Lake Cushman
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox body of water Lake Cushman (Template:Langx)<ref name=":0" /> is a Template:Convert<ref name=WDFW/> lake and reservoir on the north fork of the Skokomish River in Mason County, Washington, United States. The lake originally was a long narrow broadening of the Skokomish River formed in a glacial trough and dammed by a terminal moraine from the Vashon Glaciation during the most recent ice age.
The lake was expanded after construction of the Cushman Dam No. 1. The lake is maintained by this dam and provides electrical power to the Tacoma Power system.
As a popular retreat for hiking, fishing, boating and kayaking, Lake Cushman's shoreline is dotted with resorts and rental cabins. The lake is notable for its beautiful crystal clear blue water and the huge round rocks surrounding it, as well as thick stands of hemlock, fir and cedar trees.
Name
The Twana call Lake Cushman, as well as Mount Washington, a nearby mountain, Template:Langx.<ref name=":0" />
Lake Cushman was named in honor of Orrington Cushman, who served as interpreter for Governor Isaac Stevens during the Treaty of Point Elliott negotiations with the Indigenous peoples of Puget Sound in 1854.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Geography
Lake Cushman sits at Template:Convert above sea level and its maximum depth reaches up to Template:Convert. It is estimated to be around Template:Convert in length.Template:Citation needed The northern part of the lake (FS-24) is near the Staircase Entrance to Olympic National Park.<ref name="USFS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The closest city is Hoodsport, located Template:Convert to the southeast via State Route 119. Surrounding the lake are Mount Ellinor, Mount Washington, Cub Peak, Mount Gladys, and Mount Rose. Access to Lake Cushman is limited during the winter months due to road closures and hazardous conditions. In an average winter, the lake water level drops by Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
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The Skokomish people, a subgroup of the Twana, have inhabited Lake Cushman and the surrounding land since time immemorial. There was a village of the Skokomish near what is now Skokomish Park, which was, prior to the construction of the dam, the furthest south extent of the lake.<ref name=":0" />
In 1889, the Antlers Hotel was built on Lake Cushman by a pair of East Coast businessmen on the property of Russell Homan. It attracted tourists from the Seattle area, who would arrive at Hoodsport by steamship and continue onward to Lake Cushman via stagecoach. The two-story hotel was destroyed in 1925 after it was inundated by rising lake waters following the construction of the Cushman Dam No. 1 by the City of Tacoma. After the property was flooded, many have attempted to search for the remains of the hotel under the lake.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2020 traffic jam incident
In August 2020, the U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed all public roads leading to Lake Cushman due to concerns of overcrowding amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A Template:Convert weekend traffic jam on the lake's primary two-lane, unpaved road had caused concerns about access for emergency vehicles, including an incident where one man died of drowning. The Forest Service also cited the congregation of people as being a potential vector for spreading COVID-19 and noted several fights, assaults, and other incidents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Recreation
Hiking
The Lake Cushman area offers access to multiple hiking trails on the western side of the lake:<ref name="USFS"/> Template:Div col
- Big Creek Campground Trail #827
- Big Creek Trailhead
- Big Creek Upper Loop #827.1
- Copper Creek Trail #876
- Dry Creek East Trailhead
- Dry Creek Trail #872
- Jefferson Pass Trailhead
- Mt. Ellinor Connector Trail #827.2
- Mt. Ellinor Lower Trailhead
- Mt. Ellinor Trail #812
- Mt. Ellinor Upper Trailhead
Template:Div col end The northern side of the Lake has various trails following the Skokomish River, which include: <ref name="USFS"/>
- Staircase Trailhead
- Copper Creek Trailhead
- Shady Lane Trail head
The eastern side of the lake contains several trails within United States Forest Service Land:
- Jacob's Peak Trail
- Lake Cushman Park Trail
Fishing
Lake Cushman has year-round open season fishing and is stocked with Kokanee salmon and Cutthroat trout.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Besides officially stocked fish, the lake also contains various species of trout, bass, sculpins, and salmon. Skokomish Park is fitted with a boat ramp with three paved ramps that allows access to the lake for a small day-use fee. Boat rentals are also available at the park.Template:Citation needed
Swimming and watersports
Swimming, boating, kayaking and cliff jumping are also among the most popular activities for Lake Cushman visitors. Public access to the lake is available at Skokomish Park and Lake Cushman Resort.<ref name="USFS"/>
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View of west side of Lake Cushman from Mt. Ellinor. Background includes Jacob's Peak and Jenni's Peak -
Lake Cushman from Mt. Rose, 1899 -
Lake Cushman with stumps showing changing water levels -
Skokimish River Suspension Bridge at Staircase, 2024
Lodging
The Skokomish Park campground is a former state park that was sold to private operators in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The campground includes tent and RV campsites, group campsites and picnic areas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Unreliable source? Further away from the lake are Big Creek Campground in Olympic National Forest and Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park. Big Creek offers tent sites and RV parking, and is situated Template:Convert from the lake.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> Staircase is Template:Convert from Lake Cushman and offers 47 camping sites.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Lake Cushman Resort was permanently closed in 2018 due to the expiration of its 50-year lease with Tacoma Public Utilities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Unreliable source?