Chikamin Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chikamin Lake |
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Location | Kittitas County, Washington |
Coordinates | 47°28′52″N 121°18′22″W / 47.4811913°N 121.3061493°W |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
Surface elevation | 5,781 feet (1,762 m) |
Islands | 0 |
Chikamin Lake is a small, clear freshwater lake located high in the mountains. You can find it on the northern side of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in King County, Washington.
Because it's surrounded by tall peaks and mountains in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Chikamin Lake is a popular spot for hikers. Many other alpine lakes are nearby. These include Icebox Lake, Glacier Lake, and Spectacle Lake to the south. To the north, you'll find Avalanche Lake and Iceberg Lake.
Where is Chikamin Lake?
Chikamin Lake is located northeast of Snoqualmie Pass. It is also near The Summit at Snoqualmie, a popular ski area.
To reach the lake, you can start at the Gold Creek Pond trailhead. This trailhead is on the north shore of Keechelus Lake. It is also south of Snoqualmie Pass along Interstate 90. The lake is part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This area is managed by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
What is the Climate Like?
Chikamin Lake is in a cool, damp climate. This type of climate is called a hemiboreal climate. It is also part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.
The average temperature around the lake is about 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit). August is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit). January is the coldest month, with an average of -8 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit).
The area gets a lot of rain, about 1687 millimeters (66 inches) each year. December is the wettest month, with about 247 millimeters (10 inches) of rain. July is the driest month, receiving only about 33 millimeters (1.3 inches) of rain.