Campground · North Cascades National Park
A remote boat-in camp tucked into a Ross Lake cove.
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.
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Guide
Roland Point Camp is a backcountry overnight stop on Ross Lake, tucked into a small cove and reached only by water. It is not a drive-up campsite or a day-use pullout: all Ross Lake boat-in camps require an NPS backcountry permit. NPS lists Roland Point 3.5 miles from Ross Dam and 18.5 miles from Hozomeen; there is no direct road access to Ross Lake from the south.
From the south, getting to Ross Lake means paddling about five miles up Diablo Lake and portaging around Ross Dam on a mile-long gravel road. From the north, the lake is reached by gravel road from Hope, British Columbia, and the camp is a long paddle from Hozomeen. Roland Point has no dock listed, so plan for a shore landing rather than tying up at a pier.
NPS equips Ross Lake boat-in camps with a fire ring, picnic table, vault toilet and bear-resistant food locker. Bring your food and treat or boil any water taken from the lake. Keep food, garbage, cooking gear and scented items in the locker; bears, mountain lions and wolves can be encountered along the Ross Lake shore.
Ross Lake is a reservoir formed by dams in the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. From the driftwood-strewn shore at Roland Point, the view crosses the water toward Jack Mountain. Gusty winds and whitecaps can arrive suddenly, while mornings are often calmer. Check current forecasts and lake levels before setting out, since low water can make some boat-in camps inaccessible.
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
EasyHappy Creek Forest Walk0.3 mi · 15 min · 2.9 mi awayA short boardwalk loop beside Happy Creek and old-growth trees.
ModerateHappy Creek Falls Trail2.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.9 mi awayOld sawmill relics and stepped falls reward a steep creekside climb.
ModerateRoss Dam Trail2.5 mi · 2 hr · 3.1 mi awayWalk through forest to Ross Dam, then climb back to SR 20.
ChallengingBig Beaver Trail24.6 mi · 18 hr · 3.1 mi awayA long valley traverse past ancient cedars and beaver marshes.
ChallengingEast Bank Trail31 mi · 22 hr · 4.6 mi awayA 31-mile forest and lakeshore traverse to Hozomeen.
ChallengingWillow Lake Trail50.6 mi · 1.3 days · 4.7 mi awayA remote, roughly 51-mile out-and-back to a marshy lake.
ChallengingDevil's Dome Loop40.4 mi · 1.3 days · 4.7 mi awayFour or five days of open ridges and careful water planning.
ModerateHappy Panther Trail10 mi · 5 hr · 4.7 mi awayWaterfall bridges break up this long forest walk.
Campground · 0.5 mi awayMcMillan CampA three-site boat-in camp that takes planning to reach.
Campground · 0.7 mi awaySpencer’s CampTwo Ross Lake sites and a dock for a self-sufficient night.
Campground · 1 mi awayCougar Island CampTwo island campsites for a self-sufficient night on Ross Lake.
Campground · 1.4 mi awayMay Creek Boat CampA single boat-in site with three-way views from a low bluff.
Campground · 1.5 mi awayBig Beaver Boat CampBoat-in campsites with a gateway to Big Beaver Valley.
Campground · 2.2 mi awayGreen Point CampA small boat-in camp for a quiet Ross Lake night.
Campground · 2.4 mi awayRainbow Point CampThree lakeside tent sites, reached by boat or trail.
Lodging · 2.4 mi awayRoss Lake ResortA floating Ross Lake resort reached by boat or a mile-long hike.Parkwolf’s North Cascades ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
