With its incredible ocean beaches and abundance of rivers, Washington is a paradise for those who love waterfront fun — but sometimes, nothing tops a day at the lake. And while a weekend spent at Lake Chelan or one of our other top vacation spots is always amazing, if you need a more peaceful retreat, wake up with the sun and head to Diablo Lake for the day.
Without a doubt, Diablo Lake is one of the North Cascades’ finest gems.
Andrew Albertson / Flickr The lake, which was created by Diablo Dam, is located between Ross Lake and Gorge Lake on the Skagit River.
You can check out the Diablo Lake overlook from the North Cascades Highway, and it’s incredible…
John Westrock / Flickr
… but to get up close and personal, you’ll have to hike the Diablo Lake Trail.
Fer Illescas / alltrails.com
The trail is 7 miles out and back, meaning it’s a good 3.5-mile walk to the lake.
Shannon Paige / alltrails.com Luckily, the hike isn’t overly challenging.
The North Cascades sees its share of tourists in the summertime. But because this lake isn’t easily accessible, you just might have it all to yourself.
Jeff Gunn / Flickr The lake is pristine, and the water often looks turquoise. That gorgeous blue-green hue is caused by tiny rock particles eroded by the ice in the glacier water that flows into the lake.
Kick back, relax, and enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake.
Helen Zhao / alltrails.com You might see some kayakers on the lake who are utilizing one of the nearby boat-in campgrounds, but mostly, it stays quiet and peaceful.
Diablo Lake is extremely remote, and it’s not easily accessible for a single Washingtonian.
Jessica Deede / alltrails.com But this experience is definitely worth setting your alarm for. And should you need to stay overnight, you’ll find plenty of campgrounds in North Cascades National Park.
Now that summer is in full swing, you should really make the most of it. Here are some other ideas for amazing summer day trips in Washington.
Andrew Albertson / Flickr
The lake, which was created by Diablo Dam, is located between Ross Lake and Gorge Lake on the Skagit River.
John Westrock / Flickr
Fer Illescas / alltrails.com
Shannon Paige / alltrails.com
Luckily, the hike isn’t overly challenging.
Jeff Gunn / Flickr
The lake is pristine, and the water often looks turquoise. That gorgeous blue-green hue is caused by tiny rock particles eroded by the ice in the glacier water that flows into the lake.
Helen Zhao / alltrails.com
You might see some kayakers on the lake who are utilizing one of the nearby boat-in campgrounds, but mostly, it stays quiet and peaceful.
Jessica Deede / alltrails.com
But this experience is definitely worth setting your alarm for. And should you need to stay overnight, you’ll find plenty of campgrounds in North Cascades National Park.
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