Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway
Soap Lake, WA

Soap Lake is meromictic, meaning the water is stratified into layers that do not mix with each other. The layer of water near the bottom of the lake is supersaturated with minerals that were first identified for their healing characteristics by the Plateau Indians of the region. According to folklore, Native Americans met on the shores of Soap Lake for hundreds of years and used the lake water and mud for healing. Soap Lake is often called Washington’s health resort. The mineral-rich waters of the lake, therapeutic mud, and desert climate make it a popular place for visitors from Eastern Europe, who compare Soap Lake to the highly acclaimed Baden Springs in Germany and other resorts along the Black Sea. There’s a historical marker at the lake.