Surprise Lake in Tacoma, WA
Surprise Lake in Tacoma, WA, is a local treasure. The Lake has no name and was not on any map until recently. It’s an unusual sight for many people living near the area to see the blue water and green trees surrounding this small body of water. One incredible thing about Surprise Lake is that it never freezes over, even during the coldest season. This is due to the underground spring. The water trickles out of a nearby cliff and into Surprise Lake, making it a constant source of cool water in any season!
The town of Tacoma, WA, is home to many lakes. One, in particular, has been the focus of speculation for years. Many locals call this lake “Surprise Lake” because it always seems to be a surprise when you find it. It is not listed on any map, and if you ask someone about where Surprise Lake might be, they will usually shrug their shoulders and say, “you’ll see.” The true nature remains a mystery, but one thing that can’t stay hidden forever is its picturesque views in all seasons!
About the Surprise Lake
It can be found at Milton, WA 98354, USA. This Lake was once used to help power the city of Tacoma’s water system before it stopped being needed for this purpose around 1906. The name comes from an old description where early settlers were surprised by its location due to how other hills had hidden it until one went right up next to them while looking westward over Commencement Bay towards Mount Rainier. They still did not know what caused these sudden dips in elevation, so they named it “surprise” because of the surprise factor when encountering this new feature on their journey westward across America.
Surprise lake was not always here, though. It’s an old quarry that now belongs to the Tacoma Public Utilities Department since they own everything around this area, from the trees down to every blade of grass on site. Some people believe that there is a treasure at the bottom, but after divers checked it, all they found were some new tools left behind by workers who abandoned them when construction ended decades ago- nothing more than junk!
Nowadays, most people walk their dogs or take joggers through these trails, so seeing someone fishing or swimming isn’t too farfetched either. Many beautiful paths wander through the forest and around Surprise Lake. Because of its location, it’s easy to reach by car or bus- even though you need a permit to park there! If this sounds like something interesting, come visit Tacoma, Washington, for yourself and find out why people are calling this place “The Little Blue Pond.”
History of Surprise Lake
Surprise Lake has a fascinating history, which dates back to the early 1900s when Tacoma, Washington started becoming industrialized and actively mined for coal in its surrounding regions. During excavations of Mount Hope’s nearby neighborhood, workers found vast amounts of coal deposits at The Hilltop Mine. This sparked great excitement as it quickly became evident that there were much more significant than average deposits here, so much so that they began digging up more dirt than usual with hopes of finding even more valuable seams of black gold deep underground.
Eventually, their machines dug about 100 feet deep into the earth before reaching the planned depth, but what they discovered instead shocked everyone involved: water! It turned out not only that there were far more coal deposits than expected, but the water was coming from a massive underground lake which they had breached.
As you can imagine, word of this got out, and people quickly began to speculate about what might be down in that deep dirty wet hole: some thought it could have been an ancient sea. In contrast, others guessed that even dinosaurs or other long-lost creatures might remain hidden away beneath The Hilltop Mine.
However, before too long, Tacoma city officials pushed for exploratory drilling using only two diamond drill bits produced by General Electric during World War II. At 1000 feet, it became apparent that much deeper digging would still be required before helpful anything could be found, so eventually, all work stopped on The Surprise Lake.
As of 2017, it remains unknown just how deep the Lake goes. However, after all this time, there is still a constant flow of water from the subsurface feeding into The Surprise Lake at about 300 gallons per minute, suggesting that its source may be more significant than initially thought.
Today the area is maintained by Tacoma City Light. They have taken responsibility for promoting outdoor activities in the region, including hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing, and bird watching, with over 280 species recorded so far. In addition to being an important refuge for salmon, which migrate up nearby Kelly’s creek beginning each fall, biologists have observed otters living here as well, making it perhaps one of only two places on earth where these animals can be found outside of coastal regions. It turns out that, surprisingly enough, even a large amount of Japanese carp have been found here as well, a species native to Asia where they are considered a delicacy.
In the winter, you can expect this Lake and surrounding trails to be covered by snow, so please plan accordingly if visiting at this time. In addition, there is no camping allowed in the vicinity, but it certainly makes for an exciting afternoon hike during any other season!
Facts About the Surprise Lake
Surprise Lake in Tacoma, Washington, is a unique and exciting site to visit. It has many different names, depending on who you ask; “The Unnamed Lake,” “Lake Watonga,” or simply “the lake.” There are several theories about how it got its name, but the most popular (and accurate) story is that workers building Highway 167 would come down to fish after their 12 hour days were over.
They did not always keep track of time, so they frequently found themselves surprised when the day was already half gone! The road construction company eventually agreed to name it Surprise Lake for this reason.
The Surprise Lake is located in the middle of a neighborhood and is surrounded by homes on all sides. It is still very secluded, however, as no roads or sidewalks lead directly to it. There are only narrow paths next to the fences surrounding each property, making it difficult for visitors without trespassing tickets to reach!
The Lake itself has a fascinating history because its water comes from both Tacoma’s drinking supply and groundwater that naturally recharges into it. This makes this body of water one that requires stricter monitoring than other bodies found nearby, like Chambers Bay Golf Course near University Place WA, where you can walk right up onto the dunes.
The Surprise Lake in Tacoma, Washington, does not seem like much from driving past or even taking simple hikes near its boundaries; however, once you finally find a way in and explore its depths, you will see why this is a particular location. It’s certainly not the kind of Lake where people would typically go swimming. Still, it offers plenty of other activities that can help anyone stay occupied for hours, including fishing from one of the three docks or walking around looking at plants found growing near its banks.
What to See on Surprise Lake?
The Surprise Lake in Tacoma, Washington, is not your typical Lake. It has an unusual story behind it, giving it its name and making it very special for many who visit or live near the area. The park’s history dates back to over 100 years ago when a group of women decided they wanted to build a place where people could have picnics by the water with areas designated specifically for children to play safely on their playground equipment that was installed.
Later down the line, after WWII, veterans were able to buy plots next to this now popular spot due to restrictions being lifted at that time by our government, allowing civilians access once again. Since then, many families have called this neighborhood home because of how close everything is, including schools, hospitals, grocery stores, and other family-friendly places.
There are many different types of fish found in the Lake. One unique one is called a mud sunfish which can be seen frequently while fishing there. The Surprise Lake has multiple raised beaches that look like dunes, making for exciting views during walks around its perimeter, especially at sunset when the golden hour light lights them up!
This body of water also serves as a habitat to several species, including herons and ducks, who frequent it regularly since it’s large enough to support their populations but small enough, so they still get noticed quickly by visitors passing through on Highway 167 nearby.
What to Do at Surprise Lake?
Lake Tacoma is a very shallow lake that goes as deep as only eight feet in some areas and twelve feet in others. The exciting part about this waterway is that it has no visible outlets but still maintains its freshness throughout most of the year thanks to rainfall from storms that replenish it with clear, clean drinking water!
One of the more popular activities here is fishing since it’s stocked with several types of fish, including trout and sunfish. This makes for great opportunities to get out on a boat or use poles which can be rented at one of the three docks located around its perimeter.
The Surprise Lake also offers excellent opportunities for photographers looking to hone their skills, especially when taking pictures at sunrise or sunset, where lighting provides a perfect backdrop. The dunes are elevated enough, so they act as backdrops behind this Lake, making them look like mountains from certain angles while visiting.
Another way people enjoy themselves during visits is by walking along any number of trails to fences surrounding homes surrounding it. Everyone is allowed to have their own space making for some exciting views of the Lake from different perspectives.
The last activity that this body of water provides an opportunity for is kayaking or canoeing since it’s not too large but still offers enough room to accommodate both activities safely on its surface with plenty of space left over!
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