Poison Lake

Okanogan County, Washington · Near Oroville
48.9060°N, 119.4550°W
122°F 57°F air · Good soaking weather Short Walk Camping nearby (18.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Poison Lake LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Poison Lake
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Poison Lake is a lake, listed in the thermal springs record with a hot reading, and it sits in Okanogan County, Washington, a couple of miles from Oroville. The name is on the record and so is the temperature; nothing else much is. Nobody is listed as owner. No access status, no elevation. The reading itself is hot, above soaking temperature, and the name alone is reason to ask before touching the water.

Location

Golden Road passes a few hundred yards away. The record leaves the elevation blank, but the climate on file is the dry kind: twenty-some inches of precipitation and not much snow. Landowner is not recorded. Oroville is the closest town listed, and the place to ask.

Lost Lake group unit, close to nineteen miles away, is the only campground the record turns up. Winter is the listed season, and the light snowfall on file does not argue against it. Take the hot reading seriously and test before you touch the water. Check ownership and permission first; neither is on record.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Poison Lake.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
399 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
136 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 86% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
29°
Jan
32°
Feb
41°
Mar
50°
Apr
61°
May
67°
Jun
76°
Jul
76°
Aug
65°
Sep
50°
Oct
37°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 22.1 in Annual Snow: 56.5 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 29°F · Water 122°F · +93° contrast
December Air 29°F · Water 122°F · +93° contrast
February Air 32°F · Water 122°F · +90° contrast
January offers 47°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
57°F
N 14.4 mph 95% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 65° Low 54° Rain Showers 80% precip
Spring is +57° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +44° warmer
Thursday 83° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Friday 83° Low 55° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Saturday 81° Low 55° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Lost Lake Group Unit 18.7 mi away

Overview Lost Lake Group Site is located in Lost Lake Campground which is situated on the northern edge of Lost Lake on the Tonasket Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Set beneath mixed-conifer forest and surrounded by mountains, this campground offers one group site, suitable for large family and group camping excursions as well as several non-reservable single and double sites.Recreation Lost Lake Campground offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to hike, fis...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
122°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 122°F (50°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +71°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Golden Road
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Poison Lake?
Poison Lake has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Poison Lake located?
Poison Lake is located in Okanogan County, Washington, near Oroville. Coordinates: 48.9060°N, 119.4550°W.
How do I get to Poison Lake?
Poison Lake has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Golden Road (0.2 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Poison Lake?
Yes, Lost Lake Group Unit is located nearby (18.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Poison Lake?
With care. At 122°F Poison Lake is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.