Mushroom Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mushroom Lake |
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 Mushroom Lake
Location in Idaho
Mushroom Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Custer County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 43°59′24″N 114°57′50″W / 43.989919°N 114.963872°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Hell Roaring Creek |
| Primary outflows | Hell Roaring Creek to Salmon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 0.13 mi (0.21 km) |
| Max. width | 0.12 mi (0.19 km) |
| Surface elevation | 8,560 ft (2,610 m) |
Mushroom Lake is a beautiful, small lake located high in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. It's found in Custer County and is part of the amazing Sawtooth National Recreation Area. This lake is known as an "alpine lake" because it sits at a very high elevation.
Contents
Discovering Mushroom Lake
Mushroom Lake is a special kind of lake called a glacial lake. This means it was formed thousands of years ago by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. As these glaciers moved, they carved out the land, leaving behind basins that filled with water when the ice melted.
The lake is quite small, measuring about 0.13 miles (0.21 km) long and 0.12 miles (0.19 km) wide. It sits at an elevation of 8,560 feet (2,609 meters) above sea level. Imagine how high that is!
Where is Mushroom Lake?
Mushroom Lake is nestled deep within the Sawtooth Mountains. These mountains are famous for their jagged, saw-like peaks. The lake is also part of the larger Sawtooth National Recreation Area. This area is a huge protected space where people can enjoy nature.
The lake gets its water from a stream called Hell Roaring Creek. This same creek also flows out of Mushroom Lake, eventually joining the Salmon River.
Exploring the Sawtooth Wilderness
Mushroom Lake is located inside the Sawtooth Wilderness. A wilderness area is a place where nature is kept as wild and untouched as possible. There are very few roads or buildings, and people must follow special rules to protect the environment.
If you want to visit a wilderness area, you usually need a permit. For the Sawtooth Wilderness, you can get a free wilderness permit at special registration boxes found at trailheads. This helps park rangers keep track of how many people are visiting and ensures everyone knows the rules.
Getting to Mushroom Lake
Unlike many lakes, there are no official trails that lead directly to Mushroom Lake. This makes it a bit more challenging to reach, but also means it's a very peaceful spot. The easiest way to get close to the lake is by using Sawtooth National Forest trail 092. From there, you would need to hike off-trail to reach the lake itself.
Nearby Lakes
Mushroom Lake is connected to other beautiful lakes in the area. Downstream from Mushroom Lake, you'll find two other notable lakes: Hell Roaring Lake and Imogene Lake. These lakes are also popular spots for hikers and nature lovers in the Sawtooth Mountains.
