Ross Lake, WA

Wilderness Tripping
#1

I was fortunate to grab a North Cascades Early Access Lottery Permit and plan to use it for a canoe trip on Ross Lake, WA.

Looking to plan about 4 days and I’m hoping to get some advice on the better campsites on the lake.

1 Like
#2

Use caution. This a cold lake with plenty of afternoon winds. Paddle in the morning. If you had to win a lottery to go there, finding camp spots should be easy.

1 Like
#3

Selecting the “good” sites is what I’m after. Pretty sure sites with a southern exposure will be nice. Any sites on the islands should be decent and have fewer mosquitoes.

Just looking for some Beta.

#4

Few bad sites in the North Cascades on a lake.
You will know it when you see it.

Beta? You must be looking for the Outside magazine description which does not exist.

#5

Both of your responses can be categorized as “Purposefully unhelpful”.

#6

I have camped on Cat Island, which is a lovely solo spot place with good boat access. At the time, I had rented a rowboat with about a five horsepower motor from the lodge, and reached the place in 2-3 hours I think. You need to coordinate your schedule with ferry tug and pick-up times to be taken to the lodge starting place. I remember that we arrived at the lodge in the early afternoon after leaving Seattle in the morning . Or, hikers and boaters can descend the access path from the parking area up top. It is quite a drop, others can maybe speak to how it is bringing a kayak up and down.

Quite a few people also access Ross Lake from the Canadian end, which apparently is more launch friendly.

#7

Thanks @pbenter

I’m planning to paddle Diablo and call the shuttle for a lift up to Ross. If Cat Island is reservable, it’s one on my list.

I plan to canoe all the way to Canada and back; but we’ll see how the weather cooperates.

#8

So long.

#9

Ross Lake as a human-powered boat friendly location has been ruined by the rentals of the 10hp aluminum boats that people take to the non-dock sites meant for canoes and kayaks. Plus they’re noisy. Sad.

#10

@jefffski That’s too bad.

#11

Hi, jefffski,

Seems like the National Park Service should get on top of that problem and declare the non-dock sites to be for paddle craft only. On the NPS’s Ross Lake National Recreation Area web site there’s no mention of the non-dock sites being for paddlers. The NPS should make that clear if that’s the intent and start ticketing people thereafter.

Tom

#12

I have made one trip on Ross Lake. We put in on Diablo, camped one night on Diablo, and did the truck portage to Ross the next morning. I think we spent 4 nights on Ross and then one more on Diablo on the way out.

It was a great trip. We did not go all the way to Canada.

Must see areas are Lighting Creek and Devil’s Creek, especially Devil’s Creek. Don’t pass them by.

You would have a hard time finding a bad campground on Ross Lake.

We are planning another trip for August.

1 Like
#13

@CaptainOllieWest I’ll be sure to visit those areas! Thank you!

#14

Trip report?

We have a Ross Lake trip planned for early August.

It has been 5 years since my last Ross Lake trip.