Rattlesnake Lake

Rattlesnake Lake

View from Rattlesnake Mountain's Lower Ledge. Chester Morse Lake is in the far background
Location King County, Washington
Coordinates 47°25′49″N 121°46′24″W / 47.43028°N 121.77333°W / 47.43028; -121.77333Coordinates: 47°25′49″N 121°46′24″W / 47.43028°N 121.77333°W / 47.43028; -121.77333
Basin countries United States
Average depth 20 feet
Max. depth 40 feet
Islands 0
Settlements 1

Rattlesnake Lake is a lake in King County, Washington, located in Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area some 30 miles (48 km) east of Seattle.

History

The flood, rising, 1915

The town of Moncton existed from 1906–1915 around the northern edge of Rattlesnake Lake. In the spring of 1915, it was destroyed by flooding caused by seepage of water from the newly created Chester Morse Lake into Rattlesnake Lake, and later condemned. Hardly any traces remain.[1]

Management

Rattlesnake Lake is part of the Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area, which is owned and managed by Seattle Public Utilities as a non-development buffer to the protected municipal watershed lands. The watershed supplies 65% of the Seattle region’s unfiltered drinking water to nearly 800,000 people. However, Rattlesnake Lake itself is not used for drinking water and is spring-fed by the nearby Cedar River.[2]

Attractions

Winter View of Rattlesnake Lake from Rattlesnake Ledge

Rattlesnake Lake attracts many people during the summer. The Rattlesnake Ledge Hiking Trail ascends 1,160 feet over two miles[3] of well maintained switchbacks from the north shore of the lake to the scenic Rattlesnake Ledge viewpoint that overlooks the lake.

Fishing is also popular, as the lake is one of two catch-and-release-only waters in the North Puget Sound area.[4]

The lake has many tree stumps which are exposed when the water level is low enough. The exposed stumps are often used by birds as nesting sites.

The spacious, grassy shores around the lake are used for many outdoor activities, including slacklining and picnicking.

References

  1. ↑ Flood waters slowly inundate Moncton, beginning in the spring of 1915, HistoryLink.
  2. ↑ "Rattlesnake Lake--Seattle Public Utilities". www.seattle.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  3. ↑ "Rattlesnake Ledge — Washington Trails Association". www.wta.org. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  4. ↑ "Rattlesnake Lake - Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife". wdfw.wa.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
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