Lake Julius (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Julius |
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 Lake Julius
Location in Washington (state)
Lake Julius
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kittitas County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°44′11″N 120°52′34″W / 47.7364544°N 120.8760845°W |
| Primary outflows | Roarking Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 13.3 acres (0.054 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 5,194 ft (1,583 m) |
Lake Julius is a beautiful freshwater lake located in Chelan County, Washington. It sits on the northern side of the Chiwaukum Mountains. This lake is a popular spot for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and fishing for Cutthroat trout. If you plan to visit, remember you'll need a special permit for the Alpine Lake Wilderness area.
Getting to Lake Julius
You can reach Lake Julius by following the Upper Roaring Creek Trail. This trail branches off from the Lake Ethel Trail. To get to the Lake Ethel trailhead, drive 2.5 miles south on Gill Creek Road. This road is found off U.S. Highway 2 in the small community of Merritt.
Nature Around the Lake
Lake Julius is located in a high-up, rocky area that was shaped by glaciers long ago. This area is called an alpine basin. You'll find beautiful heather and other wildflowers growing here. There are also many larch pine trees, which are a type of conifer.
The Story Behind the Name
Lake Julius is one of several lakes known as the Scottish Lakes. Other lakes in this group include Lake Donald, Loch Eileen, and Lake Ethel. These lakes were named around 1900 by Albert Hale Sylvester. He was a mapmaker for the United States Geological Survey and worked in the North Cascades National Park Complex area. Sylvester often named lakes after his female family members and friends. Lake Julius, however, was named after one of his companions from the Forest Service, a man named Julius Kummel.
