Kayaks Below Colonial Peak

© Paul Anderson Kayaking near Cougar Island

Kayaking, canoeing and camping on Ross Lake is a unique experience.

Quiet, serene, with relatively few and usually only small boats seen on the lake, waterfalls, canyons, fly fishing, and hiking all add to your memory bank of trips and life experiences you will be glad to have accomplished.

Moms and Dads if you take the kids, you will be sharing with them a gift they won't forget That is the power we have as parents.

You can bring your own kayak, or canoe or rent boats, canoes and kayaks from the resort. Just be sure to call ahead to see if any are available.

I've added Carol's write up on how to get your own kayak up to Ross Lake.

How can I get my own boat on the lake?

The resort will portage kayaks and canoes, plus motorboats under 14' and light enough to lift, via flatbed truck from Diablo Lake to Ross Lake. Put in at Colonial Creek campground and make way five miles up Diablo Lake. Look to starboard after the canyon for a gravel ramp just beyond the second dock- beach there and walk to the Ross powerhouse. There is a phone box by the front door with the Resort's number. Call for portage between the hours of 8 am – 4pm. For one vessel we charge $25. For more than one kayak or canoe: $15 per vessel. For more than one motorboat: $20. There is a public boat launch at Hozomeen campground on the north end of the lake. To get there, take the Silver/Skagit Road south from just west of Hope, British Columbia. Follow this gravel road 60 km to the Hozomeen Campground. Border crossing regulations apply. Bring at least two spare tires for your rig and for your boat trailer.

Visit the NCNP site

There are 19 boat-access backcountry campgrounds along Ross Lake. All have pit toilets, fire grates, picnic tables and wildlife-resistant food storage boxes. A backcountry permit is required for all over night stays in these sites and may be obtained from the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount or the Hozomeen Ranger Station on a first-come, first-served basis. Party size limit is 12 individuals.