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Park overview:

Alta Lake State Park is a 181-acre camping park where the mountainous pine forests meet the desert. Alta Lake is about two miles long and a half mile wide. The park offers good trout fishing during summer months. Lake Chelan, with its many activities, is 30 minutes away.



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Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Winter: Closed Sept. 30, reopens April 1.

Camping: Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

The park has 91 tent spaces, 32 utility spaces, four restrooms (one ADA) and 12 showers. Maximum site length is 38 feet (limited availability). Individual campsites are reservable April 1 - Oct. 31 by visiting online or calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

The park also has one ADA hookup campsite and one ADA standard campsite reservable by qualified individuals.

Group Accommodations:

The park offers two group camps. The Wooded Group Camp accommodates a minimum of 15 guests, maximum of 45. The Field Group Camp accommodates a minimum of 20 guests, maximum of 85. RVs are allowed, but there are no RV hookups. Fees vary with size of the group. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

2013 camping fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Conconully, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.

Driving Directions

Located four miles southwest of Pateros, Wash., on Highway 153 in Okanogan County.


Park address:
1B Otto Road
Pateros, WA 98846

From Pateros:
Drive two miles west on Hwy. 153. Turn left on Alta Lake Road. Continue two miles to the park.

Park Maps

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.

Alta Lake downloadable pdf map #1


List of all downloadable Washington State Park PDF maps.

Park Features

Alta Lake offers good trout fishing and "conditional" waterskiing and windsurfing during summer months.

History

The Alta Lake area was given to State Parks by the city of Pateros and was established "Alta Lake State Park" in 1951. The lake was named "Alta" in 1900 by Mr. Heinz, a jeweler from Wilbur, who was mining in the area. Finding the lake without a name, he called it after his daughter, Alta Heinz

Interpretive opportunities

There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Camping • Park store • Fire wood	• Auto repair • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • Swimming

The park concession provides food, firewood and some camping supplies. Other services are available within a few miles of the park.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 2 mi. Hiking Trails	• Boating (freshwater) • 2 boat ramps (freshwater) • 60 feet of dock (freshwater) • Fishing (freshwater) • Personal Watercraft (freshwater) • Swimming (freshwater) • Water Skiing (freshwater) • Diving	• Bird Watching • Golf • Sailboarding • Wildlife Viewing
Sailboarding is also popular with park visitors. Waterskiing can be dangerous on this small lake. There are waterskiing opportunities four miles away on the Columbia River. There is an 18-hole golf course in the Alta Lake area. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Events

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

There are two watercraft launches with 60 feet of dock space. Waterskiing and personal-watercraft use on the lake is restricted to the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Okanogan County safety ordinance).

A daily permit is available for watercraft launching at the park for $7. Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park provides one kitchen shelter without electricity, two sheltered picnic tables and 18 unsheltered picnic tables. All day-use facilities are first come, first served.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bears • Bobcats • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Marmots • Muskrats • Rabbits • Raccoons • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Gulls • Hawks • Hummingbirds • Jays • Owls • Quail • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Bluegill • Trout

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
The mountainous terrain that surrounds Alta Lake was formed by glaciation. The native rock is primarily igneous.		• Douglas Fir • Ponderosa Pine • Birch • Cherry • Maple • Poplar • Daisy • Lupines • Rose • Berries • Thistle • Poison Ivy

Park photo gallery

     

The Discover Pass