Echo Lake Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Echo Lake Park
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Echo Lake from above
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| Nearest city | Idaho Springs, Colorado |
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| Area | 600 acres (2.4 km2) |
| Built | 1921, 1926 |
| Architect | Jules Jacques Benoit Benedict |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| MPS | Denver Mountain Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000109 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1995 |
Echo Lake Park is a beautiful park located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It sits along the scenic Mount Evans Scenic Byway, about 33.5 miles (54 km) west of Denver. This park is a great spot for outdoor fun and learning.
The park offers a stone shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grills. You can also find the historic Echo Lake Lodge here. The lodge, built in 1926, has a gift shop and a restaurant. An Arapaho National Forest campground is also nearby.
Echo Lake Park is a gateway to many adventures. You can find trails for backpacking, like the Chicago Lakes trail. The park is part of the larger Denver Mountain Parks system.
Echo Lake Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's a special place recognized for its history. The listing included the Echo Lake Lodge.
The Echo Lake Lodge was designed by architect Jules Jacques Benoit Benedict. It's a unique two-story building made of logs. It sits on a base of local granite. Its design looks a bit like a traditional Native American earth lodge.
In 2017, Echo Lake and Mount Evans became a historic site. This was done by the American Physical Society. It honors important science experiments done there. Scientists studied cosmic rays at the lake and on the mountain. These experiments took place between 1935 and 1960. You can see a special plaque outside the Echo Lake Lodge.
Discover Echo Lake
| Echo Lake | |
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After Year's First Snowfall
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 Echo Lake
Location in Colorado
Echo Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°39′30″N 105°36′12″W / 39.65833°N 105.60333°W |
| Type | oligotrophic |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 10,600 ft (3,230 m) |
Echo Lake is a beautiful, shallow lake. It is located at 10,600 feet (3,231 meters) above sea level. You can find it near Mount Evans in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The lake is considered "oligotrophic." This means its waters are very clear and have low levels of nutrients.
The lake was formed about 10,000 years ago. This happened during the last period of glaciation. As huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, melted and moved back, they left behind piles of rock and dirt. These piles, called moraines, created a natural dam. This dam then formed Echo Lake.
The area around Echo Lake is home to many trees. You'll see tall Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir trees. Some Limber Pine trees also grow in more open, windy spots.
