Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in California by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 75 articles we have published for California lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US West Region > California > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in California, only the 75 California lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Little Lakes Valley Trail Chain of Lakes (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
10,950 ft | Also known as Mack Lake, Marsh Lake, Heart Lake, Box Lake, Long Lake, Chickenfoot Lake, Lower Gem Lake, Upper Gem Lake The Little Lakes Valley Trail is an ‘easy’ trail, according to experienced hikers in California’s High Sierras. However, these beautiful lakes are loc … |
| Virginia Lakes Chain of Lakes (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
10,870 ft | Also known as Trumbull Lake, Red Lake, Bue Lake, Little Virginia Lake, Big Virginia Lake, Cooney Lake, Moat Lake, Frog Lakes Uncrowded and unspoiled are the perfect words to describe the nine Virginia Lakes. Strung along Virginia Creek in California’s High Sierras, most of t … |
| Mono Lake, CA (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
6,417 ft | Mono Lake, located in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, has a long and rich history dating back to its formation over 760,000 years ago. S … |
| Lake Tahoe, CA/NV (California, High Sierra Region, CA, Nevada, Renoe-Tahoe Territory, NV, US West Region, USA) |
6,229 ft | Tucked into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and straddling the California-Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is one of the most famous lakes in the United Stat … |
| Shaver Lake, CA (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
5,370 ft | Also known as Shaver Reservoir Sixty miles east of Fresno, hidden in the High Sierra Region, Shaver Lake is one of California’s favorite recreation destinations. There have been man … |
| Bucks Lake, CA (California, Shasta Cascade Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
5,157 ft | A peregrine falcon, perched in the top of a silvery, windswept pine, watches a sailboat tack back and forth across the clear cool water of Bucks Lake. … |
| Topaz Lake, CA/NV (California, High Sierra Region, CA, Nevada, Renoe-Tahoe Territory, NV, US West Region, USA) |
5,005 ft | Also known as Topaz Reservoir Topaz Lake is a man-made reservoir located on the border of Nevada and California, about 75 miles south of Reno, Nevada. The reservoir was built on th … |
| Donnells Reservoir (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
4,915 ft | Also known as Donnells Lake, Donnell Lake Donnells Reservoir is one of the Central Sierra’s most picturesque lakes. Sometimes called Donnell Lake, it has its own dedicated viewing location and … |
| Clear Lake Reservoir, CA (California, Shasta Cascade Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
4,552 ft | Located in Modoc County, California near the Oregon border, Clear Lake Reservoir stands statuesque among the surrounding hills and plains. The origina … |
| Lake Almanor, CA (California, Shasta Cascade Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
4,494 ft | One of the largest artificial lakes in the state, Lake Almanor lays claim to approximately 28,000 acres of northeastern California. The lake was creat … |
| Bass Lake, CA (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
3,377 ft | Also known as Crane Valley Reservoir Snuggled into the heart of the Sierra National Forest and located at the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park, Bass Lake enjoys an ideal Califo … |
| Silverwood Lake, CA (California, Inland Empire Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
3,355 ft | Also known as Lake Silverwood Rimmed with live oak, manzanita, and mountain mahogany and set against the backdrop of the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains, Silverwood Lake is an … |