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.
Thinking about booking a lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
Use our free interactive vacation rental map to search and compare multiple vacation properties at a glance. Enter a lake name, a state or city and then simply click on a listing to compare all similar properties, best rates and availability for your dates.Search results: Sort lakes by elevation
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Copan Lake, OK (Green Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
732 ft | Also known as Lake Copan, Copan Reservoir Named after a small town situated near its banks in Oklahoma, Copan Lake was completed in 1983. Flood control, water supply, water quality control, re … |
| Fletcher Pond, MI (Michigan, Northeast Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA) |
731 ft | Also known as Fletcher Flooding Fletcher Pond, also known as the Fletcher Flooding, is an impoundment first created in 1935 when the Alpena Power Company dammed the Upper South Branc … |
| Paintsville Lake, KY (Appalachians Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
731 ft | Sharing acreage of both Johnson and Morgan counties in eastern Kentucky, Paintsville Lake has been a recreational staple since its creation in 1983. T … |
| Skiatook Lake, OK (Green Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
729 ft | Also known as Skiatook Reservoir Scenic Skiatook Lake covers 10,500 acres in northern Oklahoma’s Green Country, just 30 minutes from Tulsa. The lake’s 160 miles of shoreline are surro … |
| Benbrook Lake (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
724 ft | Also known as Lake Benbrook, Benbrook Reservoir Sprawled along the Clear Fork branch of the Trinity River in the Texas Prairies and Lakes region, Benbrook Lake works hard to improve the quality of l … |
| Coralville Lake (East Central Iowa, Iowa, US Midwest Region, USA) |
717 ft | Also known as Coralville Reservoir Star of east-central Iowa’s recreation opportunities, Coralville Lake has led the pack for the 60 years of its existence. Originally built to control … |
| Lake Travis, TX (Hill Country Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
714 ft | Lake Travis is a beautiful 18,930 acre reservoir in the Hill Country of central Texas, about 12 miles northwest of Austin. It is over 63 miles long wi … |
| Green River Lake, KY (Kentucky, Southern Lakes Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
713 ft | The children scrambled after each other, racing up the steps to the slide. Then they were off – sliding and squealing landing with a splash in the wat … |
| Lake Entiat, WA (North Central Washington, US West Region, USA, Washington) |
710 ft | Also known as Rocky Reach Reservoir No trip to the north central part of Washington would be complete without a visit to Lake Entiat and the Rocky Reach Dam. Lake Entiat is a 9,100 acre … |
| Cagles Mill Lake, IN (Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA, West Indiana) |
704 ft | Also known as Cagles Mill Reservoir, Cataract Lake Cagles Mill Lake, also known as Cagles Mill Reservoir and Cataract Lake, is located half in Lieber State Recreation Area and half in Cataract Falls St … |
| Bear Creek Reservoir, GA (Georgia, Northeast Georgia Mountains Region, US South Region, USA) |
702 ft | Also known as Bear Creek Lake Bear Creek Reservoir is an infant as far as reservoirs go; it was completed and dedicated in 2002. In August 2009 anglers and boaters finally had a pl … |
| Bull Shoals Lake, AR/MO (Arkansas, Missouri, Ozarks Region, AR, Southwest Missouri, US Midwest Region, US South Region, USA) |
695 ft | Tucked in the Ozark Mountains, Bull Shoals Lake offers year round opportunities for relaxation and recreation. With over 45,000 surface acres of water … |