How to Go Camping at the Ross Lake National Recreation Area

Ross Lake National Recreation Area in Washington state is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which also includes North Cascades National Park and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Camping here will give you access to the area's jagged mountains, deep forests, beautiful lakes, cascading waterfalls, 300-plus glaciers and more than 400 miles of hiking trails.

Instructions

1. Decide whether you want to go car camping or backcountry boat-in camping.

2. Choose from 19 boat-in backcountry campgrounds around Ross Lake, each with between one and seven campsites. All have pit toilets, fire grates, picnic tables and wildlife-resistant food storage boxes. Some have trail access and a boat dock. See Resources below for a link to a chart showing the amenities of each boat-in campground.

3. For rustic car camping, try Hozomeen Campground at the northeast end of the lake, which can only be accessed from Canada. With 122 sites for tent camping and RVs, Hozomeen Campground is open from late May through October and has a boat launch, pit toilets, picnic tables and fire grates. Garbage must be packed out. There is no fee to camp here. Call [phone], ext. 515 for more information.

4. If you'd like to car camp without heading up into Canada, check out Colonial Creek Campground on the shore of Diablo Lake, with 162 sites for $12 on a first-come first-served basis.

5. Another nearby option for car camping is Goodell Creek Campground on the banks of the Skagit River, with 21 sites for $10 per night on a first-come, first-served basis. You will find a raft/kayak launch at this campground as well as a covered picnic shelter. If you are traveling with a group, make reservations by calling [phone] or online (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Ross Lake's backcountry boat-in campsites can accomodate no more than 12 people.

• Backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays at boat-in sites. Permits may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis from the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount or the Hozomeen Ranger Station.