Battle Ground Lake State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle Ground Lake State Park
Battle Ground Lake State Park Location in Washington (state)
Location	Clark County, Washington, United States
Nearest city	Battle Ground, Washington
Area	275 acres (111 ha)
Elevation	509 ft (155 m)
Designation	Washington state park
Established	1966
Administrator	Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Website	Battle Ground Lake State Park
Battle Ground Lake
Aerial view of the lake and park
Location	Clark County, Washington
Surface elevation	509 feet (155 m)
Formed by	Magma induced steam explosion
Geology	Maar
Volcanic field	Boring Lava Field

Battle Ground Lake State Park is a 275-acre (111 ha) public recreation area located three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city of Battle Ground, Washington. The state park is covered by an evergreen forest centered around a crater lake of volcanic origin. The park is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

History

The park is the site of a 400-foot (120 m) volcano in the Boring Lava Field where a magma-induced steam explosion 105,000 years ago made a large bean-shaped crater, a maar, which later filled with water, forming a crater lake. The lake was the site of a resort dating from the 1920s when a consortium of businessmen planned an upgrade that would include the addition of a dance hall, "swimming tanks," and amusements plus a power plant and electric lights. From 1964 to 1968, the resort was operated by Virgil Dollar, a member of the family for whom the nearby intersection of Dollars Corner was named. The state initiated acquisition of the site in 1965, with purchase for US$550,000 approved in 1966. At a meeting in 1970, the State Parks and Recreation Commission determined that "Battle Ground" should be spelled as two words in deference to the spelling of the nearby city.

Activities and amenities

The park includes a swimming area, boat launch, campground, and cabin rentals. Hiking and bridle trails ring the lake and criss-cross the summit area. Rainbow trout and coastal cutthroat trout are stocked during late winter through spring. Largemouth bass, grass carp, and crappie are present, with trout fishing the main attraction for anglers, especially on opening day.