Caples Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caples Lake |
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 Caples Lake
Location in California
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| Location | Alpine County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°41′55″N 120°02′44″W / 38.69861°N 120.04556°W |
| Primary inflows | Woods Creek |
| Primary outflows | Caples Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 600 acres (2.4 km2) |
| Max. depth | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Surface elevation | 7,802 ft (2,378 m) |
Caples Lake is a beautiful reservoir located near Kirkwood, California. It sits along Highway 88, also known as Carson Pass. This lake has a long and interesting history. It was once a resting place for wagon travelers. These travelers were on the historic Mormon Emigrant Trail. They were heading to California during the exciting Gold Rush.
Many different groups have used Caples Lake over time. This includes Native Americans, gold miners (called 49ers), and resort owners. Because of this, the lake has a few other names. Some people called it Clear Lake, Summit Lake, or Twin Lakes. Today, Caples Lake is a reservoir. It provides water and is a popular spot for fun activities.
Woods Creek and Emigrant Creek flow into Caples Lake. The water then drains into Caples Creek. Caples Creek eventually joins the South Fork of the American River. The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) owns Caples Lake. They use it as part of their system to create electricity.
Who Manages Caples Lake?
The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) manages Caples Lake. They got a special license in 2006 for their hydroelectric project. This project helps create electricity using water power. As part of this license, the EID must keep an eye on the lake. They check water flow, how people use the lake for fun, and the environment around it.
The EID also takes care of the fun facilities at Caples Lake. This includes the boat launch, picnic areas, and restrooms. They work with the Eldorado National Forest to do this. Caples Lake is one of four reservoirs in this project. The water from these reservoirs helps make power. It also provides drinking water for the El Dorado Irrigation District.
A Look Back in Time
Long before the Gold Rush, the Washoe Indians lived in the Caples Lake area. They called the lake "Twin Lakes." This is because the area used to be an open meadow with two shallow lakes. The Washoe people would fish, hunt, and gather food there.
In 1849, a man named Dr. James Caples passed by the lake. He was on his way to the gold country. Later, he returned and bought the land where Caples Lake is now. He raised cattle and set up a trading post for travelers. This trading post was open for about thirty years.
The trading post could only open in the summer. This was because of the high elevation and heavy snow. Still, it was a very important stop for the 49ers. That's why the lake was named after Dr. Caples. The original Caples Dam was built in 1922. It was made by blocking Caples Creek.
After the Gold Rush ended, the trading post became a resort for travelers. Ray Koenig built the first resort in 1948. Back then, Highway 88 wasn't open in winter. So, he had to ski all the way from Highway 50 to get to the resort each year!
Since Koenig, several owners have improved the resort and the dam. They also tried to keep it open in winter. In 1972, the Kirkwood ski resort opened. This helped keep Highway 88 open all winter. This made it much easier for the Caples Lake resort to stay open year-round. The Voss family owns the resort today. They keep it open even in the winter months.
Fun at the Lake
Caples Lake is located in the Eldorado National Forest. This means there are many fun things to do nearby. You can go hiking, fishing, and skiing.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been stocking Caples Lake with fish since 1930. This helps make sure there are plenty of fish for people to catch. Today, fishermen can take home five trout. Each trout must be at least ten inches long.
Both the CDFW and the EID add fish to Caples Lake. They stock it with rainbow trout and brown trout. Caples Lake also has other types of fish that are not stocked. These include Lahontan redsides, tui chub, and lake trout.
You can fish at Caples Lake all year long. In the summer, you can use a boat. In the winter, you can go ice-fishing! There are also many hiking trails near Caples Lake. These trails lead into the beautiful Mokelumne Wilderness.
Some of the trailheads include Lake Margaret, Meiss Lake, Thunder Mountain, Frog Lake/Roundtop, and Shealor Lake. You can find these trailheads along Highway 88. This is the same highway that takes you to Caples Lake.
