North Cascades National Park, WA
A remote lake walk beneath peaks named for their sharp edges.
Overview
Hozomeen Lake Trail is a moderate 7.2-mile out-and-back from Hozomeen Campground’s Upper Loop to the shore below Hozomeen Mountain—3.6 miles each way, around four hours on the trail, and roughly 1,200 feet of climbing. It’s a good choice if you’re already visiting Hozomeen and want the lake; getting to this remote trailhead takes more planning than the hike itself. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe lake is the payoffMap & elevation
Plan your hike
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 trailhead
Hozomeen Campground and Hozomeen Lake“You're nearing Hozomeen Campground, a remote forest base near the northern end of Ross Lake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf North Cascades Tour Guide.
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
The trail starts with a gentle climb near Hozomeen Creek, crosses boggy patches on boardwalks, then winds through partly shaded forest on switchbacks. Around 2.5 miles, the grade eases at a signed fork. Take the left branch for Hozomeen Lake. About 0.6 mile remains, including a steeper push just before the first view of the water. You’ll climb that pitch again on the way back from the lake.
The trail follows the edge past campsites to a day-use area. Clear water sits beneath Hozomeen Mountain, and common loons are a good reason to pause and listen. For a photo, keep some of the lake in front of the mountain; the water gives the peaks their scale. Hozomeen’s name comes from a Salish word for sharpness, referring to the peaks and to chert Indigenous and First Nations people worked into sharp-edged tools.
The 7.2-mile figure begins at the campground Upper Loop, not at the docks. From the north, access follows Silver-Skagit Road from Hope, British Columbia; the road and border crossing vary. From the south, there is no direct road: reach Ross Lake by boat, with a portage around Ross Dam on the Colonial Creek route, or hike the 31-mile East Bank Trail. That is a multi-day approach, and overnight backcountry stays require a permit. Hozomeen has no cell reception.
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
ModerateTrail of the Obelisk0.8 mi · 36 min · 1 mi awayA short loop with forest, talus slopes and abandoned beaver ponds.
ChallengingLittle Beaver Trail32.4 mi · 22 hr · 4.9 mi awayA long valley trail climbs to a rugged backcountry pass.
ChallengingDesolation Peak Trail9.4 mi · 7.5 hr · 6.3 mi awayA steep climb to Kerouac’s historic fire lookout
ChallengingLightning Creek Trail to Willow Lake8 mi · 6 hr · 7.8 mi awayA steep climb opens into the quiet Lightning Creek valley.
Campground · 0.1 mi awayHozomeen CampgroundA remote forest camp at Ross Lake's northern end.
Campground · 1.9 mi awaySilver Creek CampA remote dockside camp for a night on Ross Lake.
Campground · 4.2 mi awayBoundary Bay CampA boat-in night beside Ross Lake's wooded shore.
Campground · 4.9 mi awayLittle Beaver Boat CampA quiet boat-in base on Ross Lake.Sight · 5.7 mi awayDesolation Peak LookoutKerouac’s 1956 lookout crowns a steep climb above Ross Lake.
Campground · 7.2 mi awayCat Island CampFour boat-in sites on a quiet island in Ross Lake.
Campground · 7.8 mi awayLightning Creek Boat CampFive campsites on Ross Lake, reached by boat or trail.
Campground · 8.1 mi awayLightning Creek Stock CampA two-site Ross Lake camp reached by boat or a 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.
