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| No-Name Creek | Looking south from the trail to Desolation Peak. | Boat-er-fly. |
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| No-Name Creek | Looking south from the trail to Desolation Peak. | Boat-er-fly. |
If you want to get away from it all for a bit but don't want to risk your life out in the wilds of British Columbia, Ross Lake National Recreation Area is the spot for you. Isolated behind Seattle City Light's Ross Dam, the lake stretches almost 25 miles through the North Cascades up into Canada winding its way through some of the most beautiful scenery ever to be seen from a kayak. The lake fills in the glacially carved valley of the Skagit River and is home to a wide variety of wildlife like osprey, deer, bear (both Black and Grizzly, they say), loons, trout and toads. You NEED to obtain a "Back-country Permit" from the Ranger Station in Marblemount before you even think of camping on the lake. The sites have pit toilets and will all soon be equipped with "bear-boxes" The western shore is very steep and offers few places to beach a craft, however it has numerous beautiful waterfalls cascading down its tree covered slopes. The Eastern shore is the most used in the park. It contains most of the campgrounds and a boat launch at its northern end (Hozomeen). The "East Bank Trail" links Highway 20 with Hozomeen Access to the lake is limited to two spots. First is a long drive up into Canada and back down a 40 mile dirt road south of Hope, B.C. to Hozomeen. The other way to get onto the lake is via a portage shuttle from the base of Ross Dam run by the Ross Lake Resort. You put in at Colonial Creek Campground just off of Hwy. 20 on Diablo Lake and paddle about 5 miles to the base of Ross Dam and call the resort from the phone located on the powerhouse. They send down a flatbed truck to bring you and all your gear up to Ross Lake. The resort charges $25.00 if you're the only one being shuttled, or $15.00 a head if you've got a group. If you're the hardy type, you could try to make the portage yourself, but it's about a mile hike with an elevation gain of about 6 or 7 hundred feet.
Whom ever chooses to be so.
I-5 hooks up with Highway 20 in Burlington, WA. That's about a half an hour south of Bellingham and 2 hours north of Seattle. Head east on Highway 20 about 2 hours, depending on traffic. Make sure to stop by the Ranger station in Marblemount and get a "Back-country Permit". It helps the Park service keep track of who's out there. Colonial Creek Campground boat launch is a right off the highway. If you cross the green waters of Diablo lake and start heading up a steep grade you've gone too far. Park your car in the big lot above the launch after you're done unloading your boat and stuff. Paddle under the highway and out Thunder Arm. The wind can be bad on this first little paddle. Head up the Skagit River channel towards Ross Dam. Watch out for the tour boat because it kicks up a good wake and with the steep sides to the channel the interaction of wave sets can be tricky. Beach your boat at the gravel spot above the boat dock. Head up to the Powerhouse and call the resort (Contact resort before hand to confirm the number 206-386-4437).
I haven't driven it but I hear "The only vehicle access is reached by a 39 mile narrow gravel road from Hope, B.C., exit 168 along the Silver Skagit Road. Watch for potholes and washboards." (Park service flyer)
It's a lake, brainiac. However, there are some spots where you can encounter currents if you're venturing up some of the creeks. Just pay attention to the waters surface and you'll be able to see spots to avoid.
