Joe Lake is a freshwater lake located on the eastern skirt of Alaska Mountain at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington.[3] The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing rainbow trout and cutthroat trout.[1] Frequently hicked Huckleberry Mountain is just north of the lake on the opposite side of the Pacific Crest Trail. 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.[4]

Joe Lake
Location of Joe Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Joe Lake in Washington, USA.
Joe Lake
Location of Joe Lake in Washington, USA.
Location of Joe Lake in Washington, USA.
Joe Lake
LocationKittitas County, Washington
Coordinates47°28′04″N 121°20′15″W / 47.4677018°N 121.3374577°W / 47.4677018; -121.3374577
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area28.7 acres (0.116 km2)[1]
Surface elevation4,629 ft (1,411 m)[2][1]
Islands0

Location

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Access to Joe Lake and Alaska Mountain is through Gold Creek Trail #1314 (not maintained). The trailhead is at Gold Creek Pond on the North shore of Keechelus Lake and South of Snoqualmie Pass.[5] Past the open meadows of slide alder and vine maple and past Alaska Lake, the trail leads to a waterfall and later Joe Lake along the creek shore. Most visitors to Joe Lake are day hikers although the lake is provided with a few primitive campsites. Gold Creek Trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail on the north ridge of Alaska and Joe Lake, while Edds Lake is on the opposite side of the PCT.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Joe Lake Kittitas County". Washington Fishing Lakes. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Joe 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. ^ "Gold Creek Trail #1314". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 19 March 2021.