Battle Ground Lake State Park
| Battle Ground Lake State Park | |||||||||||||
| Washington State Park | |||||||||||||
 Aerial view of the lake and park | |||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||
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| State | Washington | ||||||||||||
| County | Clark | ||||||||||||
| Elevation | 509 ft (155 m) [1] | ||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 45°48′19″N 122°29′37″W / 45.80528°N 122.49361°WCoordinates: 45°48′19″N 122°29′37″W / 45.80528°N 122.49361°W [1] | ||||||||||||
| Area | 280 acres (113 ha) | ||||||||||||
| State purchase | 1966 | ||||||||||||
| Management | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission | ||||||||||||
  Location in the state of Washington
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Website: Battle Ground Lake State Park
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Battle Ground Lake State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city of Battle Ground, Washington. The state park's 280 acres (110 ha) are centered on an ancient crater lake of volcanic origin. The park offers fishing and other water activities and is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.[3]
History
The park is the site of an ancient 400-foot (120 m) volcano in the Boring Lava Field where a magma-induced steam explosion made a large bean-shaped crater, a maar, which later filled with water, forming a crater lake.[4]
Battle Ground Lake was the site of a resort dating from the 1920s when a consortium of businessmen planned an upgrade that would include the addition of a dance hall, "swimming tanks," and amusements plus a power plant and electric lights.[5] From 1964 to 1968, the resort was operated by Virgil Dollar, a member of the family for whom the nearby intersection of Dollars Corner was named.[6] The state initiated acquisition of the site in 1965,[7] with purchase for US$550,000 approved in 1966.[8] At a meeting in 1970, the State Parks and Recreation Commission determined that "Battle Ground" should be spelled as two words in deference to the spelling of the nearby city.[9]
Activities and amenities
The park is covered by an evergreen forest and includes a swimming area, boat launch, campground, and cabin rentals. Hiking and bridle trails ring the lake and criss-cross the summit area.[3] Rainbow trout and coastal cutthroat trout are stocked during late winter through spring. Largemouth bass, grass carp, and crappie are present, with trout fishing the main attraction for anglers, especially on opening day.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Battle Ground State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ "Battle Ground Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- 1 2 "Battle Ground Lake State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ↑ "The Boring Volcanic Field — Hills of the Portland Basin". Cascades Volcano Observatory. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Resort will be improved". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. June 7, 1921. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "The Dollar Family". Clark County History. The Columbian. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ↑ "State seeks park land". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. September 21, 1965. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Cascade park favored". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Wash. February 22, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "State Parks Commission O.K.s land purchase". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. June 9, 1970. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Battle Ground Lake". Fishing and Shellfishing: Lowland Lakes. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
External links
- Battle Ground Lake State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Battle Ground Lake State Park Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission