Henrys Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henrys Lake |
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Aerial view
Courtesy of Idaho Tourism |
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 Henrys Lake
Location in Idaho
Henrys Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fremont County, Idaho, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 44°38′31″N 111°24′14″W / 44.642°N 111.404°W |
| Primary outflows | Henrys Fork |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
| Max. width | 2 mi (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 6,078 acres (9.5 sq mi; 24.6 km2) |
| Average depth | 2–9 ft (0.6–3 m) |
| Surface elevation | 6,476 ft (1,974 m) |
Henrys Lake is a beautiful, shallow lake in eastern Idaho, in the western United States. It's about 8 square miles (21 km2) big, which is like 8 square miles. The lake is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. Its surface is 6,472 ft (1,973 m) above sea level, which is quite high up!
This lake sits on the southwest side of the Henrys Lake Mountains in northern Fremont County. It's only about two miles south of the Continental Divide, which is a line that separates rivers flowing to different oceans. The Montana state line is nearby, and it's just west of Targhee Pass and north of Sawtell Peak.
Henrys Lake is super important because it's where the Henrys Fork river begins. This river eventually flows into the Snake River. The lake is also less than ten miles (16 km) from where the Missouri River starts in southwestern Montana. It's also about 16 miles (26 km) west of Yellowstone National Park. The lake is part of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
In 1923, a dam was built at the end of Henrys Lake. This dam made the lake much bigger than it used to be. You can find natural springs around the lake's edges at places like Staley Springs, Pintail Point, Kelly Springs, the Cliffs, and along the north shore. Several creeks also flow into the lake, including Timber Creek, Targhee Creek, Howard Creek, Duck Creek, Hope Creek, and Kenny Creek.
Contents
History of Henrys Lake
The area around Henrys Lake has been home to Native American tribes for hundreds of years. Later, a fur trader named Andrew Henry saw the lake, and it was named after him.
During the Nez Perce War, after a battle near what is now Kilgore, the Nez Perce tribe traveled east towards Yellowstone. General Oliver O. Howard and his soldiers rested by the lake for several days. His troops had been marching very quickly for 26 days straight, so they needed a break.
In 1939, after the Russian invasion of Finland, the U.S. Army started building a training camp near Henrys Lake Station. It was going to be called the West Yellowstone Winter Training Camp. They planned for a huge training area of 100,000 acres that could hold 30,000 soldiers! Some buildings were put up in 1941, but then in 1942, the army ordered them to be destroyed. At the time, no one knew why the plans changed. Later, it was found out that the military didn't want to disturb the trumpeter swans that used the lake as a place to raise their young. The winter training program was then moved to Fort Drum in New York.
Amazing Wildlife at Henrys Lake
Henrys Lake is a fantastic spot for many different kinds of migrating birds. The western and eastern parts of the lake have wet, marshy areas. These places are perfect breeding grounds for lots of birds in the spring.
You can see many interesting birds at Henrys Lake, such as:
- White pelicans
- Widgeon
- Lesser scaup
- Cormorants
- Red-necked and western grebes
- Coots
- Mallards
- Bufflehead
- Ring-necked ducks
- Canada geese
- Blue-winged teal
- Eared grebe
- Killdeer
- Common merganser
- Common tern
- Cinnamon teal
- Trumpeter swans
- Great blue heron
- California seagulls
- Bald eagles
- Swainson's hawks
- Red-tailed hawks
- Red-winged blackbirds
- Cowbirds
Fun Activities and Recreation
Henrys Lake is a very popular place for sport fishing. It's known for its big trout!
Here are the main types of fish you can find:
- Yellowstone cutthroat: These make up about 55% of the trout in the lake. In 2015, the average size was 15 inches, but biologists found some that were over 20 inches long!
- Rainbow-cutthroat hybrids: These are a mix of rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. They make up 24% of the fish population. Their average size is 19 inches, and some have been found to be longer than 25 inches!
- Brook trout: These make up 21% of the fish. Their average length is 16 inches, with some growing over 20 inches.
There's a fish hatchery on the north side of the lake. This hatchery helps to add more fish to the lake, making sure there are always plenty for anglers.
You can also enjoy other activities around the lake:
- Henrys Lake State Park: This state park is 585 acres and is located on the south shore. It has hiking trails, places to camp, and a boat ramp.
- Frome Park: On the west shore, this park is run by Fremont County. It has a boat ramp and campsites, and both are free to use.
- South Shore Boat Access: This spot offers a boat ramp, basic camping, fishing, and a platform where you can watch wildlife.
The Continental Divide Trail, a long hiking path, goes around Henrys Lake. Many hikers who are going north sometimes choose to skip this part of the trail when they leave Yellowstone National Park and enter the Centennial Mountain Range in Idaho.
Images for kids
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Wetlands at the west end of Henrys Lake, a breeding area for birds.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Henrys para niños
