and bicycle traffic is permitted beyond the gate.

These closures mean that if you are combining a trip to Purple Point with other North Cascades destinations, you need to plan around limited road access elsewhere in the park.

What the Park Website Does Not Mention

The official recreation.gov page lists the basics, but a few details matter more in practice than they appear on screen.

Practical Takeaways

1. Book early for summer. Reservations open 180 days in advance at recreation.gov. The six sites go quickly for weekends and holidays.
2. Arrive with your water situation sorted. In summer, fill up at the spigot near the vault toilets. In winter, bring your own or pack a filter.
3. Walk-in means walk-in. You are carrying your gear from the boat dock. Pack light and use a backpack, not a rolling duffel.
4. Check the ferry schedule first. Your campsite reservation means nothing if you cannot get to Stehekin. Confirm the boat runs on your dates.
5. Review the active alerts. The flood damage at Stehekin Landing and the flash flood risk in the area are real considerations for 2026 trips. Do not skip this step.
6. Pack for variable weather. Even in summer, lake-effect conditions can bring cool evenings and sudden rain. The elevation is moderate, but the valley microclimate is unpredictable.
7. Consider off-season if you want solitude and are self-sufficient. Free camping, no crowds, and winter lake views from a near-empty shoreline. Just bring everything you need.

For a broader look at where to stay in the area, check our complete visitor guide. For a comparison with other sites in the region, our all campgrounds page covers the full list of North Cascades camping options.

Final Thoughts

Purple Point is not the campground you drive past and decide to try on a whim. It is the campground you plan for - the one that requires a boat reservation, a packing list, and an understanding that services stop at the shoreline. The flood damage at Stehekin Landing in late 2025 has made that planning even more important for 2026 trips. But for the kind of camper who values quiet, lakefront access, and the feeling of being truly removed from the road system, those six walk-in sites are exactly what they look like from the water: worth the extra effort to reach.