This is a delightful hike if you’re looking for something not-too-difficult (minimal elevation gain/loss, less than 7 miles round-trip, snow-free) with at least one excellent view to make it worth your while. Oh, and not overly crowded.

On this beautiful, sunny Saturday, that’s exactly what we experienced on the East Bank Ross Lake trail to Hidden Hand camp and just a bit beyond for that one excellent view. 

The trip begins with a switch-backing drop to a wide, sturdy bridge spanning Ruby Creek just after it’s confluence with Panther Creek. Then it’s back up hill steeply, but not for long.  The trail then traverses the hillside, going gently up and down while crossing several creeks.  At 2.7 miles, reach the intersection with the Little Jack Mountain trail.  Take the left fork to Hidden Hand.  Soon you’ll pass Ruby Pasture camp and then reach Hidden Hand camp – it’s only about ½ mile and both have not-so-private pit toilets.  Keep straight and then a little left and down the hill steeply to some rock overlooks providing you with your one excellent view of the trek: Ross Lake and Sourdough/Pierce Mountain. 

 There are some perfectly placed rocks on a rock outcrop about halfway down the hill toward the water. They are perfect for resting and eating and watching all the red rental canoes from Ross Resort paddle up Ruby Arm. We also watched several ducks basking in the sun near the shore and a mamma  merganser with 5 little ones in tow.  We lounged in this area for almost 2 hours before other hikers arrived.

Be careful if you have children with you though because there are steep drop-offs and the “trail” to the water is very steep over loose rock.

Spent a night at Roland Creek Campground. We took off from the TH around 11am--there were maybe 8 cars parked at that time. The trail itself is in great condition. Some of the stream crossings are quite high though, like up to mid-upper shin. My boots got totally soaked 3 or 4 times on the way to/from the campground, so be prepared for squishy boots! Though hiking poles probably aren't needed for some given the small amount of elevation, I was happy to have them for extra stability crossing those streams. 

Other notes: The ranger did say they had some bear activity in the area when we picked up our permit. Overall the traffic on the trail was very low. It was chilly at night but not too bad. Bugs were alright but I did use some bug spray on exposed skin.

Not too busy trail with many mini-water crossings. The great thing about this trail - almost impossible to get lost. Since there’s no big reveal at the end, I found some solitude especially early morning. It is also nice that almost immediately, it’s great to see powerful water of Ruby Creek. 

Overall, a really easy, an enjoyable hike. 

Three days, two nights on the East Bank Ross Lake trail, around to Hozomeen and back. East Bank trail was in good condition. Trail crew was working on it and I'd expect it to be free of down trees by now. Pleasant trail. After I left the East Bank trail for the Lightning Creek trail I didn't see anyone else until I was back on the East Bank trail two days later. Down trees were the worst starting just before deerlick camp until about Willow Lake. Very doable though, and nice to enjoy the solitude. The lake level hasn't reached Hozomeen yet, it was strange to see the docks on the ground with no water in sight. I spent both nights at deerlick camp which was a perfectly pleasant place to sleep. This route was a great low elevation trip and it wasn't too crowded.

Hiked this trail from the TH off of the Cascade Highway before it closed for the year. I planned to go as far as Roland Creek and from the map it looked like I might get some views of Ross Lake, but such was not the case.  The trail was forested the whole way to Roland Creek with mellow elevation change. Any day in the outdoors is a good one, but if I return to the East Bank Trail it will probably be to another segment.