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Skagit Information Center
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Explore the remote Skagit River Gorge high in the North Cascades wilderness! Travel by motorcoach across massive Diablo Dam and board the Alice Ross III for a cruise on emerald green, Diablo Lake. Cascading waterfalls, jagged snow-capped mountain peaks, alpine vistas and abundant wildlife are yours to enjoy. Two-and-a-half-hour escorted tours depart from the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, Washington, USA.
The tours operate during the summer, June through September. The Diablo Lake Adventure Tour is offered Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in July and August. In June and September, tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays only. The Diablo Dam Good Dinner Tour is available Mondays and Thursdays in July and August.
Your adventure begins in Newhalem at 12:30 p.m. (check-in by noon). You may order a Skagit Picnic Lunch when you make your reservation. Or, you may purchase beverages, snacks and sandwiches at the Skagit General Store, conveniently located steps away from the Skagit Information Center. You are also welcome to pack a picnic and enjoy our beautifully landscaped grounds. Join us for the Diablo Dam Good Dinner Tour on selected dates.
Details for the 2008 Tour Season:
Diablo Lake Adventure
All tours begin at the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, WA.
- Tour length: 2.5 hours
- Tour time: Tour departs at 12:30 p.m. Check-in by noon.
- Tour dates:
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July and August - Friday, Saturday and Sunday
(There are no tours on Tuesdays or Wednesdays)
June and September - Saturday and Sunday only
- Admission (includes applicable tax):
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| Adults |
$25 |
| Seniors over 62 |
$20 |
| Youth 6 to 12 |
$12 |
| Five and younger |
Free |
| NOTE: A fuel surcharge will be added for each adult or senior. |
| Adult: |
$5.00 |
| Seniors: |
$3.00 |
Group discounts are available. E-mail SkagitTours.Reservations@seattle.gov for more information.
To request reservations for 2008:
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E-mail
SkagitTours.Reservations@seattle.gov
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or:
Call our 24-hour Skagit Tours information line at
(206) 684-3030. Press "1" for the Diablo Lake Adventure and leave us a voice message. We'll call you back to set up your tour! (Note: Messages are checked once a week from October through April)
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Diablo Dam Good Dinner Tour
(Scenic alpine boat cruise plus dinner - 4 hours - Offered Mondays and Thursdays in July and August)
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Power, Romance, Adventure....and Chicken! Enjoy a fully escorted tour and boat cruise plus all-you-can eat hot, crispy-baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetarian spaghetti, vegetables, fruit gelatin salad, rolls and butter, beverage and home made pie ala mode. Dinner is served at 3 p.m. in the Diablo Cookhouse.
| Adults |
$55 |
| Seniors over 62 |
$50 |
| Teens 13 to 19 |
$45 |
| Youth 6 to 12 |
$40 |
| Five and younger |
Free |
| NOTE: A fuel surcharge will be added for each adult or senior. |
| Adult: |
$5.00 |
| Seniors: |
$3.00 |
To request reservations for 2008:
-
E-mail
SkagitTours.Reservations@seattle.gov
-
or:
Call our 24-hour Skagit Tours information line at
(206) 684-3030. Press "1" for the Diablo Lake Adventure and leave us a voice message. We'll call you back to set up your tour! (Note: Messages are checked once a week from October though April)
Then and Now:
Since the 1920's, visitors have traveled to Newhalem, Washington to surround themselves with the rugged beauty of the North Cascades. In 1918, Seattle City Light began construction on three monumental dams over a 50-year time span to provide hydroelectric power for the city of Seattle. Seattle City Light's Skagit Tours, first offered in 1928, provided tourists the opportunity to witness the construction of the dams, the wonders of electricity and to enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery. The Diablo Lake Adventure Tour continues this tradition of showcasing the area's rich history and the company town of Newhalem which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Top Five Things to See and Do in Newhalem:
- Play! Ring the big brass bell on Engine Old Number 6.
- Eat! Try a FREE sample of homemade fudge at the historic Skagit General Store.
- Learn! Enjoy videos, trail maps and displays at the Skagit Information Center - and see how electricity is made.
- Hike! Take the Historic Walking Tour of Newhalem or enjoy nearby family-friendly hiking trails.
- Explore! Cross the pedestrian suspension bridge over the Skagit River to view Gorge Powerhouse and stunning Ladder Creek Falls.
It's Easy to Get Here, it's Harder to Leave.
The Diablo Lake Adventure Tour begins in Newhalem, Washington 140 miles or 3 hours northeast of Seattle. Travel Interstate 5, and take Exit 232. This is the Cook Road Sedro-Woolley exit near Mount Vernon, Washington. Head east through the first stoplight close to the exit off ramp. Continue east on Cook Road for 4.5 miles until you reach a second stoplight and turn left onto the North Cascades Highway 20.
You are now heading east on the North Cascades Highway, continue for approximately 40 miles. You will travel through the town of Marblemount. Newhalem is 15 miles east of Marblemount. Look for the black and blue sign "Welcome to the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project" and for Train Engine "Old Number 6" parked adjacent to the Highway as you approach Newhalem's Main Street. Parking is available on the north side of the highway in the lot provided.
Check-in for Skagit Tours is in the Skagit Information Center across the street from the Skagit General Store on Main Street. Allow a minimum of 90 minutes to travel from Interstate 5 to Newhalem. You can also access the North Cascades Highway from east to west via Winthrop, Washington. Newhalem is approximately 70 miles west of Winthrop. Allow one hour and 30 minutes to travel west from Winthrop to Newhalem.
Since 1918, Seattle City Light has operated the Skagit Power Project to deliver hydroelectric power to the City of Seattle. We're pleased to offer Skagit Tours and excited to share the North Cascades' many recreational opportunities.
Visit the Skagit General Store on the web and when you're in Newhalem (good food, local and historical information). The North Cascades Chamber of Commerce website has an events calendar and excellent information on local attractions. The North Cascades National Park web site has details on trails, camping, lodging, activities, facilities, fees and permits. Visit www.parks.wa.gov for Washington State Park campgrounds and other information. The North Cascades Institute offers environmental education for all ages. Go to www.ncascades.org for a listing of classes and seminars in the North Cascades and Skagit Valley. For information on Ross Lake Resort, a secluded floating resort, visit www.rosslakeresort.com. Please view the Skagit Tours Question & Answer Page for further lodging options.
Find more adventures in Washington State at Experience Washington and Northwest Charm.
Due to heightened security, Seattle City Light has restricted access to certain areas of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.
There is no public access to Ross and Diablo Powerhouses, the Incline Railway and Diablo Dam. Other seasonal attractions including the Gorge Powerhouse Visitors' Gallery and Ladder Creek Falls are open May through September. The Trail of the Cedars and the Gorge Dam Overlook Trail remain open year-round for public use.
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For additional information, please send email to Janice Boman at
janice.boman@seattle.gov or call 206.684.3030.
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Photo Gallery
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Diablo Dam
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Alice Ross III
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Cruising Diablo Lake
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North Cascades Highway
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Diablo Lake from Hwy 20 Viewpoint
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Pyramid Peak from the top of Diablo Dam
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Aboard the Alice Ross III
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Ross Dam and Powerhouse
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