The long, elevation, , and max depth Lake Alice is the largest natural
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
found in the western portion of the
Bridger-Teton National Forest in the state of
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...
. It is a unique lake that was created thousands of years ago when a massive landslide peeled from the Lake Mountain and dammed Poker Creek with debris. The lake's outlet flows below the surface through the natural dam and emerges from the mountain as a creek away. The mountainside scar from the landslide is still visible today.
Lake Alice is the home of the only known pure lake strain of naturally reproducing
Bonneville cutthroat trout
The Bonneville cutthroat trout (''Oncorhynchus clarkii utah'') is a subspecies of cutthroat trout native to tributaries of the Great Salt Lake and Sevier Lake. Most of the fish's current and historic range is in Utah, but they are also found in ...
caused by the isolation of the landslide preventing outside genetic influence. At one time the subspecies was thought to be extinct in Wyoming.
The nearest city is
Cokeville, Wyoming
Cokeville is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 535 at the 2010 census. The town is best known for the Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis.
History
The Shoshone Indians were the first inhabitants of the ...
about to the southwest. Access to the lake requires traversing a winding dirt mountain road, and fording a creek with water as deep as in the spring time. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. The road ends at Hobble Creek campground and from there a hike up a moderately steep mountain trail is required to reach Lake Alice. Nine primitive tent campsites are available though camping is not restricted to a campsite.
Multiple drownings have occurred at the lake which is named after a young girl who drowned in the early 1900s. The most recent drowning occurred on August 12, 2019. Schuyler McKnight, 22, drowned while canoeing at the lake. His body was recovered 41 days later.
External links
Public Lands Lake Alice Campground Information
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alice
Lakes of Wyoming
Lakes of Lincoln County, Wyoming
Landslide-dammed lakes