Cougar Island — Ross Lake National Recreation Area

The recreation area has a number of backcountry camping options and at times, sites can get busy in the peak season but the permitting system will provide peace of mind that you'll have a spot for the night. Some sites are right on the lake while others are a bit tucked in. Most sites have fire rings, picnic tables and a few have grills. There's plenty of space to pitch a tent at each spot.

As for all waste, pack it in and pack it out. There are a lot of mice roaming around these campsites so be sure to secure your food appropriately as well as any overly salty clothing (turns out mice really love salt soaked fabric). Some sites have heavy duty bear boxes for food storage.

The great thing about these sites is that you can get to them by foot or by boat. We spent several days traveling along the lake, ending in Hozameen and taking a boat ride the length of Ross Lake back to our vehicle at the end.

There are also several day hike options if you are canoeing/boating to your site or from site to site. Desolation Peak is one of my favorites and has some cool ties to Jack Kerouac. This spot is a gem and totally worth spending a few days here.