Ross Lake National Recreation Area, National recreation area in Skagit County, Washington, United States
Ross Lake National Recreation Area is a large protected space in the North Cascades that contains three lakes created by dams, surrounded by mountains and forests. The area offers hiking trails, multiple camping options, and boat access to explore the water and backcountry.
Three dams built in the early 20th century on the Skagit River created Ross, Diablo and Gorge lakes to supply electricity to Seattle. The reservoirs form the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, operated by Seattle City Light. The surrounding land later became a national recreation area within the North Cascades National Park Complex.
The Skagit River valley was flooded by three dams built in the early 20th century to supply electricity to Seattle, forming Ross, Diablo and Gorge lakes. The North Cascades Visitor Center and Skagit Information Center in Newhalem explain this hydroelectric project, run by Seattle City Light. Desolation Peak's fire lookout, where Jack Kerouac worked in 1956, draws hikers following his book Desolation Angels.
Multiple campgrounds line the North Cascades Highway with options for tents and RVs, and boat-in sites are available if you want a more remote experience. Summer and early fall are the best times to visit when roads are clear and mountain views are visible.
The 14-by-14-foot lookout on Desolation Peak is staffed each summer by fire personnel and reached by a six-mile trail from the shore of Ross Lake. Jack Kerouac manned it for the U.S. Forest Service in the summer of 1956, and the stay became the setting for his novel Desolation Angels.
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