Three-day backpack on Lake Ross:
Day 1: Ross Lake Resort Water Taxi to Desolation Peak TH; hike to Desolation camp. (3.5 miles / 3,500’)
Day 2: Summit Desolation, hike to Rainbow Point camp. (14 miles / 3,300’ up / 5,000’ down)
Day 3: Rainbow Point to East Bank TH; hitchhike back to Ross Lake TH. (10 miles / 2,200’)
Luckily, we were able to change our trip start date last minute from Monday (rain and cold) to Wednesday (dry and warm). After picking up our camp permits in Marblemount, we parked at Ross Dam TH around 10:30 am taking one of the three remaining parking spots. Hiked down to the water taxi and was shuttled up the lake. The lake water is low, and the docks are high and dry. So, we walked off the nose of the boat onto a rocky slope and up to the trail.
The trail up to Desolation Camp is not long but it is steep. We found a good source of water flowing about 2 miles up the trail, so we loaded up with a few liters to last us through the next morning. The trail is shaded much of the way, but the upper section is open and hot. Desolation Camp is in the trees with some views. A short walk from the tent pads leads to a comfortable cooking area among rocks. An open pit toilet is accessible just a short walk past camp. Some small critter insisted on scratching around my pack in the middle of the night, even with all our food & smelly items secured in the bear barrel.
We rose early and were on top of Desolation Peak by 7:30am. The lookout is still shuttered. Gorgeous views in all directions. We broke camp and were heading down by 9:30 am. Stopped at Lightening Creek Stock Camp for lunch and on to Rainbow Point for the night. One section shortly before Rainbow Point drops steeply to the lake (no tripping!).
Rainbow Point camp is in the trees. Every camp we stopped at, except for Desolation, had clean and stocked vault toilets, picnic benches, and bear boxes. What a luxury! The weather was getting warmer, so we rose early on the last day and were on the trail just after 6 am, enjoying a few hours of cool hiking.
The bugs were present at Desolation but not really biting. I got a few bites at Rainbow Point, and they were bad enough to pull out the bug spray the last few miles before East Bank TH. The lake and many creeks supplied all our drinking water, though it was a bit of a walk to the lakeshore. We only had to cross one creek on a shaky log (Roland Creek). All other creeks were easy rock hops or had sturdy bridges in place.
This is a popular trail, and we were glad to go early season and mid-week. We passed one ranger a few miles from the end. He checked our permit and verified we used a bear barrel at Desolation camp. Ruby Creek was flowing big and fast! The final climb up from Ruby Creek to East Bank TH wasn’t too bad.
We were prepared to hike the remaining 5.5 miles on Happy Panther back to the Ross Dam TH, but it was getting hot, and we were tired. Only one group in the parking lot at East Bank TH when we arrived, and they were heading in the wrong direction. No one stopped when my friend held out her thumb. We were about to give up when a truck pulled over to head back the way it came. I flagged them down and was soon on my way back to the car. Thank you kind people!
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