Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Chamberlain Basin

Chamberlain Basin is a drainage basin that contains a chain of ten alpine and glacial Paternoster lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are on the upper portion of Chamberlain Creek in the Germania Creek watershed, a tributary of the East Fork Salmon River. Castle Peak, the highest summit in the White Cloud Mountains, rises to the east and north of Chamberlain Basin. Sawtooth National Forest trail 047 crosses the basin, although most people begin their trips at the Fourth of July Creek trailhead. Individual lakes do not have official names and are listed from lowest to highest elevation.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
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Chamberlain Basin
Aerial view of Chamberlain Basin
Chamberlain Basin lakes number 8 and 9
Chamberlain Basin
LocationCuster County, Idaho
Coordinates44°01′43″N 114°36′01″W / 44.0285222°N 114.6003429°W / 44.0285222; -114.60034291
TypeGlacial
Chamberlain Creek to Germania Creek
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length4.8 mi (7.7 km)
Surface elevation
9,396 ft (2,864 m)1
Chamberlain Basin below Castle Peak. source ↗

Chamberlain Basin is a drainage basin that contains a chain of ten alpine and glacial Paternoster lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are on the upper portion of Chamberlain Creek in the Germania Creek watershed, a tributary of the East Fork Salmon River. Castle Peak, the highest summit in the White Cloud Mountains, rises to the east and north of Chamberlain Basin. Sawtooth National Forest trail 047 crosses the basin, although most people begin their trips at the Fourth of July Creek trailhead.2 Individual lakes do not have official names and are listed from lowest to highest elevation.

Chamberlain Lakes
Lake Elevation Max. length Max. width Location
Chamberlain Lake 1 2,804 m (9,199 ft) 109 m (358 ft) 88 m (289 ft) 44°01′27″N 114°35′19″W / 44.024244°N 114.588538°W / 44.024244; -114.588538 (Chamberlain Lake 1)
Chamberlain Lake 2 2,808 m (9,213 ft) 407 m (1,335 ft) 175 m (574 ft) 44°01′36″N 114°35′34″W / 44.026686°N 114.592728°W / 44.026686; -114.592728 (Chamberlain Lake 2)
Chamberlain Lake 3 2,826 m (9,272 ft) 90 m (300 ft) 54 m (177 ft) 44°01′28″N 114°35′49″W / 44.024487°N 114.597014°W / 44.024487; -114.597014 (Chamberlain Lake 3)
Chamberlain Lake 4 2,827 m (9,275 ft) 95 m (312 ft) 55 m (180 ft) 44°01′25″N 114°35′56″W / 44.023507°N 114.598931°W / 44.023507; -114.598931 (Chamberlain Lake 4)
Chamberlain Lake 5 2,827 m (9,275 ft) 183 m (600 ft) 117 m (384 ft) 44°01′15″N 114°35′42″W / 44.020811°N 114.595077°W / 44.020811; -114.595077 (Chamberlain Lake 5)
Chamberlain Lake 6 2,862 m (9,390 ft) 69 m (226 ft) 54 m (177 ft) 44°01′43″N 114°35′57″W / 44.028749°N 114.599065°W / 44.028749; -114.599065 (Chamberlain Lake 6)
Chamberlain Lake 7 2,890 m (9,480 ft) 38 m (125 ft) 32 m (105 ft) 44°01′49″N 114°36′13″W / 44.030225°N 114.603694°W / 44.030225; -114.603694 (Chamberlain Lake 7)
Chamberlain Lake 8 2,893 m (9,491 ft) 461 m (1,512 ft) 248 m (814 ft) 44°02′02″N 114°36′14″W / 44.033944°N 114.603881°W / 44.033944; -114.603881 (Chamberlain Lake 8)
Chamberlain Lake 9 2,899 m (9,511 ft) 182 m (597 ft) 116 m (381 ft) 44°02′12″N 114°36′19″W / 44.036604°N 114.605169°W / 44.036604; -114.605169 (Chamberlain Lake 9)
Chamberlain Lake 10 3,007 m (9,865 ft) 372 m (1,220 ft) 113 m (371 ft) 44°02′17″N 114°36′37″W / 44.038140°N 114.610143°W / 44.038140; -114.610143 (Chamberlain Lake 10)
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Chamberlain Basin". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. Sawtooth National Forest. "Sawtooth National Forest" [map].1:126,720, 1"=2 miles. Twin Falls, Idaho: Sawtooth National Forest, United States Forest Service, 1998.