Gravel Lake is a small freshwater lake located at the edge of the Pacific Crest Trail on the western skirt of Mount Thomson at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington.[3] The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout and rainbow trout.[1] Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Alaska Lake a short distance east, and Joe Lake and Edds Lake northbound on the PCT. To the east is Hibox Mountain.[4]

Gravel Lake
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Gravel Lake
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Alaska Lake in Washington, USA.
Gravel Lake
LocationKing County, Washington
Coordinates47°27′54″N 121°22′09″W / 47.4649833°N 121.3691402°W / 47.4649833; -121.3691402
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area8 acres (0.032 km2)[1]
Surface elevation5,125 ft (1,562 m)[2]
Islands0

Location

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Access to Gravel Lake and surrounding areas is through the Pacific Crest Trail's Kendell Katwalk.[5] Most visitors to Gravel Lake are day hikers although the lake is provided with campsites.[6] Gold Creek Trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail on the east ridge of Gravel Lake.

Climate

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Gravel Lake is located in a hemiboreal climate,[7] part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[8] Temperatures and precipitation is similar to neighbor lakes like Alaska Lake. The wettest month is January, with 396 millimeters of rain, and the least in July, with 38 millimeters of rain.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Gravel Kittitas County". Washington Fishing Lakes. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gravel Lake
  3. ^ "USDA Ranger District Off Vehicle Map" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. ^ Barnes, Jeremy and Nathan (2019). Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. Mountaineers Books. ISBN 1680510789.
  5. ^ Nelson, Dan (2019). Best Hikes with Dogs Western Washington: 2nd Edition. Mountaineers Books. p. 169. ISBN 1680510789.
  6. ^ "Gold Creek Trail #1314". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  9. ^ "Gravel Lake, Washington Climate Averages". WeatherWX. Retrieved 29 March 2021.