Category: Kayak

Spending several days at Diablo Lake every summer is quickly becoming a tradition for me, one I’ll continue!  Diablo Lake is downriver from Ross Lake, and is within the Ross Lake National Recreational Area, managed jointly with North Cascades National Park.

I’ve stayed at Newhalem, Colonial Creek North, and Colonial Creek South campgrounds. While the Newhalem Campground is very nice and is where a visitor center is located, the Colonial Creek campgrounds (directly across from each other on Hwy 20) have wonderful kayak access to Diablo Lake.

As I learned the hard way on one of my first visits, wind picks up by mid-morning. Depending on the direction you’re facing while kayaking, this can make for an unpleasant return trip back to the boat ramp. Mornings usually bring pristine smooth water, the most beautiful teal color, contrasted by blue skies and forest green. We discovered new areas, and had a lovely picnic lunch at one of the boat-in campsites, accompanied by a mama ptarmigan and her 2 chicks.

I spent 3 lovely days kayaking and hiking with friends, beginning with several hours on the water in early morning, exploring the Thunder Arm of Diablo Lake, the inflow of Thunder Creek, and part of the main body of Diablo Lake. There are 3 boat-in campsites on Diablo Lake that are the plan for next year! Afternoons were spent reading in companionable silence, and hiking the easy trail to the bridge over Thunder Creek (about 4.5 miles R/T from our campsite).

Spending time paddling, exploring, sometimes simply floating without moving, letting the silence and beauty sink in – this is part of what summer is all about. I’m so thankful to live in such a beautiful area.

On our last evening there, we found ourselves in rain and cracking thunder. The next morning as we were packing up to leave, we noticed a helicopter scooping water out of the lake repeatedly. Unfortunately, when we got home we heard that was the beginning of the Sourdough Fire which has closed the entire area while firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze due to very difficult terrain.

North Cascades National Park is rugged, raw, and gorgeous. There are very few roads that access the park, and the Highway 20 corridor is one of the only ways through.

We stayed at Colonial Creek Campground because there’s a boat ramp into Diablo Lake for easy kayak access, which is what we came for. The color of the water on Diablo is truly that amazing turquoise blue, no photo filters needed! Weather was perfect, and I only came home with 4 mosquito bites, which is a record for me – I usually contribute much more blood to the feeding-fest than that on summer trips.

Thunder Creek Trail: Our first evening we hiked about 4 miles on the Thunder Creek Trail, which starts within the campground. It’s through a beautiful old-growth forest. I’m not sure about the title “creek” since it was a full-on river, definitely not a creek. The bridge where we turned around is a work of art. What a perfect way to take an evening stroll, with Mother Nature, massive trees and the sound of running water.

Thunder Arm/Diablo Lake Kayak #1: On our first morning we kayaked up Thunder Arm toward where Thunder Creek empties into Diablo Lake. We had this section of the lake to ourselves, and spent time exploring a gravel bar and going upstream as much as possible, until the current turned us back toward the lake. It was a perfect, lazy paddle.

Thunder Knob Trail: The second evening we crossed Highway 20 to the other section of Colonial Creek Campground to hike up to Thunder Knob. Part of this campground was wiped out by rains in 2003 when Colonial Creek changed course. It’s a stark reminder of what the power of water can do.

The trail is beautiful and climbs via well-made switchbacks up to the point of Thunder Knob, with views down to Diablo Lake and north into the Park. We had the top to ourselves.

Thunder Arm/Diablo Lake Kayak #2: The next morning we kayaked in the other direction toward the main body of Diablo Lake, toward Thunder Point campground that is accessible only by boat/kayak. There is a beautiful dock and stunning views from the campground, this might have to happen sometime in my future! By the time we got there wind was picking up, which makes kayaking not nearly as much fun, so after snacks we headed back to Colonial Creek. Three miles paddling meant rest that afternoon in the hammock with a good book.

Diablo Lake Overlook: On our final evening we drove a bit further on Highway 20 to the Diablo Lake Overlook. It’s hard to describe what it feels like looking down on this place. The water truly is that color, combined with the colors of the sky and the forest makes for a beautiful setting.

I must do much more exploring at North Cascades National Park in the coming years. It’s truly a beautiful place.

I had a lovely visit with friends in Packwood this week. We hiked to Silver Falls in Mt. Rainier National Park, and the next day took the kayaks to Walupt Lake for a lovely paddle and picnic lunch.  Good good times! I can’t say enough how much I love my Point 65 North modular kayaks because they are ridiculously easy to load and unload – I can fit 2 full kayaks in the back of my Rav4 without having to lift them up onto a roof rack, which would never happen with my shoulder issues.  Life is good….