Here Are 11 Of The Most Beautiful Lakes In Washington, According To Our Readers
Washington can lay claim to some of the most amazing lakes in the United States. But which one would you consider the most beautiful?
With majestic mountains reflected in glass-like pools of the most vibrant glacier-fed blue and green water, it’s hard to choose just one. That’s why we polled our supportive lake lovers on our Only In Washington Facebook page and our Washington Nature Lovers Facebook group to find out which one is their favorite.
We won’t go so far as to pick just one as the winner, but all 11 of these Washington lakes deserve a visit the next time you get the urge to travel.
As the summer sun bathes The Enchantments in its warm glow, a dip in the pristine waters of Colchuck Lake makes for a refreshing reprieve after the 4-mile hike on Stuart Lake Trail.
Diablo Lake is another beautiful reservoir lake in Washington created by the Diablo Dam. You’ll notice something special about this amazing lake - its color!
Diablo Lake gets this stunning unique color when sunlight refracts on suspended rock particles called glacial flour. This "Diablo Flower" is a gift from surrounding mountains as they are eroded by ice and flow into Diablo Lake through glacial streams.
Mount Rainier reflected in all its glory gives Reflection Lake its majestic moniker. While swimming is prohibited in this beautiful lake, it will always remain a must-see lake known for its stunning views of spring wildflowers, mirror-like surface, and abundant wildlife.
Our science word of the day is ultra-oligotrophic. It means low levels of phosphorus and other nutrients, and it’s the reason why Lake Chelan remains so crystal clear.
Lake Chelan is a wonderful lake for all kinds of water recreation if you enjoy a refreshingly cool swim. Visitors also enjoy kayaking, fishing, boating, paddle boarding, and even scuba diving as it is Washington’s deepest lake at nearly 1,500 feet!
As the sunrise burns off the morning mist over Silver Lake you will be treated to some of the most amazing sunrise views. It’s the perfect time to drop a line in to hopefully catch one of the many species of pan-fish, bass, and even rainbow trout, which is stocked in the spring.
This glistening alpine lake nestled between big mountain views and rich evergreen forests is fewer than 10 miles from Washington’s state capital, Olympia. Summit Lake is another wonderful recreation lake in Washington for water sports, fishing, and swimming.
Lake Ann comes alive in the fall when gold, red, green, yellow, and orange battle for your attention against the pristine pool below Maple Pass in the Cascade Mountains. That’s not to take away from the beauty you’ll find here year-round.
Clear Lake on a haunting early morning before the sun wakes is a beautiful reminder to enjoy a quiet moment of peace each day. This spring-fed lake in Spokane County Washington is a local hot spot for bass fishing and is even touted as the leading bass fishing lake in the country.
Located near Potholes Reservoir, Corral Lake is another stunning lake known for its trout fishing. In fact, the lake was rehabilitated in 2007 to get rid of nuisance fish and restore the trout population.
We sure do love a lake that can reflect the surrounding mountains and forest with such exuberant glee as Bench Lake. Bench Lake (along with its neighbor Snow Lake) is one of the most visited lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and for good reason.
Surrounded by hiking trails, these two lakes offer mesmerizing views of Mount Rainier and the pristine ice-melt waters of the lakes themselves. Dip a toe in if you dare because they are chillingly refreshing.
Beautiful Bumping Lake has the unique distinction of being a natural lake and a reservoir. Its capacity is controlled by Bumping Lake Dam, yet it is naturally fed by the Bumping River.
A popular swimming, boating, and fishing lake for campers in the surrounding Wenatchee National Forest, Bumping is one of those calm Washington lakes we all love to visit when the nature bug bites us in the...you know what.
Since there are nearly 8,000 lakes in Washington, we can’t say for sure which one is the most beautiful, but we definitely think you should add all 11 of these lakes to your bucket list.
If you love the wonderful state of Washington, and all of its natural wonders, join our Washington Nature Lovers Facebook group and share all of the hidden gems only the locals know about.
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