Redfish Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redfish Lake |
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Redfish Lake and the Sawtooth Range
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 Redfish Lake
Location in Idaho
Redfish Lake
Location in USA West
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| Location | Custer County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44°7′N 114°56′W / 44.117°N 114.933°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Redfish Lake Creek |
| Primary outflows | Redfish Lake Creek to Salmon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.5 mi (7.2 km) |
| Max. width | .72 mi (1.16 km) |
| Max. depth | 387 ft (118 m) |
| Shore length1 | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Surface elevation | 6,547 ft (1,996 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Redfish Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located in central Idaho, in the western U.S.. It sits within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, right at the base of the stunning Sawtooth Mountains. You can find it in Custer County, just south of the town of Stanley.
Contents
Why is it Called Redfish Lake?
Redfish Lake got its name from the amazing sockeye salmon. These fish used to return from the Pacific Ocean in huge numbers. When they came back to the lake to lay their eggs (this is called spawning), there were so many that the lake would look red!
The Sockeye Salmon's Journey
Today, it's much harder for the wild sockeye salmon to make this long journey. They face challenges like several hydroelectric dams along their route. Because these salmon are so special, if you are fishing and accidentally catch a sockeye, you must immediately let it go.
Lake Size and Features
Redfish Lake is quite large! Its surface is about 6,547 feet (1,996 m) above sea level. The lake stretches about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long and is about 0.72 miles (1.2 km) wide. At its deepest point, it goes down 387 feet (118 m). The shoreline around the lake is about 11 miles (18 km) long. If you want to hike all the way around the lake, the trail is actually 17.5 miles (28 km) long.
Water Temperature
The temperature of the lake changes throughout the year. In winter, it freezes over completely, with ice that can be 30–36 inches (75–90 cm) thick! In late July and early August, the water warms up to about 62 °F (17 °C), which is nice for swimming.
Surrounding Mountains
The lake is surrounded by impressive mountains, especially at its south end. Two of the most notable peaks are:
- Mount Heyburn, which stands tall at 10,229 ft (3,118 m) to the west.
- Grand Mogul, reaching 9,733 feet (2,967 m).
Getting to Redfish Lake
Redfish Lake is located about five miles (8 km) south of Stanley. There's a paved road that connects from State Highway 75 directly to the visitor area on the north shore of the lake. This makes it easy for people to visit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Images for kids
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Redfish Lake, looking south
