Nevada is home to some of the most gorgeous lakes in the country. Jet skiing, water skiing, boating, and fishing are just a few of the fun activities you can enjoy in Nevada’s many lakes. Now that summer is upon us, here are ten of the best lakes in Nevada that you should definitely check out.

1. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, United States
wikimedia commons/Christian Abend
Lake Tahoe is the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States, and it was formed approximately 2 million years ago.

This jaw-dropping video doesn't even seem to do this incredible lake justice, but it is an absolute must-see:
2. Lake Mead
Lake Mead, United States
wikimedia commons
Lake Mead is located on the Colorado River and is the largest reservoir in the U.S. when it comes to maximum water capacity.
3. Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake, Nevada 89815, USA
wikimedia commons
Liberty Lake is a glacial tarn that's located within the Ruby Mountains Wilderness in Elko County, Nevada.
4. Lake Las Vegas
Lake Las Vegas, Nevada 89011, USA
wikipedia
Located in Henderson, this is a 320-acre lake with 3,592 acres of land developed around it. This entire area is known as Lake Las Vegas.
5. Lower Cold Lake
Cold Lakes, Nevada 89828, USA
wikipedia
Lower Cold Lake is located at the head of Cold Creek Canyon in Elko County, Nevada. It's one of many crystal-clear lakes in Nevada you've got to see to believe.
6. Washoe Lake
Washoe Lake, Nevada 89704, USA
wikimedia commons/Rick Cooper
Washoe Lake is a very shallow lake that's located in the Washoe Valley of Washoe County, Nevada.

Explore Washoe Lake in this wondrous aerial 4K video:
7. Castle Lake
Castle Lake, Nevada 89815, USA
wikimedia commons/Famartin
Castle Lake is located near the head of Kleckner Canyon in Elko County, Nevada. This is one of the most scenic spots in Nevada and we think you'll never want to leave.
8. Griswold Lake
Griswold Lake, Nevada 89815, USA
wikimedia commons/Famartin
Located at the head of Hennon Canyon, Griswold Lake is the principal source of Butterfield Creek. This is a beautiful, lesser-known lake in Nevada.
9. Walker Lake
Walker Lake, Nevada, USA
wikimedia commons/Raquel Baranow
Walker Lake is a natural lake that's located in the Great Basin in western Nevada.
10. Angel Lake
Angel Lake, Nevada, USA
wikimedia commons
Angel Lake is a glacial tarn in the northern part of the East Humboldt Range in Elko County, Nevada.

And, finally, allow this stunning birds-eye view of Angel Lake to entice you to come closer:

Which lakes in Nevada will you be spending time on this summer? Please feel free to share your plans in the comments below.

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Lakes in Nevada

Tori Jane | June 14, 2022

How many lakes in Nevada are there?  

At the time of this writing, there are 36 known lakes in Nevada. They vary in size, shape, depth, and composition, but they all have one thing in common: their beauty.

  • The deepest lake in Nevada is Lake Tahoe (which Nevada shares with California), which is 1,645 feet deep at its deepest.
  • There are a few little lakes tied for the smallest lake in Nevada, like Cold Lakes and Island Lake, which are both just seven acres in size (cute!).
  • The oldest lake in Nevada is the fascinating and somewhat mysterious Pyramid Lake, which is surrounded by interesting lore by locals and Natives alike.  

 

What are the most beautiful lakes in Nevada?  

Many of Nevada’s lakes are astonishingly beautiful and make for some incredible landscape photos. Some of the most beautiful lakes in Nevada that you’ll definitely want to bring the camera for include, of course, Lake Tahoe, but plenty of others that are less famous, too, like:

  • Angel Lake
  • Topaz Lake
  • Overland Lake, and North Furlong Lake! These lakes in Nevada are all so startlingly beautiful that you’ll feel like you stepped into a fairy tale. But no worries – you're still in Nevada. Turns out, Nevada is outrageously beautiful, and many of its lakes prove it.  

 

Where are the most famous lakes in Nevada?  

Nevada is home to some famous lakes as well (and plenty of those famous lakes could also be put on the “most beautiful lakes in Nevada” list, too), most notably Lake Tahoe.

  • Lake Mead is another Nevada lake that’s almost always crowded thanks to its wide popularity.
  • Pyramid Lake is famous for its fascinating geography and ancient age.
  • Other well-known (but less famous) lakes in Nevada include Lake Las Vegas, Topaz Lake, and Shasta Lake.

When it comes to things to do outdoors in Nevada, its lakes should be at the top of the list!  

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