Two graded-cement boat ramps at Hozomeen (Ross Lake) are normally usable from mid-June through September. Canoes, kayaks and small craft can be launched at Colonial Creek Campground and boated five miles to the end of Diablo Lake. Boats and gear must be portaged around Ross Dam over a mile long gravel road with 600 foot elevation gain. For a fee, Ross Lake Resort will haul canoes or motorboats under 14-feet over the portage (see phone number below).

Numerous boat landing sites exist on Lake Chelan, including the Stehekin Landing.

Safety : Even in summer, the water temperature in Ross Lake seldom gets above 50?F (10?C). Falling in the lake or getting caught in a sudden storm can rapidly bring on hypothermia, the lowering of body temperature to a point at which the body can not maintain its own heat. Always carry raingear and extra food, and be prepared to make an emergency camp or for sudden weather changes.

Water taken from the lakes and nearby streams may contain micro-organisms such as giardia which can cause serious intestinal disorders. Always boil or treat drinking water.

All federal and state boating regulations are enforced on the lakes. Approved life jackets, oars, bailing buckets and running lights are all required. Check your boating gear before leaving home.

Ross Lake water level is generally full from late June through mid-September. During other months of the year, drawdowns of the reservoir expose rocks, snags and other underwater hazards. Watch for floating logs, debris, shallows and submerged obstacles at all times.

Strong gusty winds and whitecaps occur frequently and with warning. It is safest to travel along the eastern shore of both Ross Lake and Lake Chelan where there are more landing sites, camps, and trail access. On Ross Lake, it is frequently calm in the morning with breezy south winds from afternoon to early evening. A comfortable paddling distance for most groups is 5-7 miles per day.

Camping : Numerous boat-in campsites are available in Lake Chelan and Ross Lake National Recreation Areas.

From May 1 through October 31, it is necessary to have a Dock Fee Permit to use the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service docks on Lake Chelan for day or overnight use. Day and annual permits may be purchased at the USFS Chelan Ranger Station, at various vendors in Chelan, and at two outlets at Stehekin Landing.

A backcountry permit is required for any overnight camping at these sites. Permits are best obtained at Marblemount, Hozomeen, Chelan, or Stehekin; on a first-come, first-served basis. All Ross Lake campsites are equipped with fire-rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets.

Although most people never seen them, grizzly and black bears, mountain lions, and wolves can be encountered along the lakeshore. Store food out of reach of bears. Use the 4-10 rule: 4 feet (1.2m) from the trunk of trees and at least 10 feet (3m) off the ground. Keep all wildlife healthy and self-reliant by not feeding them. Special food storage containers are available at selected camps. Portable canisters may be checked out from permit offices to store food safely and effectively away from animals.

Carry out all trash and keep a clean camp. Use driftwood for firewood. The cutting of any standing tree (living or dead) is prohibited.

Fishing:

Archaeological records prove humans have been fishing in the Cascade Mountains for at least 8,000 years. The rivers, streams, ponds, and alpine lakes of North Cascades National Park and Lake Chelan and Ross Lake National Recreation Areas provide opportunities to fish in the spectacular and unspoiled environment of the Cascades.

Native Rainbow, Cutthroat and Eastern Brook trout are the most commonly caught fish in Ross Lake. A Washington State fishing license is required for the Ross Lake fishing season of July 1 - October 31. A limit of three Rainbow trout at least 13" applies. Closed waters on Ross Lake include all of Ruby Creek, 1/4 mile upstream from closed markers at the mouth of Big Beaver, and one mile up stream on all other tributaries.

Bull Trout : Bull trout have disappeared from most of their former range. Their numbers have dwindled to the point where they are in danger of extinction. This trout has been red-tagged a species of concern by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and has been declared a threatened species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in part of its range and proposed threatened in the remainder. Restrictive fishing regulations are in effect in most places for bull trout to help restore a wild and healthy population. These regulations also apply to Dolly Varden trout, because they are difficult to distinguish from bull trout.