Lake Alice (Wyoming) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Alice |
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Location | Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States |
Coordinates | 42°24.7′N 110°44.7′W / 42.4117°N 110.7450°W |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 3 mi (5 km) |
Surface area | 230 acres (93 ha) |
Max. depth | 200 ft (61 m) |
Surface elevation | 7,745 ft (2,361 m) |
Lake Alice is a beautiful, long lake located in the western part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. It's about 3 miles (5 km) long and sits high up in the mountains at 7,745 feet (2,361 m) above sea level. This lake is quite deep, reaching up to 200 feet (61 m) in some spots! It covers an area of 230 acres (93 ha).
Contents
About Lake Alice
How Lake Alice Was Formed
This special lake was created thousands of years ago in a very cool way. A huge piece of land slid down from Lake Mountain, which is 9,325 feet (2,842 m) tall. This massive landslide blocked Poker Creek, and the water backed up, forming Lake Alice. You can still see the big scar on the mountain where the landslide happened! The water from the lake actually flows under the natural dam and comes out as a creek about a mile away.
Special Fish: Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
Lake Alice is super important because it's home to a unique type of fish called the Bonneville cutthroat trout. These fish are special because they are a pure lake strain. This means their genes have not mixed with other types of fish. The landslide that formed the lake also helped keep these fish isolated. This isolation prevented outside fish from mixing with them. At one time, people thought this type of trout had disappeared from Wyoming.
Visiting Lake Alice
The closest town to Lake Alice is Cokeville, Wyoming, which is about 34 miles (55 km) to the southwest. Getting to the lake is an adventure! You need to drive about 28 miles (45 km) on a winding dirt mountain road. You might even have to drive through a creek that can be up to 18 inches (0.5 m) deep in the spring. It's a good idea to use a vehicle that sits high off the ground.
The road ends at a place called Hobble Creek campground. From there, you'll need to hike about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) up a mountain trail to reach Lake Alice. The trail is a bit steep in places. There are nine simple tent campsites available, but you can also camp in other areas around the lake.