Watson Creek (California)

Last updated
Watson Creek
Watson Creek and Trail California.jpg
Watson Creek above Carnelian Bay, California
Location
Country United States
State California
Region Placer County
Physical characteristics
Sourcea meadow north of Watson Lake and Mount Watson
  location Tahoe National Forest
  coordinates 39°13′39″N120°08′22″W / 39.22750°N 120.13944°W / 39.22750; -120.13944 [1]
  elevation7,760 ft (2,370 m)
Mouth Lake Tahoe
  location
Carnelian Bay, California
  coordinates
39°13′07″N120°05′11″W / 39.21861°N 120.08639°W / 39.21861; -120.08639 Coordinates: 39°13′07″N120°05′11″W / 39.21861°N 120.08639°W / 39.21861; -120.08639 [1]
  elevation
6,230 ft (1,900 m) [1]

Watson Creek is a stream in northern California. It runs about 3 miles, from its source near Watson Lake, below Mount Watson, draining into Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Rim Trail runs across the creek in its headwaters meadow, and along the eastern shore of the lake.

Contents

The creek and lake and peak are named for Robert Montgomery Watson, who came to Lake Tahoe in 1875. [2] Watson built the Watson Log Cabin, the only historic log cabin in Tahoe City, California. [3]

Watson Creek headwaters meadow and Tahoe Rim Trail.jpg
The Tahoe Rim Trail crosses the headwaters meadow.

Watson Lake

Watson Lake is at an elevation of 7,759 ft (2,365 m). [4] The headwaters of Watson Creek is separated from Watson Lake by a granite ridge. The lake's outflow is a minor tributary that joins the creek just downstream.

Watson Lake pano.jpg
Panoramic view of Watson Lake from the Tahoe Rim Trail. To the right, the trail goes north over the ridge to where it crosses the creek. To the left, the trail crosses the outflow channel of the lake, which is a tributary to the creek, and continues south toward Lake Tahoe.

Mount Watson

Mount Watson is a peak at 8,405 ft (2,562 m) elevation, [5] just north of Tahoe City, with commanding views of Lake Tahoe and a view of Watson Lake.

Mount Watson's steep rocky slope over the southwest side of Watson Lake, viewed from the northeast shore of Watson Lake Mount Watson from Watson Lake.jpg
Mount Watson's steep rocky slope over the southwest side of Watson Lake, viewed from the northeast shore of Watson Lake
Watson Lake (lower left) and Lake Tahoe (upper right) from the road near the summit of Mount Watson Watson Lake and Lake Tahoe from Mount Watson.jpg
Watson Lake (lower left) and Lake Tahoe (upper right) from the road near the summit of Mount Watson
Lake Tahoe pano from top of Mount Watson.jpg
Panoramic view from near the top of Mount Watson

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References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watson Creek
  2. Lekisch, Barbara (1988). Tahoe Place Names: The Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Great West Books. p. 151. ISBN   9780944220016 . Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  3. Bruce Shindler (June 13, 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Watson Log Cabin". National Park Service.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watson Lake
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mount Watson