Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in US West Region 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 329 articles we have published for US West Region lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US West Region > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in US West Region, only the 329 US West Region lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Elevation in feet | Lake description |
---|---|---|
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 … |
American Falls Reservoir, ID (Idaho, Southeastern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
4,354 ft | With more than 56,000 acres of water sport, boating and fishing waters, surrounded by choice camping and picnic areas, American Falls Reservoir in sou … |
Wickiup Reservoir, OR (Central Oregon, Oregon, US West Region, USA) |
4,347 ft | Also known as Wickiup Lake Wickiup Reservoir is an 11,000 acre angler’s paradise. Camping areas are plentiful, and boat launching ramps are located at most. The reservoir gets i … |
Great Salt Lake, UT (Great Salt Lake Country, UT, Ogden & Northwest Region, UT, US West Region, USA, Utah) |
4,212 ft | Also known as America's Dead Sea Sometimes called “America’s Dead Sea,” the Great Salt Lake occupies approximately 1,700 square miles of Utah’s real estate. It is the second largest l … |
Upper Klamath Lake, OR (Oregon, Southern Oregon, US West Region, USA) |
4,146 ft | Stretching for an impressive 30 miles, Upper Klamath Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the State of Oregon. Nestled in the Klamath Basin, it is s … |
Rye Patch Reservoir, NV (Cowboy Country, NV, Nevada, US West Region, USA) |
4,144 ft | Rye Patch Reservoir is located on the Humboldt River in Pershing County, Nevada. The reservoir was completed in 1936 and provides flood control and ir … |
Adobe Creek Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Southeast Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
4,136 ft | Also known as Blue Lake For the true, unhurried western vacation in Southeastern Colorado, make the trip to Adobe Creek Reservoir. The reservoir, also known as Blue Lake pres … |
John Martin Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Southeast Colorado, US West Region, USA) |
3,852 ft | Standing among the large boulders on the gravel shore watching bald eagles soar over the water, it’s easy to believe that John Martin Reservoir is an … |
Pyramid Lake, NV (Nevada, Renoe-Tahoe Territory, NV, US West Region, USA) |
3,817 ft | Pyramid Lake is a true natural wonder located in the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation in western Nevada. Covering 117,400 acres, it is the third … |
Canyon Ferry Lake, MT (Gold West Country, MT, Montana, US West Region, USA) |
3,809 ft | For lake lovers who relish the beauty of nature and the wonder of wildlife, there’s no better place to relax and have fun than at Canyon Ferry Lake. A … |
Lake Powell, AZ/UT (Arizona, Canyonlands Region, UT, Color Country, UT, North Central Arizona, US Southwest Region, US West Region, USA, Utah) |
3,700 ft | Lake Powell is located in one of Southern Utah’s most picturesque red-rock desert areas and in Arizona’s Navajo Indian Reservation. It is one of the U … |