Alta Lake State Park, State park in Okanogan County, US.
Alta Lake State Park is a protected area in Okanogan County, in eastern Washington state, centered on a lake edged by forested slopes and open hillsides. The park offers campgrounds, walking trails, and direct access to the shoreline.
A jeweler and miner from Wilbur named the lake in 1900 after his daughter, Alta Heinz. In 1951 the city of Pateros gave the land to the state to create a park. The Carlton Complex Fire badly damaged the park in 2014, closing it for five weeks; repair work continued afterwards.
Alta Lake draws visitors who fish from the shore or from small boats, and swimming is common during the warmer months. The water is the main draw, and most activity tends to happen close to its edge.
A Washington State Discover Pass is required to park at the site and can be purchased at the entrance or in advance. Campground spots fill up quickly in summer, so planning ahead is a good idea.
The Carlton Complex Fire damaged the park severely in 2014, forcing a five-week closure; repair work was still ongoing years later. The lake itself was named in 1900 by a jeweler and miner from Wilbur after his daughter, Alta Heinz.
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