Skagit Tour Canceled
Skagit Tours will be missed this summer. A portion of SR 20 going into Newhalem was washed out in November due to extreme flooding, restricting traffic to a single lane.
Over the next few months, the Washington Department of Transportation will be completing repairs, causing considerable travel delays in and out of the area.
Skagit Tours will not be accepting reservations due to these terrible events. However, both our Skagit and Boundary hydroelectric projects have lots to see and do!
RECREATION IS OPEN
Skagit Recreation Opportunities
Explore the historic town of Newhalem as well as neighboring attractions such as Ladder Creek Falls and the Cedars Trail.
Starting this month, you can now visit the Skagit Information Center.
NEWHALEM
Skagit Information Center
- Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.,
Friday–Monday: May 27–May 30 - 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday–Sunday: June 3–June 26
Open seven days a week: July 1–Sept. 30. - Details: Face coverings are optional
Gorge Powerhouse Visitor Gallery
- Hours: Open daily year-round
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Trail of the Cedars
- Hours: Open daily year-round.
- Details: Three-quarter-mile loop trail to Newhalem Powerhouse offering views of large western red cedars and the Skagit River.
- Directions: Trail starts in Newhalem at the end of Main Street opposite Highway 20.
- More info: Visit the National Park Service website.
Ladder Creek Falls Trail and Gardens
- Hours: Open daily year-round. Lighted from dusk to 11:00 p.m.
- Details: Half-mile loop trail provides spectacular views of the waterfalls, including a series cascading through a slot rock canyon, and Ladder Creek Gardens. Visit at night for a light show that illuminates the falls.
- Directions: Trail starts at the parking lot across the river from Gorge Powerhouse. Follow the trail to the right and cross the suspension foot bridge.
- More info: Visit the National Park Service website.
Skagit General Store
- Hours: 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Monday-Thursday
- Details: Expanding hours and days contingent on staffing
Public restrooms available
- Location: Next to Skagit Information Center.
DIABLO AND DIABLO LAKE
North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
- Details: The campus is open to the general public. You can sign up for programs in advance on North Cascades Institute’s website.
Diablo Lake Ferry/Interpretive Tour
- Details: Capacity is 37 passengers with baggage. Open to hikers and backpackers. No reservations required.
- Cash only, $10 per adult each way, $5 per child each way (4-12)
3 bag limit, Additional baggage: $10
| Diablo to Ross | Ross to Diablo |
| **8:30 a.m. | **9:15 a.m. |
| *10:00 a.m. | *11:00 a.m. |
| **12 p.m. | **12:45 p.m. |
| *1:45 p.m. | *2:45 p.m. |
** Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday June 30-September 5
Stetattle Creek Trailhead
- Details: Visit the National Park Service website.
Sourdough Trailhead
- Details: Visit the National Park Service website.
Public restrooms available
- Location: Across Diablo Dam.
Questions about Skagit Recreation? Call us at (206) 386-4478 or email us.
Boundary Recreation Opportunities
Boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, and sightseeing are just a few of the activities available at our Boundary Hydroelectric Project’s Boundary Reservoir.
For visitors to the Boundary Project area, City Light is committed to preserving and improving these recreational opportunities.
We will be unable to give Boundary Tours this year owing to COVID-19 restrictions.
RECREATION IS OPEN
Forebay Recreation Area
- Hours: Open year-round (please note: in winter water may not be available and roads may not be plowed).
- Campground details: Free, no reservations, first come, first served. 22 campsites, including 12 RV sites (Class C RVs accommodated). Limit six consecutive nights’ stay. Flush toilets and potable water available. No hook-ups, dump station, or showers. All campsites have fire rings and picnic tables.
- Day use area details: 7 picnic tables, 4 BBQ grills, 1 large group shelter with 4 tables, 14 parking stalls.
- Boat launch details: Concrete boat launch with accessible boarding dock, 13 parking stalls for trucks and trailers, tie-down area.
Metaline Waterfront Park
- Hours: Open daily year-round; may be subject to flooding in spring.
- Details: Concrete boat ramp, accessible boarding dock, kayak ramp, group shelter with fire pit, playground equipment, restroom with flush toilets, parking.
Vista House
- Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Details: Interior viewing room, exterior viewing platform, flush restrooms.
Boat-in Campsites
- Details: Six shoreline campsites (Lime Creek, Everett Slough, Monument Bar, Grandview, Slumber Cove [no toilet], Ledbetter Cove) with fire rings, picnic tables, tent pads, food storage lockers, and primitive toilets. First come, first served. No reservations.
Questions about Boundary Recreation? Call us at (509) 446-3083 (select option 9) or email us.
Upcoming Boundary Recreation Enhancements
We are actively creating additional recreational amenities to assist local recreation under City Light’s federal license to manage Boundary Dam.
Between Metaline Falls and Boundary Dam, the canyon reach section of the Boundary reservoir offers stunning views of geology and steep rock walls, wildlife, lush forest foliage, neighboring mountains, and waterfalls, including Peewee Falls, which is usually only seen from the water.
City Light is supporting the development of two new overlooks and trailheads along the eastern rim of the canyon, in collaboration with the US Forest Service/Colville National Forest, which will allow a much wider variety of visitors to enjoy the vistas.
By 2022, these perspectives will be completed.
A new six-mile trail connecting the two viewpoints will be completed by 2023 for hikers.
In addition, in 2022, City Light will construct a new portage road around Metaline Falls to provide paddlers with an alternative to running or avoiding the falls’ rapids.
Parking, picnic tables, and a vault toilet will be available on the new portage trail.