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.
There is a burn ban in effect at this park. Charcoal and wood fires are not permitted. Propane grills and self-contained camping stoves are allowed.
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, call (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 reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
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).
2009 FeesStandard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
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 hoursCheck-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 during the summer; 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.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. To 10 p.m.
Winter: Closed Oct. 31, 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.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| 10/31/2009 |
| 4/1/2010 |
| 10/31/2009 |
| 4/1/2010 |
| 10/31/2009 |
| 4/1/2010 |
|
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
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
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
• Pay phone
• 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.
Horseback riding is allowed at the park.
|
Boating Features
There are two boat ramps 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.
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
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