Nestled in the mountains of the beautiful Glacier Peak Wilderness, Holden Village welcomes all people into the wilderness to form and renew their relationships with God, the earth, and each other. The Village welcomes all who seek rest and renewal to take part in daily rhythms of work, recreation, worship, and shared meals with good company.
Whether joining for the excitement of summer programming or prefer a more quiet winter retreat, Holden Village invites you to join us in the beauty of the North Cascades any time of year. We hope to see you in the Village soon!
Enjoy simple, comfortable, and rustic lodging during your stay. Linens, pillows, blankets, and towels are all provided, and each bed is lovingly topped with a homemade quilt.
The Holden Kitchen provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. Holden’s diet utilizes mainly local & organic produce, whole grains, legumes, and occasional fish & meat options.
You have great flexibility in how you spend your time. You can fill your days with classes and activities, go out on the trails, or spend time relaxing and resting.
Experience the past and present intertwine as you move through this historic mining village adapted for use as a retreat center with amenities for play, rest, learning, recreation, and more.
Holden Village welcomes all to the wilderness. Expanding accessibility is a continued area of growth in this historic mountain Village. Here’s what we currently can and cannot offer.
Holden is a great place for your family, church, or community organization. Throughout the year, Holden welcomes visitor groups of all ages to experience new rhythms of living.
At the time of booking, your credit card will be charged a deposit equal to the amount of one night’s stay. Should you cancel your reservation less than seven days before your scheduled arrival date, this deposit will be nonrefundable. Any additional payments, exceeding your required deposit, will be refunded, unless specifically requested to be kept as a donation. Cancellations that take place before the seven day deadline will be charged a $25 per person cancellation fee, and then be issued a refund of any remaining
funds.
Winter is a truly beautiful season to visit; however, sometimes Holden Village must cancel transport to and from the boat dock because of dangerous winter travel conditions along the road. Safety is our top priority and this decision is made based on avalanche conditions and forecasts.
Incoming Guests: If transport is cancelled, you will be notified by an email from Registration as soon as the decision is made, typically early the morning of your arrival. The boat companies will also be notified if Holden Transport is cancelled. You will not be charged for the nights you are not in the Village. In addition, if you need to cancel your stay entirely, you will be refunded your deposit and any pre-paid amounts less the $25/person administrative fee. Additionally, you have the option of contacting the Registrar to reschedule your stay without incurring any charges.
Outgoing Guests: For any additional nights that you have to stay at Holden Village due to transport not running you will be charged the daily meal cost ($40/day/guest). If guests are able to pay the normal nightly guest rate or a portion greater than meal costs, please let the registrar know. Once transport is available guests need to depart unless they are staying on at the normal nightly rate.
If you have time-sensitive travel plans or an event that you need to return to after a winter visit to Holden Village, we recommend that you plan your departure from the Village to be a few days earlier (with a few buffer days), just in case transport is cancelled due to weather.
Enjoy Holden’s wide variety of program offerings including: art classes, naturalist sessions, children’s activities, faculty-led sessions, daily Sacred Space gatherings, and more. Faculty-led sessions are held Monday to Thursday. The Narnia childcare program runs from 8:30 to noon Monday to Friday.
New this year: You can arrive or depart on any transport day: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Learn more about How to Get to Holden Village to book your boat tickets on the arrival and departure dates of your choosing.
Looking for a quieter-paced and shorter stay in the Village? If you’ve never been to Holden Village before and want to try it out for a shorter amount of time, or you just want a quick getaway to the wilderness, visit Holden Village for the weekend!
Staying at Holden over the weekend offers ample free time for hiking and outdoor recreation, reading, journaling, relaxation, and rest. There are fewer scheduled classes and activities, yet it’s still a wonderful time to experience the Village.
Plan to arrive on a Friday and depart on a Sunday or a Monday for a weekend visit.
Learn more about How to Get to Holden Village to book your boat tickets for a weekend visit.
Your options for arrival and departure days are Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You are welcome to arrive or leave on any of these days!
Pricing includes meals.
Length of Stay |
1-6 nights
7+ nights
Adult (18+) |
$105/night
$90/night
Youth (4-17)
$81/night
$69/night
Children 3 and under stay for free!
Length of Stay |
1-6 nights
7+ nights
Adult (18+) |
$137/night
$118/night
Youth (4-17)
$96/night
$82/night
Children 3 and under stay for free!
Length of Stay |
1-6 nights
7+ nights
Adult (18+) |
$105/night
$90/night
Youth (4-17)
$81/night
$69/night
Children 3 and under stay for free!
We look forward to inviting you into the wilderness this summer for rest, rejuvenation, and connection.
Escape into the wilderness and enjoy the peace, simplicity, and intentional presence of the Holden community in the slower seasons.
Bring your spirit of adventure, pack your sense of humor, and prepare for snow in all its glorious variations! Engage in the seasonal rhythms and routines of an intentional Village community, while witnessing the splendor of the North Cascade wilderness. Witness the vibrant yellows throughout Railroad Creek Valley in autumn, stir your sense of adventure with cross country skiing and snow sports in winter, and revel in the beauty and renewal of spring.
Engage in special seasonal and holiday programming, while enjoying ample free time for winter recreation like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, or rest and restore indoors with reading, journaling, and relaxation.
Registration for Winter/Spring 2025 is open!
The village is fully booked from December 27, 2024 – January 1, 2025.
Holden Village will be closed to guests on December 17, 2024.
From January to May, Holden provides transportation for arrivals and departures exclusively on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Pricing includes meals.
Length of Stay |
1-6 nights
7+ nights
Adult (18+) |
$105/night
$90/night
Youth (4-17)
$81/night
$69/night
Children 3 and under stay for free!
Caring for the health and safety of all Villagers is a responsibility joyfully shared by all members of the community! Learn more on our Health & Safety page.
Holden Village has a First Aid Station equipped to handle basic needs. The Village is not well equipped to handle medical emergencies on site. Emergency evacuations are possible in most weather conditions. However, due to our isolated location, evacuation can take many hours or even days in winter. Helicopter evacuation, if available, is very expensive. If you use medication, be sure to bring more than enough for your stay including possible delays leaving the village. If you have any questions about coming to Holden in regards to your health, please contact your doctor and/or the Village Medic before finalizing your visit.
If you have an emergency, please call the emergency satellite phone number: 509-699-2404. If your issue is not an emergency, please contact us via email.
Learn more about Holden Village’s community health and wellness protocols for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Be prepared for a wide range of temperatures and conditions depending on the season in which you visit.
Summer daytime temperatures are usually in 70F – 80F although it can often be hotter. Temperatures still dip into the 40s at night. Winter temperatures generally hover between 20F – 30F but it can get colder. The average annual snowfall at Holden Village is 270 inches.
Read more about seasonal changes at and find current conditions and the forecast for Holden Village on our Weather page.
Holden is a great base camp for adventures in Washington’s North Cascade Mountains. Make Holden part of your backpacking, climbing, or thru-hiking route! Learn more about services we offer to backpackers, climbers, and thru-hikers, including transport, meals, camping/lodging, amenities, and more on our Hiker Services page.
At Holden Village, we are committed to welcoming all people into the wilderness. The Holden Village Access Fund exists to offset the cost of a visit to Holden Village for people with financial need.
Holden Village acknowledges that the oppression of people based on race, ethnicity, income level, gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical ability creates barriers that make the cost of visiting difficult. The Access Fund is particularly designed to expand welcome to people of color and people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Fill out this form to request financial support from Holden Village.
Internet connectivity in the wilderness is limited. Shared public computers in the Holden Library provide 20-minute sessions. Guests cannot access wifi on their personal devices. You are welcome to use your phone, laptop, e-reader, or tablet in your room. Please limit use in public spaces. We practice limited use of technology as a discipline of our low-impact and simple wilderness lifestyle. Enjoy this time in the wilderness to unplug and connect in person!
Need a place to stay on your way to or from Holden Village? Check out the Holden Bed & Breeakfast! Although not located in the Village, the Holden B&B is a great place to start or end your trip to Holden Village. A six-bedroom house on Lake Chelan, the B&B offers travelers simple and comfortable lodging amidst national forests, apple orchards, and Washington’s premier wine country. Whether you are on your way to the Village or just passing through, the Bed & Breakfast is the perfect place to experience Holden hospitality downlake.
Holden Village is a community where your questions are valued and encouraged. Most programs led by visiting teaching faculty occur during the summer months. However, Holden also invites faculty to teach sessions for special events and retreats throughout the rest of the year.
View upcoming summer faculty.
