Alturas Lake, Glacial lake in Sawtooth Valley, Idaho, US.
Alturas Lake is a glacial lake in the Sawtooth Valley of central Idaho, sitting at an elevation of around 7,000 feet (2,130 m) and shaped by glacial activity that carved the valley long ago. The lake is surrounded by forested slopes on most sides, with the sharp ridgelines of the Sawtooth Mountains visible in the background.
The lake takes its name from the former Alturas County, a territorial-era administrative division that was later reorganized into what is now Blaine County. The name survived the administrative change and stayed attached to the lake long after the county itself disappeared.
Alturas Lake draws visitors who come to fish, swim, or simply spend time near the water during summer. The surrounding trails into the Sawtooth Mountains are a natural extension of a day spent at the lake.
The lake is reached by a dirt road off Highway 75 that is generally open from late spring through fall. A boat launch near the inlet makes it easy to put a small watercraft on the water, and sandy stretches along the shore are good for swimming.
Even in the middle of summer, the water temperature hovers around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), which is cold enough to support year-round scuba diving for those with the right gear. This also means that the lake holds cold-water fish species that are rarely found in lower-elevation lakes in the region.
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