Campground · North Cascades National Park
A lake camp reached by water, with its own boat dock.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
North Cascades Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for North Cascades National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the North Cascades audio tourRecorded for this area
Diablo Lake Overlook“You're coming up on Diablo Lake Overlook, a stop I'd keep even on a short drive through. The lake, wooded islands, and steep peaks spread out below you, with no hike needed for the main view.”
Plays on the road 0.5 mi from Buster Brown Camp in the Parkwolf North Cascades Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Buster Brown Camp is a small boat-in campground on Diablo Lake, with three sites and a dock. From the launch at Colonial Creek Campground, it is about 2.8 miles across the water. This is an overnight destination rather than a roadside stop, and a backcountry permit is required for Diablo Lake boat-in camping. Treat the crossing as part of the trip: the lake can be windy, and paddlers have reported that afternoon conditions made the return harder. Wind varies, so choose a suitable weather window.
A shared toilet and picnic tables have been reported at the camp, though the toilet type and current facility details are unclear. No potable-water source or food service was confirmed, so bring food and a reliable water supply or treatment method. Check current park instructions before relying on fire rings or bear boxes.
Diablo Lake is a reservoir in the Skagit Hydroelectric Project, and glacial meltwater keeps it especially cold. That is useful to know if you plan to swim or spend time in the water. The camp suits visitors who are prepared to travel and camp by boat; it is a poor fit for anyone looking for a quick drive-up stop.
Wildlife
101 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
70 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
20 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
77 sightingsSooty GrouseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
23 sightingsWhite-tailed PtarmiganMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
75 sightingsWestern ToadMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across North Cascades. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyDeer Creek Loop0.3 mi · 15 min · 0.8 mi awayA quarter-mile loop winds beside Deer Creek Shelter.
ModerateSourdough Creek Trail3.5 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.9 mi awayA forest path to Sourdough Creek Falls, with a rocky finish.
ModerateDiablo Lake Trail7.6 mi · 4.5 hr · 1 mi awayA long forest climb earns a high bridge over Diablo Lake
ModerateRoss Dam Trail2.5 mi · 2 hr · 1.8 mi awayWalk through forest to Ross Dam, then climb back to SR 20.
ChallengingBig Beaver Trail24.6 mi · 18 hr · 1.8 mi awayA long valley traverse past ancient cedars and beaver marshes.
ModerateThunder Knob Trail3.8 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.8 mi awayTake the steady climb for broad views over turquoise Diablo Lake.
EasyHappy Creek Forest Walk0.3 mi · 15 min · 2.1 mi awayA short boardwalk loop beside Happy Creek and old-growth trees.
ModerateHappy Creek Falls Trail2.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayOld sawmill relics and stepped falls reward a steep creekside climb.
Campground · 0.4 mi awayHidden Cove CampA single-site camp with a sheltered dock, reached only by boat.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayDiablo Lake OverlookA quick roadside view of glacial turquoise beneath the Cascades.
Campground · 0.7 mi awayThunder Point CampA quiet three-site boat-in camp on Diablo Lake.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayNorth Cascades Environmental Learning CenterBook a program for lakeside learning, meals and trail days.
Sight · 1.5 mi awayDiablo DamA public road crosses the 389-foot dam beside Diablo Lake.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayRoss DamWalk a concrete dam between Ross Lake and the Skagit gorge.
Sight · 1.8 mi awaySourdough Mountain LookoutA historic fire lookout crowns a demanding climb above Diablo Lake.
Campground · 1.8 mi awayColonial Creek North CampgroundA wooded Diablo Lake campground with an accessible pier and boat launch.Parkwolf’s North Cascades ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
