How to Get Here
Important: Ross Lake Resort is not accessible by vehicle!
This page provides detailed instructions for 3 ways to get to Ross Lake and the resort.
Review the step-by-step directions and
Google Maps links below.
Ride the Diablo Ferry
This is the Diablo ferry dock, the stairs are adjacent to the parking area. You will load all your gear and stage it for loading on the ferry. Please keep track of your items. This ferry ride takes you to the Ross dock on Diablo lake, the ride is about 20mins and is $10 per person payable on ferry by cash or card..
Ferry in route to Ross Dock. Beautiful emerald color comes from glacier water.
This is the Diablo ferry dock, the stairs are adjacent to the parking area. You will load all your gear and stage it for loading on the ferry. Please keep track of your items. This ferry ride takes you to the Ross dock on Diablo lake, the ride is about 20mins and is $10 per person payable on ferry by cash or card..
Diablo Ferry Directions & Information
- Not recommended for day use -
Map Key:
A: Diablo Ferry Terminal
B: Ross Portage Dock on Diablo
C: Ross Dam Trailhead
D: Ross Lake Shuttle Dock
E: Ross Lake Resort
Google Maps Directions for Diablo Ferry Parking ⇨
Step-by-Step Directions:
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Turn off Hwy 20 at Diablo Dam Rd, park in the Ross Lake designated area at the Diablo Ferry Terminal (point "A"), and move your gear to the ferry landing
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Guests are kindly asked to handle their own gear while loading and unloading the ferry; it is helpful if you have all your items marked for identification
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The 20 min. Diablo Ferry ride takes you to the Ross Portage Dock on Diablo (point "B"), our truck driver will greet you and assist in loading your gear & group onto our flatbed Passenger Truck
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Our Passenger Truck service is $30 per person round trip and is added to your reservation bill in the office
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Your adventure on the service road to Ross Lake takes approximately 20 minutes and brings you to Ross Lake Shuttle Dock ("point D")
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Our driver & boat captain assist in loading each group onto our shuttle boat for a short ride to Ross Lake Resort (point "E")
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Diablo Ferry service to Ross Lake runs daily at 10:30am & 2:00pm Jun. - Oct. Cost per passenger is $10 each way, paid to Seattle City Light on the ferry
Cash or card is accepted
Hike the Ross Dam Trail
Map & Information at the Ross Dam Trailhead
Bridge along the Ross Dam trail.
Phone box across the lake from Ross Lake Resort. Call for a shuttle ride to the resort for your reservations, cabins & equipment, or to visit the resort. This service is $4 dollars per person each way, payable in the office. For water taxi reservations the taxi boat will pick your party up at the shuttle dock and take you straight to you destination.
Map & Information at the Ross Dam Trailhead
Ross Dam Trail Directions & Information
Day-use visitors: we recommend hiking to maximize your time on Ross Lake
Map Key:
A: Diablo Ferry Terminal
B: Ross Portage Dock on Diablo
C: Ross Dam Trailhead
D: Ross Lake Shuttle Dock
E: Ross Lake Resort
⇨ Ross Dam Trailhead | Google Maps Directions Link
Step-by-Step Directions:
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Turn off of HWY 20 into the Ross Dam Trailhead (point "C") parking lot to begin your hike
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The trail is approximately 1 mile and intersects with a gravel service road before you arrive to Ross Lake, turn right on the gravel road
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Please note: If you turn left at the gravel road, you will cross the Ross Dam and hike to the backside of the resort, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead
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On the gravel road, before you get to Ross Lake, you will see a post that says "Resort Phone" on the left-hand side, take the short trail to the resort phone box
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Follow the instructions in the phone box to call our office for the shuttle ride to the resort, then head down to the Ross Lake Shuttle Dock (point "D")
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Our shuttle boat will arrive shortly to take you to Ross Lake Resort (point "E")
Shuttle service runs from 8:00am - 7:00pm or dusk, whichever is earlier
2026 season: June 11th - October 31st
The shuttle boat service is $5 per person each way, paid in the office
This trail does not follow the lakeside
Portage Your Own Vessel
Portage dock on Diablo. Pull your vessel(s) from the water and stage for loading on the truck. You may use the kayak dock & the first 6 feet of the concrete dock next to the kayak dock for staging. Do not bring vessel(s) up to road until driver gives you the go ahead. Your responsible for assisting loading your vessel(s) & gear on the truck. This service takes to Ross lake, where you will assist in unloading. Cost is $50 single vessel & $40 for multiple vessels, payable to driver cash or card.
Portage phone dock. You can paddle here to give us a call and let us know you are here for the portage service. Do not unload your vessel(s) here.
Trucks used for passenger travel and Portage service.
Portage dock on Diablo. Pull your vessel(s) from the water and stage for loading on the truck. You may use the kayak dock & the first 6 feet of the concrete dock next to the kayak dock for staging. Do not bring vessel(s) up to road until driver gives you the go ahead. Your responsible for assisting loading your vessel(s) & gear on the truck. This service takes to Ross lake, where you will assist in unloading. Cost is $50 single vessel & $40 for multiple vessels, payable to driver cash or card.
Portage Directions & Information
Map Key:
A: Diablo Ferry Terminal
B: Ross Portage Dock on Diablo
C: Ross Dam Trailhead
D: Ross Lake Shuttle Dock
E: Ross Lake Resort
⇨ Portage | Google Maps Directions Link
Step-by-Step Directions:
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Turn off of HWY 20 into the Colonial Creek Campground, park in a designated area, and unload your vessels
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Launch and paddle 5 miles to the Ross/Portage Dock on Diablo ("point B")
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There is a phone box at the Ross/Portage Dock phone with instructions on how to call the resort office and let us know you would like portage service
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We will gather your information and send our flatbed truck to pick you up
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Please, do not bring your vessel up to the road before our truck arrives
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You may use the kayak dock or up to 6 feet of the concrete ferry dock next to the kayak dock
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Do not block any walkways or the road as our truck driver needs to back down to the parking block, and the ferry dock is for all visitors
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Portage service runs from 8:00am to 4:30pm daily during our open season
2026 season: June 11th - Oct 31st
This is a first-come, first-served service (no reservations required)
Priority is given to Diablo Ferry traffic - you can anticipate a 15-60 min. wait
Portage service is $55 for 1 vessel & $50 each for 2+ vessels*
*in the same load, discount applied across parties
Paid at the time of service to our truck driver, cash or card is accepted
Please Note: You may portage your own vessel by wheel or manpower, free of charge. This is a 2.5 mile trek, and there is a fair amount of elevation to traverse. It is a gravel road with many switchbacks. We kindly ask you to be aware that trucks travel this road and need the right-of-way.
*Please be advised that the gate at the Hozomeen Boat Launch is currently closed.
For further information or inquiries regarding access, please contact Canadian border authorities.