Cascade Lake (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cascade Lake |
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Cascade Lake from the top of Cascade Falls
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 Cascade Lake
Location in California
Cascade Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | El Dorado County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°56′25″N 120°05′31″W / 38.9401901°N 120.0919849°W |
| Type | Glacial lake |
| Max. length | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) |
| Max. depth | 170 feet (52 m) |
Cascade Lake is a beautiful lake in El Dorado County, California. It was formed by a glacier long ago. This lake is quite close to Lake Tahoe, about 1 mile (1.6 km) away. It's the second biggest lake that flows into Lake Tahoe.
Cascade Lake is 170 feet (52 meters) deep. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide. The lake is also near Fallen Leaf Lake (California) and Emerald Bay.
Contents
Natural History of Cascade Lake
How Cascade Lake Was Formed
Cascade Lake was created by a huge mountain glacier. This glacier slowly carved out a deep bowl in the land. As the glacier moved towards Lake Tahoe, it left behind a pile of rocks and dirt. This pile, called a lateral moraine, now acts like a natural wall between Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe.
Where the Water Comes From
Cascade Lake gets most of its water from Cascade Creek. This creek is fed by melting snow from several smaller lakes. These lakes are found in the Desolation Wilderness. Some of these lakes include Snow Lake, Azure Lake, Kalmia Lake, and Tallac Lake. Water from Cascade Lake then flows through Cascade Creek and into Lake Tahoe.
History of Cascade Lake
Early Human History
Long before settlers built cabins here, the Washoe tribe lived around Cascade Lake. For many years, the Washoe used the lake for fishing and hunting. The men would hunt for food. The women would gather nuts and materials to weave baskets.
In the 1800s, Cascade Lake became a place of conflict. The Washoe and Paiute tribes had a battle here. The Washoe tribe won, which helped them keep their land around Cascade Lake. In 1880, a fisherman found some old remains in the gravel. These remains were believed to be from a Washoe woman who was part of the past conflict.
Later Ownership
Around the 1880s, Charles B. Brigham bought the land around Cascade Lake. He was an international surgeon. As he bought more land, he also owned parts of Emerald Bay's shoreline. This made him neighbors with Elias "Lucky" Baldwin.
Cascade Lake Today
Many people in the Tahoe area think Cascade Lake is completely private. However, the bottom of the lake is actually owned by the State of California. This means the lake's surface and parts of its shoreline are public property.
Even though the lake itself is public, it's hard to get to. Most of the land around the lake is privately owned by Brigham's family. Public access is not allowed on their land. Only a small part of the lake's western shore touches public land. This land is part of the National Forest. There are no roads or public paths to reach the lake from this area.
Cascade Falls Trail
There is a public trail called the "Cascade Falls Trail." It is about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) long. The U.S. Forest Service built and takes care of this trail. It lets people visit the area above the 200-foot (61 m) waterfall. This waterfall flows into Cascade Lake from a large valley above.
The trail starts at the nearby Bayview campground. It runs along the steep mountainside above the lake. It's about 200 feet (61 m) above the lake and 250 yards (229 m) away from its western shore. The trail ends at the falls. From the trail, you can get amazing views of both Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe.
Exploring Beyond the Trail
There are no official trails past the end of the Cascade Falls Trail. The boundary for the Desolation Wilderness is a short distance further. You need a permit to enter this wilderness area. Day hike permits can be picked up at the Bayview campground trailhead. If you want to camp overnight, you need a special permit. These can be obtained at the Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Headquarters in South Lake Tahoe, or reserved online.
The land in the upper canyon is very steep and remote. Only people with excellent backcountry skills should try to explore this area.
