Cliff Lake (Idaho) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff Lake |
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 Cliff Lake
Location in Idaho
Cliff Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Elmore County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 43°56′28″N 115°07′28″W / 43.941019°N 115.124411°W |
| Lake type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Unnamed Stream |
| Primary outflows | Unnamed stream to Queens River to Middle Fork Boise River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 0.07 mi (0.11 km) |
| Max. width | 0.04 mi (0.064 km) |
| Surface elevation | 8,515 ft (2,595 m) |
Cliff Lake is a beautiful, small lake located high up in the mountains of Idaho, United States. It's found in Elmore County, within the famous Sawtooth Mountains. This area is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, a special place protected for its natural beauty.
About Cliff Lake
Cliff Lake is known as an alpine lake. This means it is located very high up in the mountains. It was formed by glaciers, which are like giant, slow-moving rivers of ice. These glaciers carved out the land long ago, leaving behind the basin that filled with water to become the lake.
The lake is quite small. It is about 0.07 mi (0.11 km) long and 0.04 mi (0.064 km) wide. It sits at a high elevation of about 8,515 ft (2,595 m) above sea level. Water flows into Cliff Lake from an unnamed stream. The water then flows out of the lake into another unnamed stream, which eventually joins the Queens River. This river then flows into the Middle Fork Boise River.
Visiting Cliff Lake
Cliff Lake is located inside the Sawtooth Wilderness. A wilderness area is a special place where the land is kept as natural as possible. There are very few roads or buildings. To visit the Sawtooth Wilderness, you need a wilderness permit. You can get this permit at a registration box found at the start of hiking trails or at the wilderness boundaries. This helps keep track of visitors and protect the natural environment.
You can reach Cliff Lake by hiking along Sawtooth National Forest trail 458. This trail follows the Queens River, offering scenic views along the way. Another lake, called Slide Lake, is located nearby. It is about 0.08 mi (0.13 km) southwest of Cliff Lake and a bit higher up.
