Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Pennsylvania 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 40 articles we have published for Pennsylvania lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Mid-Atlantic Region > Pennsylvania > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Pennsylvania, only the 40 Pennsylvania lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,886 ft | Big Bass Lake is one of three lakes in the community of Big Bass Lake. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Big Bass Lake is a private gated community in… |
| Arrowhead Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,674 ft | Tucked away in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Arrowhead Lake is a private gated community in the Northeastern Mountains region of Pennsylvania. Loads… |
| Youghiogheny River Lake (Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh & Countryside Region, PA, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,470 ft | Also known as Yough Lake In the heart of the Laurel Highlands and spanning the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland lays Youghiogheny River Lake. The U.S. Army C… |
| Lake Ariel, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,427 ft | For over 150 years people have been making their way to the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania to enjoy the beautiful waters of Lake Ariel.… |
| Allegheny Reservoir, NY/PA (Chautauqua-Allegheny Region, NY, New York, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Wilds Region, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,365 ft | Also known as Kinzua Dam Lake, Kinzua Lake, Lake Kinzua Flowing across tree-covered hills in northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York, the Allegheny Reservoir’s 12,080 acres provide an open invit… |
| Lake Wallenpaupack, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,187 ft | Lake Wallenpaupack is a prime recreation destination in northeast Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region, nestled among the counties of Hawley, Pike,… |
| Cowanesque Lake, PA (Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Wilds Region, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
1,114 ft | Peacefully nestled between forested ridges in north central Pennsylvania lies Cowanesque Lake. Located near the New York state line, the name Cowanesq… |
| Shenango River Lake, PA/OH (Great Lakes Region, PA, Northeast Ohio, Ohio, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, US Midwest Region, USA) |
919 ft | Also known as Shenango Reservoir Located mostly in northwestern Pennsylvania between Greenville PA and Sharon PA – and spilling into northeastern Ohio – Shenango River Lake provides f… |
| Beltzville Lake, PA (Northeastern Mountains Region, PA, Pennsylvania, US Mid-Atlantic Region, USA) |
636 ft | Also known as Beltzville Reservoir The Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains are spectacular for many reasons, and Beltzville Lake is one of them. Located in the southern foothills of these fam… |
