Coldwater Lake, Lake in Skamania County, United States

Coldwater Lake is a lake in Skamania County, United States, formed after the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It sits in a basin surrounded by hills and volcanic debris, with clear water and a shoreline of gravel and fallen trees.

Coldwater Lake did not exist before 1980; it was created when the eruption of Mount St. Helens blocked Coldwater Creek. Since then, the lake has become a focus for research and for visitors exploring the volcano's aftermath.

The lake is part of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, where rangers and signs explain the eruption's impact. Visitors often stop here to learn about the landscape and to enjoy a picnic by the water.

Visitors can reach the lake by a paved road with parking and accessible trails. The area is best visited in summer and early fall, when paths are clear and the weather is mild.

The lake's water is unusually clear because it comes from snowmelt and rain, not from glacial silt. Its level is controlled by a tunnel to prevent flooding downstream.