Mason Lake is a natural elongated lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 south of Belfair, Washington

Belfair, Washington

Belfair is an unincorporated community in Mason County, Washington, United States. Located on the Union River, headwaters of the Hood Canal, a branch of Puget Sound, it serves as the commercial center of North Mason County. The population of the surrounding area swells in the summertime as...

, USA in Mason County. Named for Charles H. Mason

Charles H. Mason

Charles H Mason was the first Secretary of State for Washington Territory, and was acting Governor for two and a half years while the territorial Governor, Isaac Ingalls Stevens, conducted railroad surveys and concluded treaties with First Nations tribes and...

, the first secretary of Washington Territory

Washington Territory

The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....

, the lake is on the isthmus of the Kitsap Peninsula

Kitsap Peninsula

The Kitsap Peninsula is an arm of land that is part of the larger Olympic Peninsula in Washington state that lies west of Seattle across Puget Sound. Hood Canal separates Kitsap Peninsula from the rest of the Olympic Peninsula...

 between the Hood Canal

Hood Canal

Hood Canal is a fjord forming the western lobe, and one of the four main basins, of Puget Sound in the state of Washington. Hood Canal is not a canal in the sense of being a man-made waterway—it is a natural waterway.-Geography:...

 and Pickering Passage

Pickering Passage

Pickering Passage is a strait, in the southern end of part of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. Entirely within Mason County, the Pickering Passage separates Hartstine Island from the mainland, and connects Totten Inlet with the north end of Case Inlet.Pickering Passage flows past the...

 of the Case Inlet

Case Inlet

Case Inlet, in southern Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington, is an arm of water between Key Peninsula on the east and Hartstine Island on the west. Its northern end, called North Bay, reaches nearly to Hood Canal, creating the defining isthmus of Kitsap Peninsula. Case Inlet is the boundary...

. The smaller Benson Lake is to its eastern side.

More than a thousand residents live yearlong around the shores of Mason Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in Mason County.

Originally a summer vacation community, the lake has always been known for its power boats, jet skis and water skiing. A county park provides swimming, picnic and boat launching access. The single lane boat launch is on the steeper side and winches tend to get jammed if they're in the locked or retrieval state.

The community of Mason Lake is located centrally between Grapeview and Harstine Island to the east, and Twanoh State Park

Twanoh State Park

Twanoh State Park in Mason County, Washington is a marine camping park in the Washington State Park System. It consists of with of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal. Available activities include hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing, crabbing, some athletic areas, beachcombing,...

to the west. Much of the area surrounding Mason Lake is commercial timberland in various states of harvest.

External links

• Profile of Mason Lake
• Mason Lake page of the official Mason County tourism website
• Mason/Benson Lake Community Club