Ross Lake stretches north for 23 miles, all the way across the Canadian border but – in keeping with the wild Cascades terrain – is accessible only by trail or water. Incorporated into the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, the lake was formed by the building between 1937 and 1949 of the Ross Dam , an ambitious hydroelectric project that was designed to generate much-needed electricity for the fast-growing Seattle area. You can hike down to the Ross Dam from a trailhead on Hwy 20 . The trail descends for 1 mile and crosses over the dam. For an extra leg-stretch you can follow the west bank of Ross Lake another mile to Ross Lake Resort.
