// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Gorge Lake say to its date? You're a shore thing.
| Gorge Lake | |
|---|---|
 View of Gorge Lake from Gorge Overlook Trail | |
  Gorge Lake Location within Washington (state) | |
 Interactive map of Gorge Lake | |
| Location | Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°42′0″N 121°11′24″W / 48.70000°N 121.19000°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| |
| Skagit River | |
| Max. length | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| 220.40 acres (89.19 ha) | |
| 5,000 acre-feet (6.2 hm3) | |
Surface elevation | 876 feet (267 m) |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Gorge Lake is a reservoir in the North Cascades of northwestern Washington state, United States. Created by Gorge Dam, the lake is located between Diablo Lake and Newhalem on the Skagit River, at an elevation of 876 feet (267 m) above sea level.[1]
Gorge Lake is part of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, which itself is part of the North Cascades National Park Complex.
History
[edit]The lake was originally flooded when construction on the first Gorge Dam began in 1921.[4] In 1961, a new Gorge Dam, made of concrete, was completed to replace the original, raising the water level in the lake to where it is today.[5]
Recreation
[edit]According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Gorge Lake is open all year for fishing, and anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout and bull trout. Two pole fishing is not allowed.[2]
Kayaking, canoeing, and motor boating are popular activities on Gorge Lake, and there are ramps and launches available. The National Park Service warns parkgoers that the water temperature within the park complex rarely reach above 50 °F (10 °C), and that falling in may be fatal within minutes.[6]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gorge Lake
- 1 2 "Gorge Lake". wdfw.wa.gov. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects". npgallery.nps.gov. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service. April 26, 1996. p. 57, §7. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ↑ Wilma, David; Crowley, Walt (2010). Power for the People : A History of Seattle City Light. Seattle: History Ink, in association with University of Washington Press. pp. 41–43. ISBN 978-0-295-98576-3. OCLC 613433169. OL 27684796M.
- ↑ Wilma, David (July 5, 2000). "Seattle City Light completes Gorge High Dam on January 6, 1961". HistoryLink.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ↑ "Boating". www.nps.gov. North Cascades National Park: U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
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- North Cascades of Washington (state)
- Reservoirs in Washington (state)
- Mountain lakes
- Lakes of Whatcom County, Washington
- Protected areas of Whatcom County, Washington
- Reservoirs and dams in National Park Service areas
- Washington (state) protected area stubs
- Whatcom County, Washington, geography stubs
- United States lake stubs