Ozette Lake

Ozette Lake is the largest unaltered natural lake in Washington state at 29.5 km2 (11.4 sq mi).[1]

Ozette Lake
Ozette Lake in 2008.
Ozette Lake
Ozette Lake
LocationClallam County, Washington, United States
Coordinates48°5′40.21″N 124°37′56.95″W
Primary outflowsOzette River
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area7,787 acres (3,151 ha)
Max. depth331 ft (101 m)
Surface elevation29 ft (8.8 m)
Islands3 (Tivoli, Garden Island, Baby Island)

The Makah name for Lake Ozette was Kahouk meaning "large lake."[2]8 mi (13 km) long and 3 mi (4.8 km) wide, Ozette Lake is contained within the northern boundary of the Olympic National Park's coastal strip.[3] It is 29 ft (8.8 m) above sea level and is drained by the Ozette River in the north end. Ozette, Washington, lies at the north end of the lake. At 331 feet (101 metres) deep, its bottom lies more than 300 feet (91 metres) below sea level.[2]

There are three islands on Ozette Lake: Tivoli, Garden Island, and Baby Island.[4] Tivoli's sandy shore is a kayaking and canoeing destination for overnight tent campers willing to make the long trip down the lake. The Erickson's Bay campground is the only boat in campground in Olympic National Park.

Ozette Lake features several trails leading to the Pacific Coast Marine Sanctuary. Three of these trails are continuous cedar boardwalks maintained by the Olympic National Park Service. The two most traveled trails depart from the Olympic National Park information kiosks and restrooms at the north end of Ozette Lake. The northern trail is a cedar boardwalk leading to Cape Alava, passing through Ahlstrom's Prairie; the southern boardwalk trail leads to Sand Point and the Ozette Indian Petroglyphs at Wedding Rock. There are 54 petroglyphs found there.[5] There is a shorter (2.5 mi (4.0 km)) boat-in only, well-maintained trail that heads out to the wild ocean beaches from Erickson's Bay on the northwestern side of Ozette Lake. Longer coastal hiking trails include the Ozette Loop, connecting the Sand Point and Cape Alava trails by hiking up or down the beach to the next trail head. (About 9 mi (14 km).)[6]

Two other trails include one heading to the beach just south of the Park-maintained trail from Erickson's Bay (Coast Guard Trail) and a trail from Allen's Bay out to Kayostla Beach. Both trails are undeveloped and known to be frequently muddy.[7]

The National Park Service maintains 15 sites at the main campground at the north end of the lake.[8]

References
  1. "Lake Ozette". Washington State Tourism Experience. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  2. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  3. Bulletin, Issues 11-13. Washington (State). Division of Geology. 1914. p. 61.
  4. "Lake Ozette, Washington, USA". Lakelubbers. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  5. "Makah rock art near Ozette Site". University of Washington Libraries. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  6. "Olympic National Park Ozette Loop". NPS. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  7. "Clallam Bay and Sekiu". Clallam Bay Sekiu Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  8. "Visiting Ozette". National Park Service. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
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