Mayfield Lake, Washington, USA
Mayfield Lake is cradled in the foothills of the Cascades in Lewis County, Washington. This 2,200-acre reservoir is conveniently located close to Mount St. Helens (about 60 miles southeast of the lake), Olympia and the Puget Sound (60 miles northwest), and Vancouver and the Columbia River (90 miles to the south). It sits near the border of the Seattle/Puget Sound and Southwest tourism regions. Mayfield Lake is…
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to Mayfield Lake! Article topics include:
- All About Mayfield Lake
- Where to Stay
- Vacation Planning Tools
- Things to Do
- Known Fish Species
- Mayfield Lake Map
- Statistics / Weather / Helpful Links
- Mayfield Lake Gifts
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All About Mayfield Lake, WA
Mayfield Lake is cradled in the foothills of the Cascades in Lewis County, Washington. This 2,200-acre reservoir is conveniently located close to Mount St. Helens (about 60 miles southeast of the lake), Olympia and the Puget Sound (60 miles northwest), and Vancouver and the Columbia River (90 miles to the south). It sits near the border of the Seattle/Puget Sound and Southwest tourism regions.
Mayfield Lake is considered one of Washington’s premier recreational lakes. Although most of the 33.5 miles of shoreline are undeveloped, the northern portion is bordered by the Ike Kinswa State Park, and by Mayfield Lake Park on the east shore; both parks provide public access to Mayfield Lake. Created in 1963 by building a dam on the Cowlitz River, Mayfield Lake Dam is owned by the Tacoma Power Company. Although the primary purpose of Mayfield Lake is to provide hydropower for over 50,000 homes, it is well-known as a recreational wonderland.
Although much of the land surrounding Mayfield Lake is undeveloped, there are homes and vacation rentals tucked away in the wooded shoreline. Camping is available at Mayfield Lake Park and Ike Kinswa State Park. Mayfield Lake Park offers a swimming beach, boat launch, picnic areas, restrooms, campgrounds with boat trailer parking, and water and electrical hookups. Ike Kinswa State Park also has campsites, some with water and power and some without. The State Park also provides a boat ramp with a launching fee. Additional boat ramps can be found at a marina and lake resort. Due to the popularity of Mayfield Lake, reservations at either park should be made in advance during the summer months.
Anglers will find a host of fish in the waters of Mayfield Lake. Popular sport fish include tiger musky, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and Chinook salmon. Mayfield Lake was one of the first lakes in Washington to be stocked with tiger musky in 1988, and now holds the state record for the largest tiger musky caught. For the competitive angler there is a Musky Tournament held each year in the cold waters of Mayfield Lake. Other than fishing, visitors and residents take pleasure in motor boating, sailing, wake boarding, canoeing, paddle boating and swimming.
Mayfield Lake is an excellent starting place for an unforgettable Washington vacation. Traveling northwest, sightseers can explore the City of Seattle located on Puget Sound. Visitors can satisfy their palette with fine dining, sample exquisite wine, tour art galleries and museums and partake in theatre and music performances. Seattle has everything a big city has to offer, including the Space Needle, a 520-foot observation deck built in 1962 for the World’s Fair.
About halfway between Mayfield Lake and Seattle is the city of Olympia, the capital of Washington. City pleasures include a tour of the Washington State Capitol building. The Capitol campus includes the Washington State Legislature, the Washington Supreme Court, and the Governor’s Mansion. Another city to consider visiting is Vancouver, which is about 90 miles south of Mayfield Lake. Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River. Visitors enjoy river cruises, explore historical places, and walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, who once highly praised Vancouver.
Traveling east from Mayfield Lake is one of the oldest national forests in the United States, the 1,312,000-acre Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This forest is home to the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, established by Congress in 1982. Traveling a little farther north is the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve and National Park, part of which is included in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The snow-capped peaks of Mount Rainier are magnificent to behold, and after climbing 14,410 feet to the summit, visitors can see Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Baker, and Glacier Peaks. If it is a clear day, visitors may even spot the tip of Mt. Hood located in Oregon.
With Mayfield Lake’s close proximity to metropolitan cities and national forests, it is no wonder many people decide it is not enough just to vacation in this beautiful region of Washington; they decide to call it home. Real estate can be found in the Mayfield Lake area. Whether you decide to visit Mayfield Lake or make it your permanent home, you are sure to find a peaceful retreat.
Things to Do at Mayfield Lake
These are some activities in the Mayfield Lake, WA area visitors can enjoy:
- Vacation Rentals
- Fishing
- Boating
- Sailing
- Swimming
- Beach
- Canoeing
- Wakeboarding
- Camping
- Campground
- Picnicking
- State Park
- National Park
- National Forest
- Museum
What Kind of Fish Are in Mayfield Lake?
Mayfield Lake has been known to have the following fish species:
- Bass
- Black Bass
- Chinook Salmon
- Largemouth Bass
- Perch
- Rainbow Trout
- Salmon
- Smallmouth Bass
- Tiger Muskellunge
- Trout
- Yellow Perch
Find Places to Stay at Mayfield Lake
If you’re considering a Mayfield 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.
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More Sites to Book a Mayfield Lake Vacation
Our interactive Mayfield 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:
Mayfield Lake Statistics & Helpful Links
Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed
Water Level Control: Tacoma Public Utilities
Surface Area: 2,200 acres
Shoreline Length: 34 miles
Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 415 feet
Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 425 feet
Maximum Depth: 190 feet
Completion Year: 1963
Drainage Area: 1,400 sq. miles
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