Long Lake (Thurston County, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Lake |
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 Long Lake
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Thurston County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°01′05″N 122°46′22″W / 47.01806°N 122.77278°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
Long Lake is a freshwater lake located in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It's about 5.5 miles east of Olympia. The lake has two main parts connected by a narrow section.
Long Lake is two miles long and has two islands: Holmes Island (13 acres) and Kirby Island (2.4 acres). Water flows into Long Lake from Pattison Lake. Then, it flows out through Himes/Woodland Creek and Lois Lake, eventually reaching Henderson Inlet. The lake got its name, Long Lake, in 1853 because of its shape.
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Visiting Long Lake
Long Lake offers fun activities for visitors, including a park and a boat launch.
Boat Launch Access
You can get onto the lake using a boat launch managed by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This launch is open during fishing season. You'll need a WDFW vehicle use permit to use it.
Long Lake Park Fun
Long Lake Park is a 10-acre park run by the City of Lacey. It's a great spot for swimming, playing sand volleyball, and having barbecues. The park has 285 feet of beach, picnic areas, and walking trails through the woods.
The city says the swimming beach is one of the best in Thurston County. The park is open every day from 7 AM until dusk.
Fish You Can Catch
Long Lake is a popular spot for fishing! Here are some of the fish species you might find there:
- Largemouth bass
- Rock bass
- Bluegill
- Brown bullhead
- Common carp
- Yellow perch
- Pumpkinseed
- Suckerfish
- Coastal cutthroat trout
- Rainbow trout
- Warmouth
Boating Safety Rules
Thurston County has rules to keep everyone safe while boating on Long Lake. It's important to know these rules before you go out on the water.
Speed Limits
- Long Lake is open for fishing all year. The old "30-day rule" (a 5 mph speed limit for the first 30 days of fishing season) is no longer in effect.
- During the day, the speed limit in open parts of the lake is 45 mph.
- At night and in the morning, the speed limit is 5 mph. This slower speed applies from 8 PM (or when the sun sets, whichever comes first) until 11 AM the next morning.
Lights and Distance
- After sunset, all boats must use proper running lights so others can see them.
- If you're going faster than 5 mph, your boat must stay at least 200 feet away from the shoreline. This helps keep swimmers and non-motorized boats safe. It also helps protect the lake banks from waves.
- Boats going over 5 mph, including jet skis, must also stay at least 100 feet away from other boats and people.
Direction and Water Sports
- All boats must travel in a counter-clockwise direction around the lake.
- If you're water skiing, there must be at least three people in your group: a driver, an observer, and the skier.
- The observer must always watch the skier and use a red or orange flag if the skier falls into the water.
- All water skiers must wear an approved flotation device.
Life Jackets
- Every boat must have enough personal flotation devices (life jackets) for everyone on board. They need to be easy to reach.
- Children aged 12 and younger must wear a personal flotation device at all times if they are on a boat shorter than 19 feet.
- All people operating a jet ski must wear an approved flotation device.
Polar Bear Plunge
Every year on New Year's Day, Long Lake Park hosts a special event called the Polar Bear Plunge. Hundreds of people celebrate the new year by jumping into the cold lake (and quickly getting out!).
