Camping & Hiking · Scenic Views · British Columbia
A remote, scenic campground on Ross Lake in the Skagit Valley, BC, reached by about 60 km of gravel road from near Hope. Clean and well run with ranger programs, but mosquitoes can be brutal.
Ross Lake Campground sits at the end of a long gravel road through the Skagit Valley, about three hours from Vancouver. The views are what visitors remember: mountains around a clear lake, with plenty of wildlife on the way in. It feels quiet and far from the city, and even in peak summer it's rarely crowded.
Reviewers repeatedly call it one of the cleanest campgrounds they've seen. Sites are gravel with picnic tables, in a range of sizes, and most in Section A are well shaded. There are pit toilets and hand pumps, no showers or flush toilets. Most campers say the pump water is safe to drink, though one found no drinking water available, so bring enough. Staff are friendly, and interpreters run nature programs that kids enjoy.
Paddling is the main activity, with kayaks and canoes out on the lake and one paddle boarder exploring flooded grassy areas. A playground and a large shaded seating area round things out. Lake levels vary, and one reviewer found the Canadian end low.
Bugs are the biggest complaint. Several recent visitors found mosquitoes unbearable, and black flies can appear in afternoon heat, though one mid-July group saw none. The road is bumpy, dusty and slow, with animals crossing, so take your time. One camper noted many reserved sites sat empty during their stay.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 79 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Ross Lake Campground directly.
