East Bank Ross Lake Trail

On the Trail

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 - Set up the car shuttle at Ross Lake Dam and Ruby Creek trailheads. Take the water taxi to Devil’s Creek, hike 5.9 miles south to Roland Creek and camp.

Day 2 - Hike to the Ruby Creek trailhead and shuttle back 4 miles to the Ross Lake Dam trailhead.

Notes

• Camp at Colonial Creek campground Friday night to avoid waking so early Saturday morning.
• Make this a longer, more challenging hike by hiking north on the East Bank Trail or exploring more of the trails on the east side of Ross Lake.  There are even a multi-day loop backpack options that takes you through the Pasayten Wilderness if you'd like to spend many days in remote areas of the North Cascades.

information for leaders

Courses, paid clinics, staff-led programs, and course field trips require a Commercial Use Authorization. The Park typically accepts applications for 2-year CUAs  through mid-March each year, and CUA's are activity-specific. Please contact info@mountaineers.org if you would like to apply for a CUA for a field trip or paid clinic for an activity we do not already have a CUA for. Please follow all Mountaineers group guidelines when leading trips or courses in North Cascades National Park. 

Notes:

• Leaders are responsible for securing backcountry permits or other required permits even if  we have a CUA.
• Leaders must have all relevant CUAs with them in paper or electronic copy to show Parks Staff as requested. 
• All Hiking course field trips or paid clinics must have a First aid and CPR certified leader. Current (non-expired) certificates must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip
• All mountaineering field trips or paid clinics must have a WFR-certified leader and a leader with documented climbing certifications (an AMGA certification OR Mountaineers climb leader with a recent resume of training and experience). Both qualifications must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip

View list of current North Cascades CUAs

• Suitable Activities: Backpacking, Day Hiking
• Seasons: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 12.4 mi
• Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft
• High Point: 2,500 ft

• Land Manager: North Cascades National Park
• Parking Permit Required: None
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12