Alaska Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western skirt of Alaska Mountain at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington.[2] The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Rampart Lakes a short distance south, at the base of Mount Margaret. To the east is Hibox Mountain.[3]

Alaska Lake
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Alaska Lake
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Alaska Lake
LocationKittitas County, Washington
Coordinates47°27′35″N 121°21′23″W / 47.45974°N 121.35649°W / 47.45974; -121.35649
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface elevation4,213 ft (1,284 m)[1]
Islands0

Location

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Access to Alaska Lake and Alaska Mountain is through Gold Creek Trail #1314. The trailhead is at Gold Creek Pond on the North shore of Keechelus Lake and South of Snoqualmie Pass.[4] Towards the open meadows of slide alder and vine maple, the trail leads to a waterfall and later Joe Lake. Most visitors to Alaska Lake are day hikers although the lake is provided with campsites. Gold Creek Trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail on the north ridge of Alaska Lake.

Climate

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Alaska Lake is located in a hemiboreal climate,[5] part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6] The average temperature is 3 °C. The warmest month is August, with an average temperature of 16 °C, and the coldest month is January, at an average of −6 °C.[7] The average rainfall is 1687 millimeters per year. The wettest month is January, with 396 millimeters of rain, and the least in July, with 38 millimeters of rain.[8]

Rampart Lakes
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
396
 
 
−1
−10
 
 
354
 
 
−1
−10
 
 
343
 
 
4
−8
 
 
213
 
 
9
−4
 
 
165
 
 
15
−2
 
 
104
 
 
18
0
 
 
38
 
 
24
3
 
 
48
 
 
20
12
 
 
114
 
 
12
−2
 
 
298
 
 
4
−7
 
 
353
 
 
0
−5
 
 
370
 
 
−1
−11
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [8]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
16
 
 
30
14
 
 
14
 
 
30
14
 
 
14
 
 
39
18
 
 
8.4
 
 
48
25
 
 
6.5
 
 
59
28
 
 
4.1
 
 
64
32
 
 
1.5
 
 
75
37
 
 
1.9
 
 
68
54
 
 
4.5
 
 
54
28
 
 
12
 
 
39
19
 
 
14
 
 
32
23
 
 
15
 
 
30
12
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alaska Lake
  2. ^ "USDA Ranger District Off Vehicle Map" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ Barnes, Jeremy and Nathan (2019). Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. Mountaineers Books. ISBN 1680510789.
  4. ^ "Gold Creek Trail #1314". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  5. ^ Peel, M C; Finlayson, B L. "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11: 1639–1640. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ^ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  7. ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Alaska Lake, Washington Climate Averages". WeatherWX. Retrieved 29 March 2021.