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 |
|---|---|---|
| DeQueen Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
474 ft | Also known as Lake DeQueen DeQueen Lake, proud owner of 32 miles of picturesque shoreline, is nestled in Arkansas’s Ouachita Mountains Region. Located in Sevier County on the Ro … |
| Lake Berryessa, CA (California, Central Valley Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
456 ft | Lake Berryessa, nestled into the heart of California’s wine country, is the largest lake in Napa County. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built the Mont … |
| Lake Havasu, AZ/CA (Arizona, California, Desert Region, CA, US Southwest Region, US West Region, USA, West Coast Region, AZ) |
455 ft | Lake Havasu’s 20,400 acres, formed behind Parker Dam on the Colorado River, is a boating paradise. Around Lake Havasu City, the most recognizable sigh … |
| Old Hickory Lake, TN (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA) |
450 ft | Only half an hour outside of Nashville, Old Hickory Lake offers outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors to the middle region of Te … |
| Kenai Lake, AK (Alaska, Southcentral Region, AK, US West Region, USA) |
443 ft | One of the largest glacial lakes in the Kenai River System, Kenai Lake is a beautiful lake in a road-accessible area of Alaska. The backdrop of the ma … |
| Bardwell Lake, TX (Prairies and Lakes Region, TX, Texas, US Southwest Region, USA) |
439 ft | Also known as Lake Bardwell Bardwell Lake is a vast, sparkling palate of wet and wild opportunity near Ennis, Texas, not far from the hustle and bustle of Dallas-Fort Worth. The … |
| Hugo Lake, OK (Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
438 ft | Over 8,000 acres of open water await you at Hugo Lake, Oklahoma. Located in the beautiful Kiamichi Country of southeastern Oklahoma, this outdoor para … |
| Mayfield Lake (Seattle & Puget Sound Region, WA, US West Region, USA, Washington) |
425 ft | Mayfield Lake is cradled in the foothills of the Cascades in Lewis County, Washington. This 2,200-acre reservoir is conveniently located close to Moun … |
| Alouette Lake (British Columbia, Canada, Canada) |
423 ft | Also known as Alouette Reservoir, Lillooet Lake (historic) Only an hour away from big-city Vancouver, Alouette Lake provides a wilderness experience and a mountain view of beautiful Golden Ears Provincial Park … |
| DeGray Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
420 ft | DeGray Lake is nestled in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, in an area logically known as the Ouachita Mountain Region of Arkansas. This sectio … |
| Blue Mountain Lake, AR (Arkansas, Ouachitas Region, AR, US South Region, USA) |
419 ft | Also known as Blue Mountain Reservoir Hearing something too soft for his owner to sense, the dog freezes in a classic point, its head and back forming a straight line and every fiber focus … |
| W. D. Mayo Lock and Dam, OK (Kiamichi Country, OK, Oklahoma, US Southwest Region, USA) |
414 ft | Also known as W. D. Mayo Lock and Dam 14 Located in eastern Oklahoma’s Kiamichi Country, W.D. Mayo Lock and Dam sits just a few miles north of Spiro, Oklahoma. The dam is managed by the U.S. … |