East Bank Ross Lake — Saturday, Jul. 15, 2017

We tried to make reservations at the Park Service in Sedro-Woolley the night before our hike but were told we had to make reservations at the Park Service in Marblemount. We got to the Park Service Saturday at 7:10 a.m. hoping to beat the crowd but there was a long line ahead of us.  When our number finally came up we asked what camping spots were left in the 5 to 12 mile range on the East Bank Trail. One spot was left at the boat in/hike in camp at Rainbow Point so we grabbed it. We reached the trail head at 9:30 a.m., took a lunch break noonish at noisy Roland Creek and pondered how we would cross the creek while we ate.  There was a tree across the creek and my brave friend crossed the creek on the log bridge, I put on my Chacos and waded across.  We ran in to a similar situation at May Creek, otherwise this is a very mellow hike. We ran into a couple of groups who had hiked the Devils Dome Loop, they had seen bears on the trail. We saw a tree that had been stripped of bark but no scat. Rainbow Point is a pretty campground with 3 campsites, all with picnic tables and fire pits. Boaters had the 2 best sites, our campsite was  very windy right in the middle of the point. The wind was non stop the whole time we were there. if you get there early enough the best spot is up closest to the East Bank Trail, it's out of the wind and has a pretty view of the lake.