Located in north central Washington near the Canadian border, Ross Lake National Recreation Area is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which also includes North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The most accessible of all three parks, Ross Lake NRA follows the scenic Skagit River and extends from the southern border of British Columbia to the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
The Ross Lake National Recreation Area features three reservoirs that are ideal for water sports. Ross Lake is the largest at about 12,000 acres in size. The others include 910-acre Diablo Lake and 210-acre Gorge Lake. Together, the reservoirs make up the Skagit Hydroelectric Project, which is administered by Seattle City Light, the public utility company that provides electricity to Seattle and surrounding areas.
With two roads that lead into the park, Ross Lake NRA is easy to access, unlike neighboring Lake Chelan, which must be accessed by water or float plane. The park attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, both from the United States and Canada, especially those who enjoy camping and outdoor activities.
The Skagit River is a premier fishing venue and one of Washington's major watersheds. Here, anglers can find seven species of anadromous fish, those what ascend waters to spawn. Varieties include five kinds of salmon as well as cutthroat and steelhead trout. Rainbow trout and char are also found in the Skagit. Diablo and Gorge Lake are stocked annually with rainbow and cutthroat trout. Ross Lake is not stocked but still offers quality sport fishing opportunities.
Boat ramps are available at all the bodies of water within Ross Lake National Recreation area. River rafting is also popular and the Skagit River offers a hearty run, with mild rapids that allow families to enjoy a ride together. Kayaking and canoeing is also offered and gear may be rented within the park.
Hiking season at Ross Lake NRA generally runs from April through October with the driest months being from mid-June through September. The park offers a huge variety of trails, from short, accessible ones for all visitors to multi-day difficult hikes with large gains in elevation. For hikers, the scenery is the main reason to tackle a tough climb as they are rewarded with dozens of alpine lakes, tons of glaciers, and plenty of pristine forest. Cross-country camping is allowed for those who choose to backpack.
Climbing is also permitted at Ross Lake National Recreation Area and a wide variety of experiences are available on the more than 300 glaciers found throughout this park and the remainder of the North Cascades National Park Complex. Experience is helpful in this arduous terrain and climbing and wilderness rangers are available to help climbers plan their excursion, which may involve backpacking in order to reach the climbing location.
Other recreational pursuits at Ross Lake include horseback riding, ranger-led naturalist tours, wildlife viewing and bird watching, or camping. A variety of campgrounds are available, accommodating car camping, small RVs, and tents. Many backcountry sites are also available to trekkers. Facilities vary from site to site.
Thank you
Mark Modawell