Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in 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 2151 articles we have published for lakes.
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Below are lakes within Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in , only the 2151 lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Norway Lake, MN (Central Minnesota, Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,199 ft | Norway Lake is nestled in Kandiyohi County on the southern border of Minnesota’s Central tourism region. It is part of the Wilmar Lakes Area which inc … |
| South Long Lake (Central Minnesota, Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,196 ft | Also known as Upper South Long Lake, Lower South Long Lake, Brainerd Lakes South Long Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota in Crow Wing County offers 2,115 acres of scenic beauty with a shoreline surrounded by rolling hills covered … |
| Gull Lake, MN (Central Minnesota, Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,195 ft | Also known as Brainerd Lakes Gull Lake, located in the Central Region of Minnesota’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, boasts 9,418 surface acres and 38 miles of pristine shoreline. The dee … |
| Lake Stanley Draper, OK (Frontier Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
1,191 ft | Also known as Lake Draper Lake Stanley Draper is a big city lake in the big city! Formed in 1963 to provide a water source for Oklahoma City, Lake Draper has also proved to be … |
| 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, … |
| Big Birch Lake, MN (Central Minnesota, Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,186 ft | Big Birch Lake lies at the heart of Minnesota. With sparkling water spread across Todd and Stearns County lines, Big Birch Lake is at the geographic c … |
| Upper Red Lake, MN (Minnesota, Northwest Minnesota, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,179 ft | Nestled in the Northwest Region of Minnesota, Upper Red Lake has an incredible comeback story and is becoming a popular vacation place for the second … |
| Milford Lake, KS (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,176 ft | Also known as Milford Reservoir Milford Lake is the largest reservoir in Kansas with 163 shoreline miles and 16,000 surface acres. The lake offers abundant recreational opportunities … |
| Tygart Lake, WV (Mountaineer Country, WV, US South Region, USA, West Virginia) |
1,167 ft | The wilderness song of Tygart Lake calls to fishing enthusiasts, boaters, campers, hikers, writers and artisans. Located near the beautiful Appalachia … |
| Lake Saint Helen, MI (Michigan, Northeast Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,155 ft | Also known as Lake St. Helen Lake Saint Helen is located in Roscommon County of northern Michigan near Interstate 75 and right next to the town of St. Helen – Charlton Heston’s ch … |
| Lake Amistad, TX / Mexico (Hill Country Region, TX, Mexico, North Mexico, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
1,144 ft | Also known as International Amistad Reservoir The Spanish word “Amistad” translates to “Friendship” in English … little wonder, then, that west Texas’ Lake Amistad is one of the Lone Star State’ … |
| Great Salt Plains Lake, OK (Oklahoma, Red Carpet Country, OK, US Southwest Region, USA) |
1,139 ft | With over 8,600 acres of water and 41 miles of shoreline, Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma’s Red Carpet Country is an outdoor enthusiast’s … |