Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a remote protected landscape in northern Washington, managed by the National Park Service within the North Cascades complex. Covering 61,958 acres around the north end of Lake Chelan, the Stehekin Valley, and the Stehekin River, it is notable for having no road access. The small community of Stehekin, reached mainly by ferry or floatplane, remains central to the area’s character and history. Its name comes from Salish-speaking people and reflects the valley’s long role as a passage into the northern Cascades. Because year-round residents lived here, the area was designated primarily for recreation rather than preservation alone.