Glacier Lake (Washington)

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Glacier Lake
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Glacier Lake
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Glacier Lake
Location Kittitas County, Washington
Coordinates 47°28′03″N121°17′46″W / 47.4675292°N 121.2961742°W / 47.4675292; -121.2961742
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area20.2 acres (8.2 ha) [1] [2]
Surface elevation4,744 ft (1,446 m) [3]

Glacier Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in Kittitas County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, camping, and fishing golden trout. [2] Glacier Lake is a short distance between Chikamin Lake and Spectacle Lake at the base of Chikamin Ridge. The Pacific Crest Trail is a short distance from Glacier Lake as well as other Alpine lakes located in the vicinity. To the North is Avalanche Lake and Iceberg Lake at the base of Lemah Mountain.

Contents

Location

Glacier Lake is located northeast of Snoqualmie Pass and The Summit at Snoqualmie, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Reaching the lake is only by foot starting on Surprise Creek Trail #1060 east of the old railroad settlement of Scenic, Washington. [4] The trail follows Surprise Creek for nearly 5 miles until it reaches Surprise Lake. The trail eventually follows the eastern shore of Surprise Lake and leads to Glacier Lake after approximately 0.5 miles. There are numerous campsites available around Surprise Lake and Glacier Lake. [2]

Climate

Glacier Lake is located in a hemiboreal climate, [5] part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [6] The average temperature is 2 °C. The warmest month is August, with an average temperature of 16 °C, and the coldest month is January, at an average of −8 °C. [7] The average rainfall is 1687 millimeters per year. The wettest month is December, with 247 millimeters of rain, and the least in July, with 33 millimeters of rain.

Glacier Lake
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
220
 
 
−6
−10
 
 
206
 
 
−4
−8
 
 
183
 
 
−2
−7
 
 
127
 
 
1
−5
 
 
84
 
 
8
1
 
 
65
 
 
13
5
 
 
33
 
 
21
11
 
 
42
 
 
21
11
 
 
94
 
 
15
7
 
 
165
 
 
7
1
 
 
223
 
 
−2
−4
 
 
247
 
 
−7
−10
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [7]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
8.7
 
 
21
14
 
 
8.1
 
 
25
18
 
 
7.2
 
 
28
19
 
 
5
 
 
34
23
 
 
3.3
 
 
46
34
 
 
2.6
 
 
55
41
 
 
1.3
 
 
70
52
 
 
1.7
 
 
70
52
 
 
3.7
 
 
59
45
 
 
6.5
 
 
45
34
 
 
8.8
 
 
28
25
 
 
9.7
 
 
19
14
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waptus Lake</span> Lake in Kittitas County, Washington

Waptus Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the southern stretch of the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest in Kittitas County, Washington. Because of its proximity to Cooper Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail, Waptus Lake is a popular area for hiking, camping and fishing. Waptus Lake is surrounded by trails that lead to other Alpine lakes in the vicinity, including the Pete Lake and Spectacle Lake at the base of Chikamin Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huckleberry Mountain (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Huckleberry Mountain is a 6,320+ ft summit located on the shared border of King County and Kittitas County in Washington state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eightmile Lake</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rampart Lakes</span> Lake in Washington, United States

Rampart Lakes area a set of contiguous freshwater reservoir lakes located on the south slope of Alta Mountain, in Kittitas County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Klonaqua Lakes area. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout.

Lake Augusta is a freshwater lake located on the southwest skirt of Big Jim Mountain, East of Icicle Ridge, in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Smaller Lake Ida is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge and Big Jim Mountain Lakes or on the northeast slope of the mountain. Lake Augusta is located approximately 15 miles west of the city of Leavenworth. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Augusta area.

Lake Ida is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Lake Augusta is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge. Lake Ida sits on a highly glaciated alpine cirque, surrounded by a coniferous forest primarily larch pines and outflows into Ida Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek. At least one unrated waterfall is found downstream as Ida Creek runs the south slope of Icicle Ridge. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Ida and Augusta area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Edna</span> Lake in Washington state, US

Lake Edna is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Lake Alice is a short distance in a prominent cirque on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska Lake</span>

Alaska Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western skirt of Alaska Mountain at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Rampart Lakes a short distance south, at the base of Mount Margaret. To the east is Hibox Mountain.

Angeline Lake is a freshwater lake located on the northern slope of Iron Cap Mountain between Otter Lake, Azure Lake and Big Heart Lake, in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. West Fork Foss River exits Angeline Lake into a canyon that produces Angeline Falls downstream from Chetwoot Lake to Delta Lake. Because Angeline Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.

Chetwoot Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western slope of Iron Cap Mountain next to Crawford Lake, in King County, Washington. West Fork Foss River exits Chetwoot Lake towards Angeline Lake and then to a canyon that produces Angeline Falls downstream towards Delta Lake. Because Chetwoot Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing.

Avalanche Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Iceberg Lake a short distance East, at the base of Chimney Rock West. To the South is Chikamin Lake.

Chikamin Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Icebox Lake, Glacier Lake and Spectacle Lake a short distance South, at the base of Chikamin Ridge. To the North is Avalanche Lake and Iceberg Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectacle Lake (Washington)</span> Lake in Kittitas County, United States of America

Spectacle Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in Kittitas County on its western border with King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, camping and fishing cutthroat trout. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Chikamin Lake, a short distance North, at the base of Chikamin Peak. To the South is Hibox Mountain.

Cooper Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the southern stretch outside of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Kittitas County, Washington. Because of its proximity to Cle Elum Lake and Kachess Lake, Cooper Lake is a popular area for hiking, camping and fishing. Cooper Lake, where two-pole fishing is permitted, is stocked annually with Kokanee salmon and several species of trout fish. Cooper Lake is the starting point for trails that lead to other Alpine lakes in the vicinity, including the Pete Lake and Spectacle Lake at the base of Chikamin Peak.

Edds Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western skirt of Huckleberry Mountain at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout. The Pacific Crest Trail runs just East of the lake is a prominent ridge that separates Edds Lake from Joe Lake and Alaska Lake south towards Kendall Katwalk. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Chikamin Lake a short distance north, at the base of Chikamin Peak. To the west is Mount Thomson on Bumblebee Pass.

Gravel Lake is a small freshwater lake located at the edge of the Pacific Crest Trail on the western skirt of Mount Thomson at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout and rainbow trout. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Alaska Lake a short distance east, and Joe Lake and Edds Lake northbound on the PCT. To the east is Hibox Mountain.

Chiwaukum Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the Ewing Basin south of Lake Donald and the McCue Ridge in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Outflow from Chiwaukum Lake is Chiwaukum Creek and an unnamed creek flows into Chiwaukim Lake from Larch Lake. A short distance north of Donald Lake are other Scottish Lakes including Loch Eileen and Lake Julius.

Snoqualmie Lake Potholes is a set of freshwater lakes located southeast Snoqualmie Lake, in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. Because Snoqualmie Lake Potholes are at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout and cutthroat trout.

References

  1. ↑ "Glacier Kittitas County". Washington Fishing Lakes. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Glacier". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Glacier Lake
  4. ↑ "Surprise Creek Trail 1060". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Peel, M C; Finlayson, B L (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11 (5): 1639–1640. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2021.


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