Scoop Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scoop Lake |
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 Scoop Lake
Location in Idaho
Scoop Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Custer County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44°04′24″N 114°35′39″W / 44.073226°N 114.594253°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary outflows | Little Boulder Creek to East Fork Salmon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 842 ft (257 m) |
| Max. width | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Surface area | 8.2 acres (3.3 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 9,649 ft (2,941 m) |
Scoop Lake is a beautiful lake high up in the mountains of Idaho, in the United States. It's located in a special area called the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, within the White Cloud Mountains. This lake is known as an alpine lake, which means it's found at a very high elevation.
You can reach Scoop Lake by following a trail through the Sawtooth National Forest. The lake sits northwest of Merriam Peak and is part of the larger Boulder Chain Lakes Basin.
How Scoop Lake Got Its Name
Scoop Lake got its interesting name because of how it was formed. In 1970, a forest ranger named Dan Pence suggested the name "Scoop Lake." He worked for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Why "Scoop"?
Dan Pence thought the name was perfect because of how the lake looked. He believed that a huge glacier (a very large, slow-moving river of ice) once moved down from a higher lake. As the glacier moved, it "scooped" out a big hole in the solid rock. This hole then filled with water, creating Scoop Lake.
The name was officially approved on January 9, 1973, by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This board is in charge of naming places in the United States. So, the name "Scoop Lake" helps us remember the powerful way glaciers can shape our planet!
