List of lakes of the White Cloud Mountains facts for kids

The White Cloud Mountains in Idaho are home to many beautiful lakes. These lakes are found within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Custer County. There are hundreds of lakes here, and most of them were created a long, long time ago by huge sheets of ice called alpine glaciers. Many of these lakes are quite small and don't even have names!

Washington Lake is one of the many beautiful lakes in the White Cloud Mountains.

Lakes of the White Cloud Mountains

The White Cloud Mountains are famous for their many lakes. These lakes are often found high up in the mountains. They are a big part of the natural beauty of the area.

How These Lakes Formed

Most of the lakes in the White Cloud Mountains were made by something called alpine glaciers. Imagine giant rivers of ice! During the Ice Age, these huge glaciers slowly moved through the mountain valleys. As they moved, they scraped away rock and dirt. This scraping created deep hollows and basins in the ground.

When the Ice Age ended, the climate got warmer. The glaciers began to melt. The melted ice filled these hollows, forming the lakes we see today. This is why many of the lakes are found in bowl-shaped areas called "cirques" or in long valleys carved by ice.

Lake Chains: Lakes Connected Together

In the White Cloud Mountains, you'll find groups of lakes that are connected. These groups are called lake chains. This means that water flows from one lake to another, often through small streams or rivers. Each lake in a chain might be at a different elevation (how high it is above sea level). The water usually flows from higher lakes down to lower ones.

Here are some of the well-known lake chains in the White Cloud Mountains:

• Big Boulder Lakes: This chain has 13 lakes. Water from these lakes flows into Big Boulder Creek.
• Born Lakes: There are 11 lakes in this chain. Their water flows into Warm Springs Creek.
• Boulder Chain Lakes: This chain includes 13 lakes. They empty into Little Boulder Creek.
• Casino Lakes: This smaller chain has 4 lakes. Their water flows into Big Casino Creek.
• Chamberlain Basin: This area has 10 lakes that feed into Chamberlain Creek.
• Champion Lakes: This chain has 7 lakes. They flow into Champion Creek.
• Four Lakes: This chain has 4 lakes. They are very high up in the mountains. Their water flows into Little Boulder Creek.
• Garland Lakes: This chain has 8 lakes. They flow into Garland Creek.
• The Kettles: This chain has 4 lakes. They are also very high up. Their water flows into Big Boulder Creek.
• Six Lakes: This chain has 6 lakes. Their water flows into Fourth of July Creek.

Individual Lakes of Interest

Besides the lake chains, there are many other beautiful lakes in the White Cloud Mountains. Each lake has its own unique features. Some are very large, while others are quite small. The water from these lakes often flows into nearby creeks or rivers. This is called the primary outflow.

Here are a few examples of individual lakes:

• Baker Lake: This lake is about 192 meters (630 feet) long. Its water flows into Little Boulder Creek.
• Castle Lake: This is a larger lake, about 288 meters (945 feet) long. It also flows into Little Boulder Creek.
• Crater Lake: This lake is about 410 meters (1,345 feet) long. It flows into Livingston Creek.
• Fourth of July Lake: This lake is about 275 meters (902 feet) long. It flows into Fourth of July Creek.
• Jimmy Smith Lake: This is one of the largest lakes listed, about 895 meters (2,936 feet) long. It flows into Big Lake Creek.
• Lonesome Lake: This lake is very high up, at an elevation of 3,185 meters (10,449 feet). It is about 458 meters (1,503 feet) long. Its water flows into Little Boulder Creek.
• Sapphire Lake: This beautiful lake is about 500 meters (1,640 feet) long. It flows into Big Boulder Creek.
• Washington Lake: This lake is about 440 meters (1,444 feet) long. Its water flows into Washington Lake Creek.

These lakes are important for the environment. They provide homes for fish and other wildlife. They also offer amazing places for people to visit and enjoy nature.

See also

• Sawtooth National Forest
• Sawtooth National Recreation Area