Alta Lake State Park

For the lake in Whistler (Canada), see Alta Lake (British Columbia).
Alta Lake State Park
Washington State Park
Country United States
State Washington
County Okanogan
Elevation 1,348 ft (411 m) [1]
Coordinates 48°01′43″N 119°56′31″W / 48.02861°N 119.94194°W / 48.02861; -119.94194Coordinates: 48°01′43″N 119°56′31″W / 48.02861°N 119.94194°W / 48.02861; -119.94194 [1]
Area 181 acres (73 ha)
Established 1951
Management Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Location in the state of Washington
Website: Alta Lake State Park
Alta Lake
Location Okanogan County, Washington
Coordinates 48°01′17″N 119°56′13″W / 48.0214°N 119.937°W / 48.0214; -119.937 (Alta Lake)
Basin countries United States
Max. length 2 mi (3.2 km)
Max. width .5 mi (0.80 km)
Surface area 187.4 acres (0.758 km2)[2]
Max. depth 79 feet (24 m)[2]
Surface elevation 1,171 feet (357 m)[3]
Islands None
Settlements State park

Alta Lake State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Pateros, Washington, at the northern end of 220-acre (89 ha) Alta Lake,[4] in the mountainous northwest interior of the state. The 181-acre (73 ha) state park and adjacent lake lie beneath towering stone cliffs, formed by glaciation, that rise 1000 feet (304 m) above the valley floor, and carry on up to the top of Old Goat Mountain[5] which sits 4200 ft (1280 m) above the park. A two-mile-long (3 km) road leading to the park, Alta Lake Road, intersects State Route 153, which runs along the Methow River. The park is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.[6]

History

A jeweler and miner from Wilbur named the lake in 1900 after his daughter, Alta Heinz. In 1951, the city of Pateros gave the property to the state for the establishment of a state park.[6] In 2014, the park was severely damaged during the Carlton Complex Fire,[7] which forced the park to close for five weeks.[8] Recovery efforts are on-going.[6]

Activities and amenities

The park offers swimming, boating, fishing and sailboarding on Alta Lake, which measures about 2 miles (3.2 km) long and .5 miles (0.80 km) wide.[9] The park has camping and picnicking facilities and 2 miles (3.2 km) of hiking trails.[6] Golf is offered at the nearby Alta Lake Golf Course.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Alta Lake State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 Ernest E. Wolcott (1973). "Lakes of Washington, Volume II, Eastern Washington" (PDF) (2 ed.). Washington Department of Ecology. p. 294. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  3. "Alta Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. "Alta Lake". Fishing & Shellfishing. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  5. "Goat Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Alta Lake State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  7. K.C. Mehaffey (July 30, 2014). "Alta Lake State Park hopes for speedy reopening". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  8. Karen M. West (May 20, 2015). "Methow recovers from massive wildfire and welcomes outdoors lovers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  9. "Alta". Northwest Fishing Reports. Digital Anglers. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  10. "Alta Lake Golf Resort". Retrieved February 17, 2016.

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