Swan Lake (Washington)

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Swan Lake
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Swan Lake
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Swan Lake
Location Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Coordinates 47°22′32″N121°19′13″W / 47.3755°N 121.3203°W / 47.3755; -121.3203 Coordinates: 47°22′32″N121°19′13″W / 47.3755°N 121.3203°W / 47.3755; -121.3203
Primary inflows Gale Creek
Primary outflows Gale Creek
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area7.3 acres (0.030 km2) [1]
Surface elevation4,029 ft (1,228 m) [2]

Swan Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the northern slope of Keechelus Ridge in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Because of its close proximity to Rampart Ridge, Interstate 90 and several cirque on both sides of Keechelus Ridge, the lake is a common area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. [1] Keechelus Ridge is accessed through trail 4934 which covers the length of the ridge. [3] Swan Lakes is between Keechelus Lake on the West and Kachess Lake further East.

Contents

Location

Swan Lake sits on the north aspect of the valley it shares with Rock Rabbit Lakes. Stonesthrow Lake is on the north ridge of the valley, with Margaret Lake a short distance west at the skirt of Mount Margaret. [4]

Flora

Major flora growing within the lake and prominent in the summer months include huckleberry bushes and wildflowers such as bear grass, lupins, paintbrush lilies, tiger lilies, and fireweed. [4]

See also

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Rampart Ridge (Washington)

Rampart Ridge is a 5,870 ft (1,790 m) elevation mountain ridge located in the Cascade Range, in Kittitas County of Washington state. It is situated northeast of Hyak, Washington, and the north end of Keechelus Lake, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Alta Mountain, 1.74 mi (2.80 km) to the north-northeast, and Dungeon Peak rises 0.77 mi (1.24 km) to the south-southwest. The north-south trending ridge is characterized by vertical cliffs on its west-facing side above the Gold Creek valley, and gentle meadows with lakes on the eastern side, such as Rachel Lake, Lake Lillian, and the Rampart Lakes. The descriptive name of rampart was officially adopted 1918 by the United States Board on Geographic Names based on a suggestion by The Mountaineers. Precipitation runoff from the ridge drains into tributaries of the Yakima River.  

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Lower Florence Lake

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Upper Florence Lake

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Lake Augusta (Washington)

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Lake Ida (Washington)

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Lake Edna

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Alaska Lake

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.

Joe Lake (Washington)

Joe Lake is a freshwater lake located on the eastern 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 rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Frequently hicked Huckleberry Mountain is just north of the lake on the opposite side of the Pacific Crest Trail. 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

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

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 Angeline Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing.

Spectacle Lake (Washington)

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.

Baker Lake (Alpine Lakes Wilderness)

Dream Lake is a small freshwater lake located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the norther slope of Keechelus Ridge between Keechelus Lake and Kachess Lake in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Big Creek, a tributary to the Taylor River, exits Dream Lake into a canyon that produces Big Creek Falls. Because of its proximity to Rampart Ridge, Interstate 90 and the cirque of Keechelus Ridge a short distance to the south, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing brook trout, golden trout and rainbow trout. Access to Baker Lake is provided through Keechelus Ridge off Forest Road 126. A short distance southwest is Microwave Hill, which is named because of a microwave radio tower on its summit.

Rock Rabbit Lakes Lake in Washington (state)

Rock Rabbit Lakes are two small freshwater lakes located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the northern slope of Keechelus Ridge between Keechelus Lake and Kachess Lake in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Because of its close proximity to Rampart Ridge, Interstate 90 and several cirque on both sides of Keechelus Ridge, the lake is a common area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout. Keechelus Ridge is accessed through trail 4934 which covers the length of the ridge. A short distance north is Swan Lake, Stonethrow Lake, and Margaret Lake.

Stonesthrow Lake Lake in Washington (state)

Stonesthrow Lake is a small freshwater lake located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the eastern slope of Rampart Ridge in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Because of its close proximity to Snoqualmie Pass, Interstate 90 and several cirque on both sides of Rampart Ridge, the lake is a common area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Keechelus Ridge is a short distance south on trail 4934 which covers the length of the ridge. Stonesthrow Lake is between Keechelus Lake on the West and Kachess Lake further East.

Mount Margaret (Kittitas County, Washington) Mountain in Washington (state)

Mount Margaret is a 5,850-ft mountain summit located in the Wenatchee National Forest, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in Kittitas County of Washington state. It is situated in the Cascade Range, 4.5 mi (7.2 km) east of Interstate 90, and on the south aspect of Rampart Ridge. Its nearest higher neighbor is Alta Mountain, 4.93 mi (7.93 km) to the north. Keechelus Lake is a short distance west and Kachess Lake further east.

Lake Lillian (Washington)

Lake Lillian is a freshwater lake located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the southern slope of Rampart Ridge in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Because of its close proximity to Snoqualmie Pass, Interstate 90 and several cirque on both sides of Rampart Ridge, the lake is a common area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout. Rocky Run Creek outflows from Lake Lillian into neighboring Lake Laura and continues toward NF road 136 on Rampart Ridge Backdoor. Lake Lillian is between Keechelus Lake on the West and Kachess Lake further East.

Lake Laura

Lake Laura is a small freshwater lake located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a valley on the southern slope of Rampart Ridge in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. Because of its close proximity to Snoqualmie Pass, Interstate 90 and several cirque on both sides of Rampart Ridge, the lake is a common area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout. Rocky Run Creek outflows from Lake Lillian and outflows Lake Laura along NF road 136 on Rampart Ridge Backdoor toward neighboring Keechelus Lake.

References

  1. 1 2 "Swan". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. Keechelus Ridge (4934) Mountains Greenway; accessed 12 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 Nelson, Dan. Best Hikes with Dogs Western Washington: 2nd Edition. The Mountaineers Books. p. 179. ISBN   9781594854064.