Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Ross Lake

Whatcom County, WashingtonView mapDirections

B
Good

Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.

↓ down from A at the last regrade

Water temp
No reading
No gauge
Clarity
No reading
No sample
Level
No reading
No gauge
Trend
Declining
4 years of samples
  • Oligotrophic
  • #2 of 3 in the county
  • Public access
  • Limited data
See the measurementsDirectionsWhere to stay

Ross Lake in Whatcom County, Washington has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 4.5 µg/L.

Type
Oligotrophic
Phosphorus
4.5 µg/L
Trend
↓ Declining
Public access
Yes
Loading map…

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Ross Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ross Lake in Whatcom County, Washington — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Ross Lake

Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Washington’s top lakes →

Watch Ross Lake’s letter

Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.

Or email

Ross Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Whatcom County, Washington. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Whatcom County, Ross Lake ranks #2 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, WA Ecology, last sampled 2023-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

What Ross Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Camping3 public campgrounds nearby

Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.

The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Get alerts for Ross Lake →

Water Quality Grade: B (Good)

No clarity data. Phosphorus 4.5 µg/L. TSI 26. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)No recent samples
Phosphorus4.5 µg/LGood
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)26Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

Recreation & Access

Yes
Public Access
3
Campgrounds

Public campgrounds near Ross Lake

  • Campground0.6 km
  • Hozomeen1.6 km
  • Hozomeen1.8 km

Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes

Fishing Ross Lake

Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining

Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Phosphorus↓ Declining+0.2 µg/L/yr4
See year-by-year chart →

County Ranking

Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Whatcom County

Nearby Lakes in Whatcom County

NRHozomeen Lake—View →NRSilver Lake—View →NRBear Lake—View →NRSourdough Lake—View →NRJerry Lakes—View →NRJerry Lakes—View →

Frequently asked questions about Ross Lake

Where is Ross Lake?

Ross Lake is a lake in Whatcom County, Washington. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for Ross Lake?

Ross Lake in Whatcom County, Washington has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 4.5 µg/L.

Is Ross Lake safe to swim in?

The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Are there campgrounds on Ross Lake?

Ross Lake has 3 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Campground, Hozomeen, Hozomeen. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.

Explore Ross Lake across LakeQuality

Gorge Creek Falls

21.3 mi away · 242 ft

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Washington Lake Trips

Where to stay at Washington's top lakes, each with its grade

Oligotrophic Lakes

Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

The State of Washington's Lakes

Washington's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked

More Washington Lake Rankings

Best swimming lakes in Washington

Grade A/B + low algae filter

Family fishing lakes in Washington

Panfish-rich, public access

All Washington lakes

Full state directory

Other Grade B Lakes in Washington

Moses Lake

Grant County · Good

Oligotrophic Lakes in Washington

Lake RoesigerAngle LakeBanks LakeSteilacoom Lake

Where this data comes from

18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • USGS Washington Water Science CenterUSGS-WA18 samples · 2019–2023

Analytical methods

  • P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
  • HACH, sensor model 2100 AN, R-On
  • YSI Environmental, sensor 6136
  • YSI EXO turbidity sensor, FNU
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.

Other records on this page

Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles