Snow Lakes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snow Lake |
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Upper Snow Lake and McClellan Peak
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 Snow Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Snow Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chelan County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°28′59″N 120°45′31″W / 47.483116°N 120.7586572°W |
| Primary outflows | Snow Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 189.3 acres (76.6 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 5,433 ft (1,656 m) |
The Snow Lakes are two beautiful freshwater lakes called Upper Snow Lake and Lower Snow Lake. They stretch for about a mile and are found on the eastern side of The Enchantments in Chelan County, Washington. These lakes are a very popular spot for visitors in the wilderness areas of Oregon and Washington. If you plan to visit the Snow Lakes area, you will need a special permit from the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Contents
Discovering Snow Lakes
A Look Back in Time
Long ago, about 12,000 years ago, people lived around the Snow Lakes. These were the Wenatchi People, who are now part of the Colville Reservation. The land is also part of the traditional territory of the Yakama Nation.
In the 1800s, new people arrived, mostly fur trappers from Europe. Later, Chinese immigrants came to search for gold, and other settlers worked in logging and farming. A priest named Urban Grassi was one of the first to use irrigation in the valley.
Why Dams Were Built
In the 1930s, the Icicle Irrigation District wanted to use water from Snow Lakes for farming. They needed more water during the dry summer months. So, they asked for permission to build dams and raise the lake levels.
The dams on Upper and Lower Snow Lakes, and nearby Nada Lake, were finished in 1940. They were made bigger in 1941. These dams help store water for farms and also for the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service now owns and manages the Snow Lakes system.
How the Dams Work
Upper Snow Lake Dam
The dam at Upper Snow Lake was built in the late 1930s using cement and local rocks. It helps hold back the water and lets it flow towards Lower Snow Lake. This dam is about 10 feet tall and 119 feet long.
Water flows from Upper Snow Lake to Nada Lake through a large pipe called a penstock. There are special valves that control how much water flows out. One valve can stop the water completely, while others help control the flow.
Lower Snow Lake Dam
The dam at Lower Snow Lake was also built in the late 1930s from cement and rocks. It holds back the water and lets it flow into Snow Creek. This dam is about 6 feet tall and 112 feet long.
Water Flow and Uses
How Water Moves Between Lakes
From July to October, water from Upper Snow Lake flows through its valve down to Nada Lake. Then, water from Nada Lake flows into Snow Creek, which is a branch of Icicle Creek. If Upper Snow Lake has a lot of water, it can also flow over its small dam and into Lower Snow Lake.
When Upper Snow Lake's water level drops in late summer, water from Lower Snow Lake can actually flow back up into Upper Snow Lake through a special opening at the bottom of the Upper Snow Lake Dam.
What the Water is Used For
The Snow Lakes are managed to store water for irrigation (watering crops) and for raising fish. The lakes collect water from a large area, which means they usually have plenty of water, even in dry years. The water is released in a controlled way to help keep Icicle Creek flowing, especially when water levels are low in late summer.
The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery gets its water from Icicle Creek and also from the Snow Lakes and Nada Lake. This hatchery helps replace fish that were lost because of the Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project. The hatchery needs a steady supply of water all year to raise about 1.2 million fish every year.
Fun Activities at Snow Lakes
Many people visit Snow Lakes for day hikes. There are also campsites if you want to stay longer. Most visitors stay near the southeast shore of Upper Snow Lake, where the main trail is. There are also campsites on the north shore, but they are not as busy. Some visitors who hike along the lake shore are climbers heading to other lakes even further up.
How to Get There
The hiking trail starts from Icicle Creek Road (USFS Road 7600), which is about 5 miles southwest of Leavenworth. You will cross Icicle Creek on a bridge and then start climbing up a rocky canyon.
The trail first leads to Nada Lake, which is about 5.5 miles from the start. From Nada Lake, the trail continues for another 1.75 miles to Lower Snow Lake. If you keep going, you'll find Lake Vivian, then Leprechaun Lake, and even Sprite Pond. The trail then goes around the east side of Perfection Lake and eventually connects to the Colchuck Lake Trail.
Remember, you need a self-issued permit for the Alpine Lake Wilderness to hike in the Snow Lakes area.
