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Rockport, Washington

Top Spots in and near Rockport

  • Rockport, Washington

    Kayak Ross Lake to Cougar Island and Rainbow Point

    5.0
    Start from the Ross Lake Trailhead off Highway 20.  Hike down with your vessel 1.5 miles to the hull road.  From there you can launch your vessel.   Ross Lake is very large with many destinations to paddle to.  I went to Cougar Island and Rainbow Point then paddled up to multiple spectacular wate...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Hike to Ross Dam

    5.0
    2 mi
    This is a short hike at just under 2 miles round-trip, with little elevation change. The trail begins at a parking area, alongside Washington Route 20. The hike takes you through the forest to an overlook of both Ross Dam and Ross Lake, before making the final descent down to the dam. The trail i...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Explore Diablo Lake

    5.0
    Diablo Lake is a reservoir in the North Cascades created by Diablo Dam. The hue of the lake is created by ground up rocks from local glaciers, which end up drifting down streams into the lake.If you’ve decided to take in the viewpoints driving Hwy 20 through the park, be sure to check out Liberty...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Sourdough Mountain Trail

    5.0
    9.34 mi / 5046 ft gain
    Going east from Newhalem on highway 20, turn off towards the small town of Diablo. There are signs from there on where to park. This hike is very difficult. It is very steep and gains elevation very quickly and right from the start. Once you get above tree line though you are greeted with great ...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Hike to Pyramid Lake

    2.1 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Day hike with moderate elevation gain, 2.1 miles one way. You will be going up, up, up until you get to the top where you will find the lake. Take your time going up - take breaks and stop to check out the forest around you. There were a few times where we found it difficult to follow the trail (...
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  • Manning Park, British Columbia

    Hike to Mt. Frosty, EC Manning Provincial Park

    14.2 mi / 5433.1 ft gain
    The larch meadows on the approach to Mt. Frosty are known for 2 things: 1. Wild flowers during the summer and 2. Larches during the autumn.The trail climbs up the south end of Lightning Lake; it is well groomed and graded all the way up. The steepest section is the climb out of Lightning Lakes – ...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Canoe Diablo Lake

    Pack up your canoe with supplies for the day and launch from Colonial Creek Campground Area to begin your journey. As you approach the bridge to cross the lake, pull off to the parking area, there is signage for the boat launch area where you can easily carry your equipment down to the water's ed...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Camping in the North Cascades at Diablo Lake

    4.0
    Diablo lake is the perfect place to camp if you're looking for solitude and natural beauty. It's northeast from Seattle in the North Cascades. Colonial Creek Campground has large camp sites right on the lake. It is first come first serve, however check out is at noon so arrive around 11:30 to sna...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Backpack Thunder Creek

    10.48 mi / 1027 ft gain
    This hike along Thunder Creek in North Cascades National Park is perfect for families and beginner backpackers. The trail is at a lower elevation in the park so it is a great early-season hike, but be sure to check with the ranger station for trail and weather conditions before you go. Starting ...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Backpack to High Camp on Ruby Mountain

    17 mi / 6300 ft gain
    Ruby Mountain is one of the North Cascades more prominent peaks, sitting high above Diablo and Ross Lakes. This trip is one for more experienced hikers with a very aggressive incline from start to finish. If that does not scare you then definitely add this amazing hike to your list. While it can ...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Backpack to Fourth of July Pass from Thunder Creek

    11.2 mi / 2400 ft gain
    Starting at the Colonial Creek Campgrounds, the trail starts out fairly flat taking you along Thunder Creek for about two miles to the Fourth of July Pass trail head. Once you reach here, the trail begins to climb.Beginning with switch backs, the path straightens out for a while before coming to ...
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  • Rockport, Washington

    Photograph Ketchum Falls

    0.2 mi / 1388 ft gain
    ...After spending my 3 days exploring and capturing the partial lunar eclipse at North Cascades National Park in Washington, I was eager to find another adventure that I haven't done yet or others didn't know much about. As I was driving East leaving Gorge Creek Falls, .9 miles on my left I spott...
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  • Marblemount, Washington

    Photograph Ladder Creek Falls

    While not a hike in of itself, this walk to Ladder Creek Falls is still very enjoyable as you bound over a large suspension bridge, wander past smaller falls and overgrown garden steps, and get an up close and personal look at the oldest operating building in Skagit County, the powerhouse. Drive ...
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  • Marblemount, Washington

    Terror Basin and West McMillan Spire

    16.98 mi / 8868 ft gain
    The Picket Range is a remote and rugged subrange of Washington's North Cascades. It draws very few visitors per year, and the odds of seeing another human on your adventure are very low. West McMillan Spire is an 8,000' peak located in the Southern Pickets. It is a Class 3 climb involving bot...
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  • Manning Park, British Columbia

    Backpack the Heather Trail, BC

    24.9 mi / 1138.5 ft gain
    This hike begins in the middle of Manning Park, with a drive up to the trail-head. This means you get all the benefits of alpine views and fields of wildflowers in the summer months, without hiking the elevation gain.  Manning Park is on the Crowsnest Highway (BC-3). Across the highway from the ...
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  • Okanogan County, Washington

    Hike Tatie Peak and Grasshopper Pass

    11 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Direction are from Mazama, WA.  From Mazama drive west on the Lost River Road for approximately 19 miles to Hart's Pass.  Note that the pavement ends around 7 miles from Mazama and the road becomes FS RD 54. The drive up to Hart's Pass is fairly exposed in one spot and has unnerved several of my ...
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Camping and Lodging in Rockport

Colonial Creek South Campground
Rockport, Washington

Colonial Creek South Campground

Newhalem Campground
Marblemount, Washington

Newhalem Campground

Lower Goodell Group Campground
Marblemount, Washington

Lower Goodell Group Campground

Upper Goodell Group Campground
Marblemount, Washington

Upper Goodell Group Campground

Mineral Park Campground
Cascade River Road

Mineral Park Campground

Marble Creek Campground
Cascade River Road

Marble Creek Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Rockport

7 Photos That Will Inspire You to Kayak This Beautiful Lake in the North Cascade Mountains

7 Photos That Will Inspire You to Kayak This Beautiful Lake in the North Cascade Mountains

Michael Fricke

Scott Kranz is Climbing 50 Peaks in North Cascades NP in One Year

Scott Kranz is Climbing 50 Peaks in North Cascades NP in One Year

The Outbound Collective

The Top 10 Hikes in the North Cascades

The Top 10 Hikes in the North Cascades

Michael Fricke

14 Photos from our Amazing Weekend in the North Cascades

14 Photos from our Amazing Weekend in the North Cascades

John Wingfield

An Impression of the North Cascades

An Impression of the North Cascades

Crystal Brindle