Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
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Peaceful area great for picnicking and hiking.
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- DLhoov8 contributionsCrystal Blue WatersThe North Cascade NP with the Ross Lake NRA is one of the crown jewels of the National Park System. Our family visited in mid July. Because of the remote location, it is an under used park. The lack of crowds were a welcome relief compared to most Western National Parks. The untouched beauty whether traveling by car or hiking will last a lifetime. The Cascade River Road provides access to the Cascade Pass, and the North Unit. Be sure to take Cascade Pass hike.Visited July 2019Written January 27, 2020
- Grover RPensacola, Florida17,991 contributionsSome Say the Best Part of North CascadesRoss Lake NRA is a strip along Hwy 20 that bifurcates North Cascades National Park and contains such amazing places like Diablo and Ross Lakes as well as the NCNP Visitor Center. Technically, the Ross Lake NRA is not part of the National Park. However, what most people see when they think they are going to NCNP is Ross Lake NRA. Annually, over 300,000 people visit Ross Lake NRA while only 25,000 make it to North Cascades National Park. Side note, if you make it to Cascades Pass, you have been in the National Park. With all that said, Ross Lake NRA is amazing and it is what the vast majority of people think is the park. I thoroughly enjoy hiking Skagit River Loop Trail from the Visitor's Center and I was blown away by the Diablo Lake Overlook as it was the most amazing viewpoint in the area, park or NRA. If you go to North Cascades NP and don't go to Ross Lake NRA, you have really missed something.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 22, 2023
- D. LiuBurnaby, Canada2 contributionsIncredible Place to VisitSpent 3 days on Ross Lake and Lake Diablo. Incredible Scenary and Place to Visit. Rented a Canoe on the way here from Bloedel Donovan Park in Bellingham and was able to canoe both lakes. HIghly recommended.Visited July 2021Written August 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Rainier72
Lynnwood, WA746 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
Ross Lake NRA is a part of the North Cascades National Park Complex. A lot of it lies around Highway 20, but there are other places off the main road you can get to as well. We stayed mainly within the vicinity of the highway and I'll use this review to name some highlights within the NRA that don't have their own review pages.
1. North Cascades Visitors Center-Just outside Newhalem. Visitors center mainly talks about the mountains and wildlife. There are a lot of short trails that take off from the vicinity of the center and Newhalem. These include Skagit River Loop, Sterling Munro overlook, and the Rock Shelter near the center. Ladder Creek Falls and the Trail of the Cedars take off from Newhalem. All are easy. There is climbing of stairs at Ladder Creek Falls. The Skagit River Loop is the longest at 1.8 miles. Sterling Munro is very short but has a nice overlook. Rock Shelter is an old historic Indian site. Trail of the Cedars is mainly a nature walk but there are some interesting signs as well. The National Park Service and Seattle City Light also offer walking tours of Newhalem which are very informative as well. Newhalem has quite a history.
2. Seattle City Light Skagit Tours- After a nice lunch made from local foods and a short walk or bus drive, the tours of Diablo Lake are scenic and wonderful. It takes you upriver to a very small peek of Ross Dam. Lots of history and scenery to behold. Off Highway 20 around MP 126. Drive over Diablo Dam and then go right to the end. Reservations needed.
3. Gorge Creek Overlook-Nice, short loop trail near MP 123. One side of the highway you encounter a nice view of Gorge Lake and Dam. Other side of the highway is a beautiful waterfall.
4. Thunder Knob Trail-Colonial Creek Campground. Parking is on Highway 20. This is a nice stroll up to some viewpoints. The first one on the left after 1.8 miles is the best one. No trees blocking your view of Diablo Lake and some of the peaks. It is a 3.6 mile round trip with a 400 foot elevation gain, but it doesn't feel like it. Nice trail to take friends on when they are visting the area.
5. Diablo Lake Overlook-Just up the road and hill from Thunder Knob. If you don't feel like hiking, this is the viewpoint for you. More views of the lake and more mountains to enjoy. Lots of interpretive signs and restrooms are available. A must stop on the highway.
There are some overlooks of Ross Lake on maps as well even though they are not marked on the highway. Just look for some interpretive signs up the road from Diablo Lake and you'll have some nice views of Ross Lake. We had a very clear day and Hozomeen Mountain was in view and that is almost Canada.
Very scenic area. Don't forget the camera.
1. North Cascades Visitors Center-Just outside Newhalem. Visitors center mainly talks about the mountains and wildlife. There are a lot of short trails that take off from the vicinity of the center and Newhalem. These include Skagit River Loop, Sterling Munro overlook, and the Rock Shelter near the center. Ladder Creek Falls and the Trail of the Cedars take off from Newhalem. All are easy. There is climbing of stairs at Ladder Creek Falls. The Skagit River Loop is the longest at 1.8 miles. Sterling Munro is very short but has a nice overlook. Rock Shelter is an old historic Indian site. Trail of the Cedars is mainly a nature walk but there are some interesting signs as well. The National Park Service and Seattle City Light also offer walking tours of Newhalem which are very informative as well. Newhalem has quite a history.
2. Seattle City Light Skagit Tours- After a nice lunch made from local foods and a short walk or bus drive, the tours of Diablo Lake are scenic and wonderful. It takes you upriver to a very small peek of Ross Dam. Lots of history and scenery to behold. Off Highway 20 around MP 126. Drive over Diablo Dam and then go right to the end. Reservations needed.
3. Gorge Creek Overlook-Nice, short loop trail near MP 123. One side of the highway you encounter a nice view of Gorge Lake and Dam. Other side of the highway is a beautiful waterfall.
4. Thunder Knob Trail-Colonial Creek Campground. Parking is on Highway 20. This is a nice stroll up to some viewpoints. The first one on the left after 1.8 miles is the best one. No trees blocking your view of Diablo Lake and some of the peaks. It is a 3.6 mile round trip with a 400 foot elevation gain, but it doesn't feel like it. Nice trail to take friends on when they are visting the area.
5. Diablo Lake Overlook-Just up the road and hill from Thunder Knob. If you don't feel like hiking, this is the viewpoint for you. More views of the lake and more mountains to enjoy. Lots of interpretive signs and restrooms are available. A must stop on the highway.
There are some overlooks of Ross Lake on maps as well even though they are not marked on the highway. Just look for some interpretive signs up the road from Diablo Lake and you'll have some nice views of Ross Lake. We had a very clear day and Hozomeen Mountain was in view and that is almost Canada.
Very scenic area. Don't forget the camera.
Written August 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
burgluroonie
5 contributions
Jul 2011
Just back form a wonderful week on Ross Lake. What would I have liked to know before we left for our trip? 1. Canoeing gear rented from Ross Lake Resort is of high quality and appropriate for the conditions. Though they do not rent dry suits. Traveling with young-ish children, I do recommend them. The suits also made for much more pleasant and longer-lasting swimming sessions. 2. I estimate that for every hour you canoe up-lake, it will take you three hours to canoe down-lake (back to Ross Lake Resort and the dam). We had fair and pleasant weather, but still, even the moderate breeze was enough resistance to give one a good workout. 3. The poop shacks (aka outhouses) are right next to the camping spots. Be prepared for a pungent odor unless you are lucky enough to land a spot at a distance, or upwind. Also, just because you reserved a "group site" be prepared for not enough sites to set up your tent. We spent a night at a "group site" that had two tent pads. We were a gorup of seven with a total of four tents.
Written July 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cocobam
Cincinnati, OH1,175 contributions
Jun 2011
We stayed 3 nights at Ross Lake Resort. I felt a little intimidated at first by how complicated it is to get there, but it was really not bad. There's a designated Ross Lake parking area at the Diablo Lake ferry dock. You have to carry all your stuff down the steps to the ferry dock, but it's pretty easy after that. The twice-daily ferry takes you to the other side of Diablo Lake, where you're met by the friendly people from Ross Lake Resort. They drive you and your bags in the back of a flat-bed truck overland to Ross Lake. There, you're met by another boat, which takes you directly to your cabin at Ross Lake Resort.
The office at RLL has lots of games and puzzles that you can borrow and return at your leisure. The people working there were as friendly and helpful as can be. They gave us life jackets for our kids to use for the duration of our stay (since the cabins are directly on the water, we had them wear lifejackets while playing outside).
We rented a motorboat from RLL one day and explored the lake. We were there in June, which is early in the season and still cool there, and except for a few kayakers, we had the lake to ourselves. We found a beautiful beach with a waterfall, where we got out to explore. We also hiked the trail from RLL to Ross Dam.
Ross Lake NRA is a unit of the North Cascades National Park. You can stop at the visitor center on your way into Newhalem. They have a movie about the park and lots of interesting displays. If you have kids, they can earn a Junior Ranger badge there.
Note that there is no food available at Ross Lake Resort, so you need to bring in all your food and beverages with you. In Newhalem, there is only a "General Store", which has convenience-store type food. Your best bet is to stop for groceries before you get to Newhalem.
The office at RLL has lots of games and puzzles that you can borrow and return at your leisure. The people working there were as friendly and helpful as can be. They gave us life jackets for our kids to use for the duration of our stay (since the cabins are directly on the water, we had them wear lifejackets while playing outside).
We rented a motorboat from RLL one day and explored the lake. We were there in June, which is early in the season and still cool there, and except for a few kayakers, we had the lake to ourselves. We found a beautiful beach with a waterfall, where we got out to explore. We also hiked the trail from RLL to Ross Dam.
Ross Lake NRA is a unit of the North Cascades National Park. You can stop at the visitor center on your way into Newhalem. They have a movie about the park and lots of interesting displays. If you have kids, they can earn a Junior Ranger badge there.
Note that there is no food available at Ross Lake Resort, so you need to bring in all your food and beverages with you. In Newhalem, there is only a "General Store", which has convenience-store type food. Your best bet is to stop for groceries before you get to Newhalem.
Written June 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NeoWasHere
Frederick, MD3,008 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
If you're like me, you came to this part of the world to visit North Cascades National Park. What you find out when you get here is that the National Park is the least accessible part of the region, and the majority of visitors spend time checking out the more popular Ross Lake NRA with parts accessible from right off WA-20 North Cascades Scenic Highway. Ross Lake NRA includes Gorge Lake, Diablo Lake, and Ross Lake. I enjoyed a couple small hikes and took in some overlooks during my visit, but the NRA also offers plenty of paddling, fishing, camping, and better hiking opportunities.
A couple good campgrounds to try are Colonial Creek off WA-20 North Cascades Highway or Hozomeen, accessed by a gravel Skagit Road from Canada. If you long for solitude and wish to be just like Jack Kerouac, you may want to hike to the top of Desolation Peak. I hear the lake view is quite impressive up there, but good luck getting there as it's a strenuous 6.8 mile, 4,400 foot climb in elevation after roughly 16 miles on the relatively flat East Bank trail. Well, that's the hard way at least. There are other easier ways to get there but that would assume you have a boat or you're already on the shores of Ross Lake.
Speaking of Ross Lake, next year (2017) you may think about renting a cabin at the Ross Lake Resort, which is reachable by hiking to it or taking the Diablo Lake Ferry. If you choose the ferry, it will cost you about $16 per person and take an hour to get to the resort one way. The resort is open from Jun-Oct but is already booked solid for the rest of the 2016 season.
What I've come to realize is that this entire National Park Service Complex comprised of North Cascades National Park, and the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas isn't the most accessible place to visit. All the really cool treasures are hidden and remote and take planning, time, and effort to get to them. They all seem worth it. Perhaps, one day I'll get to find out firsthand.
A couple good campgrounds to try are Colonial Creek off WA-20 North Cascades Highway or Hozomeen, accessed by a gravel Skagit Road from Canada. If you long for solitude and wish to be just like Jack Kerouac, you may want to hike to the top of Desolation Peak. I hear the lake view is quite impressive up there, but good luck getting there as it's a strenuous 6.8 mile, 4,400 foot climb in elevation after roughly 16 miles on the relatively flat East Bank trail. Well, that's the hard way at least. There are other easier ways to get there but that would assume you have a boat or you're already on the shores of Ross Lake.
Speaking of Ross Lake, next year (2017) you may think about renting a cabin at the Ross Lake Resort, which is reachable by hiking to it or taking the Diablo Lake Ferry. If you choose the ferry, it will cost you about $16 per person and take an hour to get to the resort one way. The resort is open from Jun-Oct but is already booked solid for the rest of the 2016 season.
What I've come to realize is that this entire National Park Service Complex comprised of North Cascades National Park, and the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas isn't the most accessible place to visit. All the really cool treasures are hidden and remote and take planning, time, and effort to get to them. They all seem worth it. Perhaps, one day I'll get to find out firsthand.
Written September 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve5863
Avon, OH13,020 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
Driving the scenic North Cascades Highway (WA-20) through the North Cascades National Park complex is by far the most popular way to visit; however, the highway actually passes through the Ross Lake National Recreation Area which bisects the national park into two sections north and south of the recreational area. The reason for this is that the area was already developed by Seattle City Light with three dams, and the reservoirs they impound, and the still operating company town of Nehalem; this development conflicts with the mission of a national park to preserve and even return an area to its natural state. Clearly this was not an option for a complex that provides Seattle a good portion of its electrical power and for this reason, this sliver of a recreational area, with a large area encompassing Ross Lake extending north, was established through the center North Cascades National Park when it was established.
However, this technicality does not take away from the beauty of the area and this recreational area includes the wonderfully scenic North Cascades Highway with pullouts overlooking falls, dams, turquois reservoirs, access to trails long and short and, of course, the jagged, glaciated North Cascade Mountains. Note that since this this is a recreational area, leashed dogs are allowed along the trails which would not be allowed in a national park. One of the more unique features of the recreational area are the floating cabins on Lake Ross but if you wish to stay here, make reservations well in advance.
However, this technicality does not take away from the beauty of the area and this recreational area includes the wonderfully scenic North Cascades Highway with pullouts overlooking falls, dams, turquois reservoirs, access to trails long and short and, of course, the jagged, glaciated North Cascade Mountains. Note that since this this is a recreational area, leashed dogs are allowed along the trails which would not be allowed in a national park. One of the more unique features of the recreational area are the floating cabins on Lake Ross but if you wish to stay here, make reservations well in advance.
Written January 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cellowu
Chicago, IL622 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
If you only stop by the two small overlooks on Hwy 20 (and yes, there are only two, and very ignorable if you do not pay attention since it's not like Diablo Lake Vista Point which has a gigantic parking lot with road sign), you probably would say "not much to see". And the statement is half true because you are only able to see part of Ruby Arm and a very small portion of Ross Lake (I bet less than 10%).
In order to appreciate Ross Lake, you have to be "in" it. Unless you are coming from Hozomeen, which requires a border cross from Canada, you would have to either hike to the lake from Ross Dam Trail (off Hwy 20) or take the Diablo Lake Ferry then the truck/watertaxi provided by Ross Lake Resort (see its website for details). We did not get to stay in Ross Lake Resort, but we hiked down the trail and called for Watertaxi to get to the resort. We rent the canoe there and spent whole day in the lake.
The lake is so clean, so green, and so calm. And when you are in the lake, you are surrounded by 360 degree of beautiful mountains and glaciers. There is simply no bad view in the lake. Boating, fishing, and hiking can be arranged by Ross Lake Resort.
You need at least one day to visit Ross Lake. But believe me, it's worth it.
In order to appreciate Ross Lake, you have to be "in" it. Unless you are coming from Hozomeen, which requires a border cross from Canada, you would have to either hike to the lake from Ross Dam Trail (off Hwy 20) or take the Diablo Lake Ferry then the truck/watertaxi provided by Ross Lake Resort (see its website for details). We did not get to stay in Ross Lake Resort, but we hiked down the trail and called for Watertaxi to get to the resort. We rent the canoe there and spent whole day in the lake.
The lake is so clean, so green, and so calm. And when you are in the lake, you are surrounded by 360 degree of beautiful mountains and glaciers. There is simply no bad view in the lake. Boating, fishing, and hiking can be arranged by Ross Lake Resort.
You need at least one day to visit Ross Lake. But believe me, it's worth it.
Written September 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ambahkiwi
Orlando, FL112 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Beautiful location, with clear blue skies in the middle of June, we felt spoilt! So great to see snow still on the mountains and enjoy the crystal blue waters.
Written July 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soggyinsnoqualmie
Snoqualmie, WA289 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
there are actually floating cabins that can be rented. if possible to make reservations do it and have a very unique vacation
Written August 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol C
Southaven, MS71 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
We made this stop just to see what it had to offer photographically. It was a pleasant surprise! The water was such a beautiful teal blue, but so clear you could see the rocks underneath the surface. This is a definite stop, if for nothing else, but to enjoy the beauty of the mountains surrounding the lake.
Written December 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zip98221
Anacortes, WA2,268 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We visit the Ross Lake National Recreation Area last week. It is one of the prettiest drives that I haven been on.
The Ross Lake area is about 90 minutes east of Burlington and Hwy 5. This would maike it about a 3 hour drive from most parts of the Seattle area.
We just drove up and back from Hwy 5, and stopped at some of the overlooks to see the sights. My wife is from Brazil, and she thought the views were some of the best she had seen in here life.
If you are driving up and back for the day, there few places to stop for a toilet, and not places to purchase anything to eat once you are east of the town of Concrete.
There seem to be numerous places to camp if you are so inclined. However, I am not sure what the camping arrangements are, or how reservations for the campsites would be made.
Again, you will really like a drive on HWY 20 to visit Ross Lake National Recreation Area.
The Ross Lake area is about 90 minutes east of Burlington and Hwy 5. This would maike it about a 3 hour drive from most parts of the Seattle area.
We just drove up and back from Hwy 5, and stopped at some of the overlooks to see the sights. My wife is from Brazil, and she thought the views were some of the best she had seen in here life.
If you are driving up and back for the day, there few places to stop for a toilet, and not places to purchase anything to eat once you are east of the town of Concrete.
There seem to be numerous places to camp if you are so inclined. However, I am not sure what the camping arrangements are, or how reservations for the campsites would be made.
Again, you will really like a drive on HWY 20 to visit Ross Lake National Recreation Area.
Written July 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle V
Gig Harbor, WA10 contributions
I was wondering if the camping was an organized campground or just spots that would work?
Andrew S F
Waynesburg, PA, United States25 contributions
There are various sizes of cabins available to rent. The cabins float on the lake and are attached to the shoreline by short, wooden walkways. I was there six years ago. Cabins have refrigerators and stoves. There is also a woodburner and free firewood, plus an axe.
Along the lakeshore, there are picnic sites. Lots of trails, so you could backpack in and make camp whereever.
You can rent a boat with a small motor. I did.
Take all your food and drink, or be prepared to filter/sterilize the water.
Take lots of 100% DEET and treat everything with permethrin (follow directions).
My knowledge is six years old. You should investigate.
Very nice scenery.
Good luck!
budleaver
Tacoma, WA
What options do I have for launching 17ft Smokeercraft to boat into campsites on Ross Lake?
Andrew S F
Waynesburg, PA, United States25 contributions
I do not see how you could do it unless you are able to portage it in via the trail.
budleaver
Tacoma, WA
What options do I have for launching 17ft Smokeercraft to boat into campsites on Ross Lake?
ごろにゃん658
Ashiya, Japan9 contributions
I'd like to book a room or a cabin in Ross lake resort.but
I can not find the way to contact this resort: it has no website? Is this hotel already close?
how to find his address,
mail address or homepage address?
I tried contact several time with a home page address that anyone can search .
But could not contact.
I'd like to absolutely book this hotel!!!
Please help me!
Thank you
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Ross Lake National Recreation Area Information
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