#9 of 26 sights in North Cascades
Sight · North Cascades National Park
Walk a concrete dam between Ross Lake and the Skagit gorge.
Overview
Ross Dam is a concrete dam on the upper Skagit River that holds back Ross Lake. The Ross Dam Trail descends from State Route 20 and lets you walk across the crest; this is a real hike, not a drive-up stop. Expect about 2.5 miles round trip and 532 feet of gain, with a steep descent followed by the harder climb back to the highway. The trailhead is near milepost 134 and has only four standard spaces plus two accessible spaces, so plan for a small lot.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs the walk worth it?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 place
Ross Dam and the Floating Resort“You're nearing Ross Dam Trailhead, the walking access to Ross Dam and Ross Lake Resort. For the dam, allow about two hours for the two-and-a-half-mile round trip, with a steep climb back to the highway.”
Plays as you drive up to Ross Dam 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
From the crest, Ross Lake lies on one side and the Skagit River gorge drops toward Diablo Lake on the other. On a clear day, snow-covered peaks frame the water. Walk to both ends before turning back, and allow time to look instead of rushing straight across. For a photo, include the dam's curve with water or canyon behind it to show its scale. The open crest can be windy, so secure hats and loose gear.
Ross is one of three generating facilities in Seattle City Light's Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, alongside Diablo and Gorge dams. The wider project was completed in 1961 and supplies about a fifth of City Light's electricity. The lake and steep canyon are part of a working water system as well as a memorable hiking destination.
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
ModerateRoss Dam Trail2.5 mi · 2 hr · 0.4 mi awayWalk through forest to Ross Dam, then climb back to SR 20.
ChallengingBig Beaver Trail24.6 mi · 18 hr · 0.4 mi awayA long valley traverse past ancient cedars and beaver marshes.
EasyHappy Creek Forest Walk0.3 mi · 15 min · 0.6 mi awayA short boardwalk loop beside Happy Creek and old-growth trees.
ModerateHappy Creek Falls Trail2.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayOld sawmill relics and stepped falls reward a steep creekside climb.
EasyDeer Creek Loop0.3 mi · 15 min · 2.3 mi awayA quarter-mile loop winds beside Deer Creek Shelter.
ModerateSourdough Creek Trail3.5 mi · 2.8 hr · 2.4 mi awayA forest path to Sourdough Creek Falls, with a rocky finish.
ModerateDiablo Lake Trail7.6 mi · 4.5 hr · 2.5 mi awayA long forest climb earns a high bridge over Diablo Lake
ModerateThunder Knob Trail3.8 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayTake the steady climb for broad views over turquoise Diablo Lake.
Lodging · 0.6 mi awayRoss Lake ResortA floating Ross Lake resort reached by boat or a mile-long hike.
Campground · 0.9 mi awayGreen Point CampA small boat-in camp for a quiet Ross Lake night.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayRoss Lake OverlookA quick Ross Lake view from a wooded Highway 20 pullout.
Campground · 1.7 mi awayBuster Brown CampA lake camp reached by water, with its own boat dock.
Sight · 2 mi awayDiablo Lake OverlookA quick roadside view of glacial turquoise beneath the Cascades.
Sight · 2 mi awaySourdough Mountain LookoutA historic fire lookout crowns a demanding climb above Diablo Lake.
Campground · 2 mi awayHidden Cove CampA single-site camp with a sheltered dock, reached only by boat.
Campground · 2.3 mi awayThunder Point CampA quiet three-site boat-in camp on Diablo Lake.Parkwolf’s North Cascades ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
