We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Kachess Lake, Washington, USA

“Kachess” means “more fish,” a name that aptly describes Lake Kachess in North Central region of Washington. The lake is full of fish, and anglers can pit themselves against the rainbow and cutthroat trout and wrestle the landlocked kokanee salmon. The fishing, however, is not the only thing that brings people to this beautiful Kittitas County lake. Nestled in the Wenatchee National forest, Lake Kachess offers year…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Kachess Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Kachess Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Kachess Lake, WA

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Washington - North Central Washington -

    “Kachess” means “more fish,” a name that aptly describes Lake Kachess in North Central region of Washington. The lake is full of fish, and anglers can pit themselves against the rainbow and cutthroat trout and wrestle the landlocked kokanee salmon. The fishing, however, is not the only thing that brings people to this beautiful Kittitas County lake. Nestled in the Wenatchee National forest, Lake Kachess offers year round recreation.

    The lake, also known as Kachess Lake, is part of the US Bureau of Reclamation’s Yakima Project. The Yakima Project is a collection of storage reservoirs designed to provide irrigation water for 464,000 acres of land. As a result Yakima County, which receives water from the project, has become some of the most fertile farm land in the country. In fact, of all the counties in the United States, Yakima County is number one in the production of mint, apples, and hops. Kachess Lake runs north and south following the path of the Kachess River which makes up both its inflow and outflow. It is a natural lake, but in 1902 the Cascade Canal Company built a dam on the lake. The US government took control of that dam in 1907, and in 1910 the US Bureau of Reclamation started construction on a new dam. The Kachess Dam was completed in 1912 and still controls the lake’s water level today. Lake levels drop slightly in late summer.

    With over 6,500 acres of water there is plenty of room to boat, water ski, and jet ski. Public access to Lake Kachess is from a National Forest Service (NFS) boat ramp. The boat ramp is in a NFS campground which is located at the narrows south of what is known as Little Kachess Lake. The campground has places to picnic, and some lakeside campsites. The Little Kachess Lake Trail starts in the campground and is used for both hiking and mountain biking. In early spring the trail is surrounded by wildflowers as it winds around Little Kachess Lake. Hikers can scramble up moss covered boulders to look down on the lake or look back over calypso and rattlesnake orchids and Indian paintbrush. Little Kachess Lake gets less power boat traffic so it is a great place to canoe and kayak.

    Kachess Lake is in the Wenatchee portion of the Okanogan – Wenatchee National Forest. The over four million acres forest runs from the Canadian border to the north to the Goat Rocks Wilderness in the south. Established in 1908, the Wenatchee National Forest offers both a wide range of recreation activities and a very diverse landscape. There are glaciated peaks for climbing and hiking along with old growth forests and valleys for hunting and exploring.

    Lake Kachess is a few miles from Easton and about an hour from Seattle. There are restaurants and shops within an easy drive. In the winter, visitors can cross country ski and snowmobile near Lake Kachess. Mount Rainier National Park is a fantastic day trip from Lake Kachess. Mount Rainier stands 14,410 feet high and is an active volcano. Its snow covered peak is a spectacular backdrop to the rest of the park. Visitors can hike through fields of alpine wildflowers as they climb higher and higher towards the top. There are routes for beginning hikers and experienced mountaineers, all with the breath taking views that draw two million visitors a year.

    After a day spent hiking in Washington’s beautiful snow capped mountains or playing on the water, there are plenty of vacation rentals available including some right on Lake Kachess. For visitors who fall in love with the area and want to extend their stay, there is real estate for sale both on the lake and in nearby Easton. With its majestic setting, fish-filled water and proximity to Seattle, it’s easy to see why someone would fall in love with Kachess Lake either for the day or for a lifetime.

    Things to Do at Kachess Lake

    These are some activities in the Kachess Lake, WA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowmobiling
    • Hunting
    • National Park
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Kachess Lake?

    Kachess Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Cutthroat Trout
    • Kokanee Salmon
    • Salmon
    • Trout
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Kachess Lake

    If you’re considering a Kachess Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Kachess Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Kachess Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Kachess Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 6,535 acres

    Shoreline Length: 24 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 2,262 feet

    Water Volume: 239,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1912

    Drainage Area: 63 sq. miles

    Kachess Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Lake Wenatchee, WA

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Banks Lake, WA

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Cle Elum Lake, WA

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Kachess Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Kachess Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Kachess Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Kachess Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Kachess Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: