Trappers Lake
Encyclopedia
Trappers Lake is a lake
in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area
, which is in the White River National Forest
in Colorado
, USA. The lake, at an elevation of approximately 9600 ft (approximately 2900 m), is the source of the North Fork of the White River
. It is located in Garfield County east of the town of Meeker
and west of the town of Yampa
. The lake is roughly a mile and a half (2.4 km) long and half a mile (800 m) wide reaching depths of 180 feet (55 m). It is surrounded by the Flat Tops Mountains, the most striking of which is the large semicircular Chinese Wall which has a height of 1,650 ft (503m).
There is a large camping area and lodge near the lake. Trappers Lake is an excellent fishing lake for cutthroat trout
. Cutthroat trout under 10 inches long must be released when caught. Only artificial flies and lures are permitted. No motorized boats are allowed. About 17,000 acres (69 km²) of forest
surrounding the lake were burned by the Big Fish wildfire
, started by lightning, in July 2002.
The area around the lake was put largely off limits to development in 1920, due to the recommendation of Arthur Carhart
, hired by the Forest Service
to make a survey for a road around the lake. It was the first such Forest Service property to be set aside in this manner. Because of this, some considered it the birthplace of the U.S. Wilderness Area system.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area
Flat Tops Wilderness Area
The Flat Tops Wilderness Area is the second largest U.S. Wilderness Area in Colorado. It is , with in Routt National Forest and in White River National Forest. It was designated a wilderness area in 1975. Trappers Lake, located in the north of the area, was the lake that inspired Arthur Carhart,...
, which is in the White River National Forest
White River National Forest
White River National Forest is a National Forest in northwest Colorado. It is named after the White River that passes through it. It also contains the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, largely considered the birthplace of the U.S...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, USA. The lake, at an elevation of approximately 9600 ft (approximately 2900 m), is the source of the North Fork of the White River
White River (Utah)
The White River is a tributary of the Green River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. Flows vary from 450 ft³/s late summers in dry years to well over 12,000 ft³/s in spring....
. It is located in Garfield County east of the town of Meeker
Meeker, Colorado
The Town of Meeker is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,242 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in...
and west of the town of Yampa
Yampa, Colorado
Yampa is a Statutory Town in Routt County, Colorado, United States. The population was 443 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yampa is located at ....
. The lake is roughly a mile and a half (2.4 km) long and half a mile (800 m) wide reaching depths of 180 feet (55 m). It is surrounded by the Flat Tops Mountains, the most striking of which is the large semicircular Chinese Wall which has a height of 1,650 ft (503m).
There is a large camping area and lodge near the lake. Trappers Lake is an excellent fishing lake for cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
. Cutthroat trout under 10 inches long must be released when caught. Only artificial flies and lures are permitted. No motorized boats are allowed. About 17,000 acres (69 km²) of forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
surrounding the lake were burned by the Big Fish wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
, started by lightning, in July 2002.
The area around the lake was put largely off limits to development in 1920, due to the recommendation of Arthur Carhart
Arthur Carhart
Arthur Hawthorne Carhart was a US Forest Service official, writer and conservationist who inspired wilderness protection in the United States. He was one of the first to realize the importance of conservation and became a nationally recognized authority on conservation practices.-Biography:Carhart...
, hired by the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
to make a survey for a road around the lake. It was the first such Forest Service property to be set aside in this manner. Because of this, some considered it the birthplace of the U.S. Wilderness Area system.