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All the United States Nevada Wells Angel Lake and the East Humboldt Mountains
AO Edited

Angel Lake and the East Humboldt Mountains

An attractive alpine lake at 8,400 feet that is accessible via a paved road.

Wells, Nevada

Added By
slgwv
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Looking straight west across Angel Lake. The outlet valve is at lower right.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Looking straight west across Angel Lake. The outlet valve is at lower right.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Telephoto view of Chimney Rock (to left) and another glacial spire. They tower over the Angel Lake cirque to the south.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Chimney Rock (to left, partly hidden) and another glacial spire. They tower over the Angel Lake cirque to the south. Note Angel Lake in the right foreground.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Looking straight west across Angel Lake. The valve for the outlet dam is visible at lower left.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake looking northwest. The outlet valve is on the right.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View northeasterly from the vicinity of Angel Lake. Wells, Nevada is barely visible at upper right as the clump of trees. The freeway running roughly horizontally across the upper part of the picture is Interstate 80. The haze is smoke from wildfires in California.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Smith Lake, looking west. This lake lies in the next cirque north of Angel Lake and is reached by a trail about 1.5 miles long.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Smith Lake, at the shore. This lake lies in the next cirque north of Angel Lake and is reached by a trail about 1.5 miles long.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Smith Lake, looking southwest. This lake lies in the next cirque north of Angel Lake and is reached by a trail about 1.5 miles long.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View southeasterly from a trail out of Angel Lake, showing the highway that goes to the lake. The haze is smoke from wildfires in California.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Chimney Rock (to left, partly hidden) and another glacial spire. They tower over the Angel Lake cirque to the south. The haze is from wildfires in California.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake, looking northwest.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake from the outlet dam, looking south.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake, looking west. The structure is the outlet valve on the dam.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake, looking northwest off the dam.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Road into Angel Lake, looking southeasterly from a trail out of Angel Lake. The haze is smoke from wildfires in California.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Angel Lake, looking southwest.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The East Humboldt Mountains, separated from the Ruby Mountains to the south by Secret Pass, are often considered the northern extension of the Rubies. They have the same granite and metamorphic bedrock, the same glaciated terrain with peaks reaching over 11,000 feet, and the same abundance of streams, alpine lakes, and meadows. 

Uniquely, one of those alpine lakes, Angel Lake, can be reached by a paved road. Angel Lake is a natural cirque lake, but its level has been raised by a small outlet dam for water storage, as is common throughout the United States west.

It's stocked for fishing and there is also an adjacent campground. Nearby trailheads are for trails that lead to other cirque lakes in the vicinity.

Related Tags

Fishing Natural Wonders Lakes

Know Before You Go

Take Nevada State Route 231 from Wells 11.4 miles to the end of the road. It's all paved, but is not open during the winter months, typically opening only after Memorial Day. In addition, although the road is two-lane the entire way, the last few miles are narrow and steep. Large vehicles need to exercise extreme caution.

Community Contributors

Added By

slgwv

Edited By

breaingram

  • breaingram

Published

May 20, 2022

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Angel Lake and the East Humboldt Mountains
Wells, Nevada, 89835
United States
41.026535, -115.085907

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Wells

Nevada

Places 2

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miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

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Wells

Nevada

Places 2

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