From Wenatchee, US-97A runs north along the west bank of the Columbia River to beautiful Lake Chelan, at the southern edge of the North Cascades National Park. Edged by wilderness and surrounded by tall mountain peaks, fjord-like Lake Chelan offers quick and comfortable escape from the modern world, thanks to the Lady of the Lake tour boat (daily March–Nov; $35 round-trip; 509/682-4584), which crosses the waters to the peaceful hamlet of Stehekin, on the lake’s road-free northern shore.
From Stehekin, where there is a National Park visitor center (360/856-5700), you can hike deep into the volcanic wilds of the North Cascades, ride bikes along old mining trails, fish or swim in the glacial lake, and stay the night at the 28-room Stehekin Lodge ($80-150; 509/682-4494), one of a handful of tourist facilities in this delightfully isolated neck of the woods.
