Skagit Information Center

The Skagit Information Center is a compact, staffed stop on State Route 20 in Newhalem, jointly run by Seattle City Light, North Cascades Institute and the National Park Service. Make it your first stop if you want context for the Skagit hydroelectric sites or help planning a Skagit Tours visit. The exhibits and information counter are the main draw; it’s an orientation stop, not a full day’s attraction.

The displays cover hydroelectric power, the Skagit Project’s dams and communities. Newhalem began in 1918 as a City Light company town; more than 300 project workers and their families once lived here. That history gives the nearby infrastructure a human story beyond the engineering.

Pick up the free Walk Historic Newhalem brochure before you leave. Its route links historic town features with the Gorge and Newhalem Creek hydroelectric plants, so this can be more than a quick look at displays.

The center sells books and souvenirs. For drinks, snacks or picnic supplies, the separate Skagit General Store is across the street; it also makes fudge on site. The center keeps seasonal hours, so check the current schedule before relying on an open stop. It’s separate from the North Cascades Visitor Center near Newhalem Creek Campground, which serves as the park’s other visitor facility.