Ross Lake National Recreation Area is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Ringed by mountains, it offers many outdoor recreation opportunities along the upper reaches of the Skagit River, between the north and south units of North Cascades National Park. 

Three reservoirs provide power for Seattle City Light and recreational activities for visitors. The three dams vary in height: Gorge - 300 feet, Diablo - 389 feet, and Ross - 540 feet, with corresponding differences in lake size.

Gorge Creek Falls area, 3.5 miles east of Newhalem, has improved facilities with a new accessible interpretive loop trail with views of Gorge Dam.

Diablo Lake is the central jewel of the three lakes, offering the best accessibility. It is open all year to fishing and boating; a boat launch is available at Colonial Creek Campground. There are three boat-in sites along the shore of Diablo Lake, which require a free backcountry permit. Thunder Creek, the major tributary to the lake, carries the fine glacial sediment which gives the lake its brilliant turquoise color. A 28 mile hiking route through the park into the Stehekin Valley follows Thunder Creek to Park Creek Pass.

Ross Lake is the largest of three reservoirs created by the impounded waters of the upper Skagit River. Ross Lake winds nearly 25 miles from the dam north to the Canadian border at Hozomeen. During the summer, vehicle access and boat launching are possible from the north by traveling the 40-mile gravel Silver-Skagit Road south of Hope, British Columbia. Hozomeen Campground is primitive with water and vault toilets. It is necessary to pack out all garbage.

Access to Ross Dam and Lake from the south is limited to trail and water routes. Diablo Lake, Ross Dam, and East Bank trails provide access for hikers from trailheads off State Route 20. Ross Lake Resort, (206) 386-4437, has cabins, small rental boats, and provides portage past the dam and water-taxi service to trailheads and remote backcountry campsites, which require free permits.

Ross Lake has a quality sport fishery of naturally reproducing trout that opens for fishing July 1 each year. The catch limit is three rainbow trout (13 inch minimum) per day. No bait or barbed hooks are allowed. If Dolly Varden or bull trout are hooked, they must be carefully and immediately released. Ross Lake's natural spawning occurs in the Skagit River above the lake and in the tributary streams like Big Beaver, Lightning, Roland, Dry, and Ruby Creeks. All of Ruby Creek and 1/4 mile upstream from the mouth of Big Beaver are closed to fishing. All other tributaries are closed for one mile upstream. A Washington State fishing license is required. Ross Lake's limited access helps protect the pristine quality of the lake and its environment.

Hiking Trails

State Route 20 Trails	State Route 20 Milepost	Distance (round-trip)	Elevation Gain	Difficulty		Remarks
Thornton Lakes	117	10.4 miles	2,300 feet	moderate		Long day hike; permit needed for overnight backcountry camping
Sterling Munro	120	660 feet	level	very easy		Boardwalk; view into the Picket Range; accessible
River Loop	120	1.8 miles	50 feet	easy		Forested walk to river; accessible
Rock Shelter	120	.3 miles	30 feet	easy		New boardwalk to campsite used 1,400 years ago by hunting, gathering Native Peoples
Trail of the Cedars	121	.3 miles	level	very easy		Accessible. Loop trail through large old cedars. Interpretative plaques.
Pyramid Lake	127	4.2 miles	1,500 feet	moderate		Steep forest; stream; small lake
Diablo Lake	128	7.6 miles	400 feet	easy		Trailhead located across Diablo Dam
Thunder Creek	130	1.6 - 38 miles	6,300 feet	easy-difficult		Easy 1.6 miles round-trip to suspension bridge; permit needed for overnight backcountry camping
Fourth of July Pass / Panther Creek	130 138	10 miles	2,900 feet	moderate		Access trail by hiking 1.8 miles up Thunder Creek Trail; steep to pass; permit needed for overnight backcountry camping
Ross Dam	134	1.5 miles	-500 feet	easy		Short, steep trail from State Route 20 to dam
Happy Creek Forest Walk	134.5	.3 miles	level	very easy		Accessible
East Bank	138	.5 - 34 miles	1,500 feet	easy		Trail east (Canyon Creek) or west (Ross Lake); permit needed for overnight backcountry camping

Camping

There are 19 boat-access camp areas on Ross Lake and 3 on Diablo Lake. A backcountry permit is required for any overnight camping. All Ross Lake campsites are equipped with fire-rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. The Hozomeen campground is also accessible by car from Hope, British Columbia. The following are Boat and/or Hiking/Horse Access Only (except for Hozomeen).

 

Campground	Distance from Ross Dam (miles)	Distance from Hozomeen (miles)	No. of Sites	Group Camps	Hiking Trail	Boat Dock
Green Point	1	22	7
Cougar Island Boat Camp	2	21	2
Roland Point	4	19	1
Big Beaver	4	19	7
Mc Millan	5.5	17.5	3
Spencer's Camp Boat Camp	6	17	2
May Creek	6.5	16.5	1
Rainbow Point	7.5	15.5	3
Devils Junction	10.5	12.5	1
Ten Mile Island	11	12	3
Dry Creek	11.5	11.5	4
Ponderosa	12	11	2
Lodgepole	12.5	10.5	3
Lightning Creek Horse Camp	13	10	3
Lightning Creek Boat Camp	13.5	9.5	6
Cat Island Boat Camp	14.5	8.5	4
Little Beaver	17	6	5
Boundary Bay	17.5	5.5	3
Silver Creek	21	2	4
Hozomeen	23	0	122
Hidden Cove	Diablo Lake	1
Thunder Point	Diablo Lake	3
Buster Brown	Diablo Lake	3

Green Point Campground has access to Big Beaver Trail.
May Creek Campground has access to East Bank Trail that is unmarked.
Devil's Junction Campground has well defined access to East Bank Trail.

Ross Lake water level is generally full from late June through mid-September. Some sites may be inaccessible during low water conditions. During other months of the year, drawdowns of the reservoir expose rocks, snags and other underwater hazards. Watch out for floating logs, debris, shallows or submerged obstacles at all times.

For Additional Information Contact:

Ross Lake National Recreation Area
c/o North Cascades National Park
2105 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-9394
(360) 856-5700

For more information visit the National Park Service website