Lake Ethel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ethel |
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Location | Kittitas County, Washington, United States |
Coordinates | 47°45′02″N 120°53′18″W / 47.75048°N 120.888462°W |
Primary outflows | Gill Creek |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 15.3 acres (0.062 km2) |
Surface elevation | 5,502 ft (1,677 m) |
Ethel Lake is a small, clear freshwater lake located high up in the Chiwaukum Mountains in Chelan County, Washington. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and fishing. You can find Cutthroat trout and Rainbow trout in its waters.
The lake is nestled in a mountain area that was shaped by glaciers long ago. Around the lake, you'll see beautiful heather and other wildflowers. There are also many larch pine trees, which are a type of evergreen.
History of Lake Ethel
Ethel Lake is one of several lakes known as the Scottish Lakes. Other lakes in this group include Lake Donald, Loch Eileen, and Lake Julius.
These lakes were named around 1900 by Albert Hale Sylvester. He was a mapmaker for the United States Geological Survey. Sylvester worked in the North Cascades area. He named Lake Ethel after the wife of a park ranger named Frank Lenzie. He also named other lakes in the area after his female family members and friends.
How to Visit Lake Ethel
You can reach Ethel Lake by hiking on Lake Ethel Trail #1585. To find the start of the trail, drive 2.5 miles south on Gill Creek Road #6940. This road is off U.S. Highway 2 in the town of Merritt. The trail goes through some private land used for logging. It takes about 5 miles of hiking to reach the lake.