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.

Park Hours:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Winter: Closed Oct.31, reopens March 23.

Camping: Check-in time, 2:30 p.m. Check-out time, 1 p.m.

Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Directions:

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

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

Amenities:

15 lean-to sites with a fireplace, a hibachi, a picnic table and a pit privy, 2 tent sites with a pit privy, a fireplace and a hibachi, picnic area with picnic tables, fireplaces and pit privies, hiking trails.

Fourth Lake Day-Use Area is the headquarters where registration and permits are issued for Alger Island.

A state owned boat launch, with ramp for launching larger, motorized boats, is located on Route 28 in the village of Inlet.

Boating:

Motor boats, rowboats, and canoes allowed. Parking and boat launching access (car top boats only) are gained from the adjacent department owned Fourth Lake Day-Use Area at the foot of the lake.

Hiking:

A hiking trail around the island and miles of state maintained trails are nearby.

Day Use Facilities:

A picnic area is available. No swimming beach available.

Area Attractions:

Boating (freshwater), Boating (freshwater, non-motorized), 2 boat ramps (freshwater), 60 feet of dock (freshwater) , Fishing (freshwater), Personal Watercraft (freshwater), Swimming (freshwater), Water Skiing (freshwater), Golf, Sailboarding, Wildlife Viewing

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, vehicle parking and trailer dumping at the park for $5. Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

Campsite Information:

The park has 168 tent spaces, 32 utility spaces, four restrooms (one ADA) and 12 showers. Maximum site length is 38 feet (limited availability).

The park also has one ADA hookup campsite and one ADA standard campsite reservable by qualified individuals. Call (509) 923-2473.

All other campsites are available first-come, first-served. After July 1, the park is designated "off limits" to charcoal and campfires, due to high fire danger. Campers are encouraged to come prepared with gas campstoves or gas barbecues for cooking.

All campsites are first-come, first-served.

Historic Interest:

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.