Fodor's Expert Review Stehekin

One of the most beautiful and secluded valleys in the Pacific Northwest, Stehekin was homesteaded by hardy souls in the late 19th century. It's actually not a town, but rather a small community at the scenic northeast end of Lake Chelan, and it's accessible only by boat or trail. Year-round residents—there's about 100 of them—enjoy a wilderness lifestyle. They have intermittent outside communications, boat-delivered supplies, and just two dozen cars among them—vehicles must be barged in, after all. Even on a peak summer season day, only around 200 visitors make the trek here.