Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake Vista Point
I have wanted to visit Diablo Lake for YEARS. I saw a post on Instagram in 2015 and thought woah there is no way the water could possibly be that Turquoise. Well, turns out it sure is. I finally got the chance to go when my roomie booked a spot at the Colonial Creek Campgrounds for 4th of July weekend. I would 10/10 recommend camping here. This trip was only my third time camping and I absolutely loved it! The campgrounds are spacious, right next to the water, and near a few great trails. You can see Diablo Lake a few different ways:
Hiking on Thunder Knob Trail (There are other trails that go around Diablo Lake but the majority are closed due to Covid)
Going straight to the beach at Colonial Creek Campgrounds where you can hang out on the “beach,” kayak, paddle board, etc (be warned the water is freezing!)
Driving to Diablo Lake Vista Point
Thunder Knob Trail
Thunder Knob Trail is an easy 3.5 mile hike with only 650ft of elevation gain. We stayed up late the night before and I wasn’t ready for any trail too aggressive. Thankfully, the trail is very family and dog friendly. The trail is located across the street from Colonial Creek Campgrounds with parking. It has great views all the way up of surrounding mountains. When you get to the top there are several view points of the lake to distance yourself from other groups. The trail took us very little time and is well maintained.
Colonial creek campground
Colonial Creek Campground is right before Diablo Lake Vista Point. For day use, there are picnic tables, a small rocky beach to sit out at, and a boat ramp which you can also use to put your Kayaks and Paddle Boards in. The water is freezing, but great to go out on especially with the views! Note: the water levels are effected by a dam so they are different every day.
There are also several other hiking trails that go along the river, through wooded areas, and even some more experienced climbs. We walked Thunder Creek Trail that was 4 miles which also turns into some backpacking routes and longer trails. Some friends did 4th of July trail which is 10 miles so you can find a variety of trail lengths!
If you want to go camping, make sure you reserve months in advance. During peak season, the spots fill up as soon as registration opens.
I highly recommend visiting Diablo Lake, even if its a day trip. The drive is only 2.5 hours from Seattle. Any way you choose to see the lake, you will have a great view :) Also, make sure to bring a mask because its a heavily visited area.
