Camp Lake (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp Lake |
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 Camp Lake
Location in California
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| Location | Emigrant Wilderness Tuolume County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°09′58″N 119°52′49″W / 38.166028°N 119.880180°W |
| Type | Tarn |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 2,314 m (7,592 ft) |
Camp Lake is a small mountain lake found in the Emigrant Wilderness area of Tuolumne County, California. It is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the famous Yosemite National Park. You can only reach Camp Lake by hiking or riding horses along the popular Deer Lake Trail.
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About Camp Lake
Camp Lake is a type of lake called a tarn. A tarn is a lake that forms in a hollow area created by a glacier. These lakes are often found high up in mountains.
Why Fish Are No Longer in Camp Lake
Camp Lake used to be a good spot for catching Brook Trout. However, the California Department of Fish and Game no longer adds fish to the lake. This change happened because of an important project to help the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog.
Protecting Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs
The Mountain Yellow-legged Frog is a special type of frog that lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These frogs are endangered, meaning their numbers have become very low. To help them recover, efforts are being made to restore their natural habitats.
Fish like trout can sometimes eat the tadpoles (baby frogs) of these endangered frogs. By removing fish from certain lakes, scientists hope to give the frog population a better chance to grow. Camp Lake is now part of this important conservation effort.
The lake also used to have problems with fish dying during winter and summer. This was due to conditions in the lake that made it hard for fish to survive. The fish population relied on certain plants that grew every year. Now, Camp Lake does not have any trout.
Visiting Camp Lake
Camp Lake is a popular spot for hikers and backpackers. It's a great place to experience the beauty of the Emigrant Wilderness.
How to Get to Camp Lake
The main starting point for trails in this area is the Crabtree Camp Trailhead. This trailhead is usually very busy, especially during peak hiking seasons.
The trail to Camp Lake first goes downhill a little, then starts to climb. Camp Lake is about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from the trailhead. It sits at an elevation of about 2,313 meters (7,590 feet) above sea level. Many hikers choose Camp Lake as their main destination. Some backpackers continue their journey to other lakes further along the trails.
