Talapus Lake is a freshwater lake located on a prominent valley at the eastern skirt of Bandera Mountain,[1] in King County, Washington.[4] Mount Defiance and Pratt Mountain are a short distance to the west of Talapus Lake. The name Talapus is a Chinook word for coyote.[5]

Talapus Lake
Location of Talapus Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Talapus Lake in Washington, USA.
Talapus Lake
Location of Talapus Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Talapus Lake in Washington, USA.
Talapus Lake
LocationKing County, Washington, United States
Coordinates47°24′55″N 121°31′07″W / 47.415206°N 121.518626°W / 47.415206; -121.518626
Primary outflowsTalapus Creek[1]
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area17.4 acres (7.0 ha)[2]
Surface elevation3,264 ft (995 m)[3]

Talapus Lake is surrounded by other alpine lakes, including Olallie Lake and Pratt Lake a short distance north. Because of its proximity to Snoqualmie Pass and other prominent peaks in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness,[6] the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout.[2]

Access to the lake is from Talapus Lake trail or Pratt Lake trail further east, a short exit from Interstate 90, west of the Snoqualmie Pass.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Barnes, Jeremy and Nathan (2009). Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-1680510782.
  2. ^ a b "Talapus King County". Washington Fishing Lakes. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  3. ^ *U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Talapus Lake
  4. ^ "Defiance, Mount WA". ListOfJohn.com. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Talapus, the Coyote trickster of the Chinook tribe (Italapas)". www.native-languages.org.
  6. ^ Weber, Andrew (2009). 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Seattle: Including Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma. Menasha Ridge Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0897326957.
  7. ^ Hill, Craig (2002). Moon Washington Hiking: Best Hikes plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby. Avalon Publishing. ISBN 9781640495067.