Largest lakes & reservoirs in Idaho by acres
There is no widely-accepted minimum surface area that defines a lake. What LakeLubbers describes as a lake, you might call a pond. Acreage of a lake (or sometimes square kilometers) is most often measured at the top surface area when the lake is at normal elevation. The surface area can be considerably smaller or larger when lake levels are lower or higher than normal. North America’s Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by this measure.The other measure of a lake’s size is the lake’s water volume. By that measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Lake Baikal in Siberia.
You can find many of the world’s largest lakes (acres) on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Note: For some lakes, "Largest Lakes - Acres" data is unknown or does not apply, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 23 articles we have published for Idaho lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US West Region > Idaho > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Idaho, only the 23 Idaho lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Surface area in acres |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Pend Oreille, ID (Idaho, Northern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
85,960 ac | Also known as Albeni Falls Dam Set in a valley carved by glaciers from Canada, Lake Pend Oreille (pond-a-RAY) is surrounded by mountains with altitudes exceeding 6,000 feet. Its 85, … |
| Bear Lake, ID/UT (Cache Valley Region, UT, Idaho, Southeastern Idaho, US West Region, USA, Utah) |
69,760 ac | A natural freshwater lake straddling the borders of Utah and Idaho, Bear Lake is a 70,000-acre turquoise jewel that lives up to its moniker of “Caribb … |
| American Falls Reservoir, ID (Idaho, Southeastern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
56,000 ac | 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 … |
| Coeur d’Alene Lake, ID (Idaho, Northern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
30,000 ac | Also known as Lake Coeur d'Alene Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the Northern Panhandle of Idaho, 30,000-acre Coeur d’Alene Lake (pronounced Core-de-lane) is a spec … |
| Lake Cascade, ID (Idaho, Southwestern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
28,300 ac | Also known as Cascade Reservoir Lake Cascade (Cascade Reservoir) is the fourth largest lake in Idaho, creating an extensive and diverse recreation site for visitors. Its nearly 30,00 … |
| Priest Lake, ID (Idaho, Northern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
26,000 ac | Located in the most northern portion of Idaho’s Panhandle, Priest Lake is within 30 miles of the Canadian Border. Priest Lake was naturally created at … |
| Dworshak Reservoir, ID (Idaho, North Central Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
19,824 ac | Dworshak Reservoir is an excellent outdoor recreation site with a great water playground of over 19,000 acres. Located in northern Idaho near the town … |
| Palisades Reservoir, ID/WY (Eastern Idaho, Idaho, Southwest Wyoming, US West Region, USA, Wyoming) |
16,100 ac | Palisades Reservoir is set in southeast Idaho, east of Idaho Falls in a beautiful river valley. The southern end of the reservoir extends into Wyoming … |
| Hells Canyon Reservoirs (Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Oregon, Southwestern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
15,000 ac | Also known as Brownlee Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Hells Canyon Reservoir The three Hells Canyon Reservoirs are one of southwest Idaho’s most scenic locations. Idaho can’t claim this national treasure alone, however as it sh … |
| C. J. Strike Reservoir (Idaho, Southwestern Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
7,500 ac | The C. J. Strike Reservoir in Southwestern Idaho offers a wealth of opportunities to enjoy nature. Formed in 1952 when a hydroelectric dam was built a … |
| Island Park Reservoir (Eastern Idaho, Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
7,000 ac | Just half an hour southwest of west Yellowstone, MT, Island Park Reservoir hosts a recreational paradise all its own. The roughly 7000-ace reservoir i … |
| Henrys Lake (Eastern Idaho, Idaho, US West Region, USA) |
6,500 ac | Also known as Henry's Lake Reservoir Hidden in the far north corner of Eastern Idaho, just over the border from both Montana and Wyoming, Henrys Lake attracts thousands of visitors every … |