Headwall Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Headwall Lake |
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Location | Custer County, Idaho |
Coordinates | 44°04′28″N 114°35′54″W / 44.074340°N 114.598370°W |
Type | Glacial |
Primary inflows | Snow melt |
Primary outflows | Little Boulder Creek to East Fork Salmon River |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 840 ft (260 m) |
Max. width | 531 ft (162 m) |
Surface area | 7.0 acres (2.8 ha) |
Surface elevation | 9,760 ft (2,970 m) |
Headwall Lake is a beautiful, clear lake found high up in the mountains of Idaho, in the United States. It's located in Custer County, within the amazing White Cloud Mountains. This special lake is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, a big protected area known for its stunning nature.
Headwall Lake is an alpine lake, which means it's found at a very high elevation. It sits at about 9,760 feet (2,975 meters) above sea level! This makes it a cool and refreshing spot, even in the summer.
About Headwall Lake
Headwall Lake is a type of lake called a glacial lake. This means it was formed a very long time ago by glaciers. Glaciers are huge, slow-moving rivers of ice. As they moved, they carved out the land, leaving behind deep hollows that later filled with water.
The lake gets its water mainly from melting snow. This fresh, cold water then flows out into a stream called Little Boulder Creek. This creek eventually joins the East Fork Salmon River.
Location and Size
Headwall Lake is nestled in a beautiful mountain area. It is found northwest of a mountain peak called Merriam Peak. It's also part of a group of lakes known as the Boulder Chain Lakes Basin.
The lake itself is not huge, but it's a good size for exploring. It is about 840 feet (256 meters) long and 531 feet (162 meters) wide. Its total area is about 7.0 acres (2.8 hectares).
How to Visit Headwall Lake
If you want to see Headwall Lake, you can hike to it! The lake is part of the Sawtooth National Forest. You can reach it by following a path known as Sawtooth National Forest trail 683. This trail offers amazing views and a chance to experience the wild beauty of Idaho's mountains.