California has more than 3,000 natural lakes and over 1,400 reservoirs, shaped by the state’s dramatic geographical range — from the volcanic northeast to the Sierra Nevada to the Southern California desert ranges. Some drain to the ocean via rivers, others are landlocked terminal lakes, and many are man-made reservoirs built for water storage, flood control, and hydropower. The 20 lakes below represent the state’s largest and most notable waters by surface area, volume, and regional significance.
1. Shasta Lake — Largest Reservoir in California
Shasta Lake is California’s largest man-made reservoir, with a storage capacity of approximately 4,552,000 acre-feet and 365 miles of shoreline. It was created by Shasta Dam on the upper Sacramento River, about 9 miles northwest of Redding in Shasta County. The dam was constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation between 1938 and 1945 as the keystone of the Central Valley Project. It is a curved concrete gravity dam standing 602 feet from foundation to crest, making it the second-tallest concrete dam in the United States at the time of its completion. The Shasta Powerplant has a generating capacity of 710 megawatts — enough to power several hundred thousand homes. Shasta Lake is also one of California’s most popular houseboat destinations, and the Lake Shasta Caverns, accessible by boat and a short aerial tram ride on the eastern shore, are open for guided tours year-round.
2. Lake Tahoe — Largest Natural Lake in California
Lake Tahoe is the largest natural lake in California and the largest alpine lake in North America by surface area, covering approximately 191 square miles. It straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada range, with roughly two-thirds of its surface area lying within California. The lake is best known for its exceptional water clarity — its average Secchi depth has been measured at more than 60 feet — and its maximum depth of 1,645 feet makes it the second deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake in Oregon. The Tahoe Rim Trail circles the entire lake basin over 165 miles. Both motorized and non-motorized boating are permitted; numerous marinas offer rentals and cruises. Emerald Bay State Park on the lake’s western shore is among the most photographed locations in the Sierra Nevada.
3. The Salton Sea — Largest Lake by Surface Area in California
The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake by surface area, covering approximately 343 square miles at historic levels in the below-sea-level Colorado Desert. Despite its size, it is often overlooked in favor of more scenic lakes. It was formed accidentally in 1905 when an irrigation canal breach allowed Colorado River water to flow unchecked into the Salton Sink for nearly two years. The lake is saline — saltier than the Pacific Ocean — and supports no fish or recreational swimming. It has historically served as a critical stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway, hosting hundreds of species. The lake has been slowly shrinking due to reduced agricultural inflow, raising ongoing concerns about exposed lakebed dust and regional air quality.
4. Lake Oroville — Second Deepest Lake in California
Lake Oroville is a reservoir on the Feather River in Butte County, created by Oroville Dam — the tallest dam in the United States at 770 feet. The lake has a capacity of approximately 3,537,577 acre-feet and a maximum depth of 695 feet, making it the second deepest lake in California after Lake Tahoe. It became nationally known in February 2017 when the spillway was damaged during heavy rains, prompting the evacuation of nearly 188,000 downstream residents — the largest evacuation in California history. Major repairs were completed in 2019. The lake offers camping, boating, fishing, and houseboating, and is managed by California State Parks and the California Department of Water Resources.
5. Lake Tahoe / Mono Lake Basin Volume Comparison
Volume and depth comparison of California’s largest lakes:
| Lake | Volume (acre-feet) |
|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe | 122,160,280 |
| Salton Sea | 7,500,000 |
| Shasta Lake | 4,552,000 |
| Trinity Lake | 2,447,650 |
| Mono Lake | 2,407,820 |
| San Luis Reservoir | 2,041,000 |
| Don Pedro Lake | 2,030,000 |
| Lake Berryessa | 1,602,000 |
| Clear Lake | 1,155,000 |
| Lake Almanor | 1,142,960 |
5. Lake Berryessa — Largest Reservoir in the San Francisco Bay Area
Lake Berryessa is the largest reservoir in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and one of the most popular day-trip destinations from the Bay, located in Napa County about two hours from San Francisco. It was created by Monticello Dam on Putah Creek and has a capacity of approximately 1,602,000 acre-feet with over 165 miles of shoreline. The lake is well-known for the Glory Hole — a concrete morning glory spillway that creates a spectacular whirlpool-like appearance when the reservoir fills above the spillway crest. Water sports including jet skiing, wakeboarding, and bass fishing are popular here. Boat rentals are available at Pleasure Cove Marina. Multiple hiking trails border the lake, including the Smittle Creek Trail on the southwestern shore.
6. Lake Havasu — California’s Longest Border Lake
Lake Havasu sits on the Colorado River at the California-Arizona border in the southeastern corner of California, in San Bernardino County. It was formed by Parker Dam, completed in 1938, and stretches approximately 45 miles in length. The lake is known for bass fishing, motorized boating, and desert scenery. The city of Lake Havasu City, Arizona — on the eastern shore — is home to the original London Bridge, purchased from the City of London and transported stone by stone to Arizona in 1968. Multiple campgrounds are accessible both by road and boat. Water temperature and a desert climate make it one of the warmer lakes for swimming in the region.
7. Folsom Lake — Major Reservoir of the American River
Folsom Lake is a large reservoir on the American River in El Dorado and Placer counties, roughly 25 miles east of Sacramento. It was created by Folsom Dam, completed in 1955 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lake sits adjacent to Folsom, a city with roots in the Gold Rush era of the 1850s. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area surrounds the reservoir and offers more than 80 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, camping, and direct shoreline access. Motorized boating, jet skiing, and sailing are popular on the lake’s 75 miles of shoreline. Folsom Lake is one of the primary water sources for the Sacramento metropolitan area.
8. Bass Lake — Sierra National Forest Reservoir
Bass Lake is a small reservoir in Madera County within the Sierra National Forest, at an elevation of about 3,400 feet — lower than most Sierra lakes, which gives it warmer summer water temperatures and an extended boating season. It covers approximately 1,160 acres at full pool. Motorized boating is actively permitted and popular; sheltered coves throughout the lake are used for fishing (bass, catfish, trout, and bluegill), swimming, and paddling. Five campgrounds around the lake are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and accommodate both tents and RVs. Bass Lake’s lower elevation also makes it accessible and free of snow earlier in the season than the high-country Sierra lakes.
9. Mammoth Lakes Basin
Mammoth Lakes Basin is a cluster of lakes in the Eastern Sierra above the town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, at elevations between 8,500 and 9,000 feet. The main lakes — Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake Mamie, Lake George, and Horseshoe Lake — are all accessible by paved road and offer camping, hiking, and fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Horseshoe Lake at the far end of the basin is the site of a known carbon dioxide seep from volcanic activity beneath Mammoth Mountain, which has killed trees in the surrounding area — visitors should avoid low-lying areas there and not camp near the gas-affected zone. The rest of the basin’s lakes are well-developed for recreation, with multiple Forest Service campgrounds. The basin is covered in snow from approximately November through May.
10. Silverwood Lake
Silverwood Lake is a California Department of Water Resources reservoir in the San Bernardino Mountains, part of the State Water Project. It sits at an elevation of about 3,350 feet and holds approximately 73,300 acre-feet of water. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area surrounds the lake and provides boating, fishing, swimming beaches, and the Mesa Campground on the southern end, which has more than 130 campsites for both tent and RV camping. The lake is surrounded by pine and oak woodland, and views of the surrounding mountain ridges are accessible from several shoreline trails.
11. Cachuma Lake
Cachuma Lake is a reservoir in Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, created by Bradbury Dam on the Santa Ynez River. It serves as the primary domestic water supply for the communities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta, and Montecito — which means swimming and other full-contact water activities are prohibited. The lake is nonetheless a popular recreation destination: Cachuma Lake Recreation Area offers fishing (largemouth bass, trout, catfish, and crappie are all present), boating with rentals available at the marina, camping, and winter bald eagle watching cruises. The surrounding oak woodland and chaparral habitat supports a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and raptors.
12. Lake Almanor
Lake Almanor is a large reservoir in Plumas County in the northern Sierra Nevada, covering approximately 13,000 acres with a shoreline of over 52 miles. It was created by the Great Western Power Company in 1914 with the construction of Canyon Dam on the North Fork Feather River. The town of Chester sits on the northeastern shore and provides lodging, restaurants, and services for visitors. The lake is popular for fishing (trout, bass, catfish, and perch), boating, and camping. Water temperatures warm enough for comfortable swimming are generally reached by late July. The surrounding landscape of pine and fir forests and the relatively undeveloped shoreline give Lake Almanor a quieter character than many California reservoirs.
13. Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a large, highly saline and alkaline terminal lake in Mono County on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, at an elevation of approximately 6,380 feet. It has no outlet — water leaves only through evaporation — making it one of the oldest continuously existing lakes in North America, estimated to be at least 760,000 years old. The lake is best known for its otherworldly tufa formations: towers and columns of calcium carbonate that formed underwater when calcium-rich freshwater springs met the lake’s carbonate-rich water. Millions of migratory birds, including eared grebes and phalaropes, stop at Mono Lake each year to feed on brine shrimp and alkali flies. The eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park is approximately 13 miles west of the lake. Swimming is possible (the buoyancy is noticeably high due to salinity), and guided tufa walks and bird walks are offered by the Mono Lake Committee.
14. Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake sits within Yosemite National Park at an elevation of 8,150 feet along Tioga Road (Highway 120), making it one of the most accessible high-country lakes in the Sierra Nevada. It covers approximately 150 acres and is surrounded by polished granite domes, including Polly Dome to the north. A sandy beach on the eastern end of the lake is popular for sunbathing. Swimming is permitted but the water stays cold even in midsummer. Non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards are allowed. The lake is closed with the rest of Tioga Road, typically from November through late May depending on snowpack. Backcountry trails connect Tenaya Lake to the broader Yosemite wilderness.
15. June Lake
June Lake is one of four lakes in the June Lake Loop (Highway 158), a scenic 16-mile bypass off US-395 in Mono County at an elevation of about 7,600 feet. The lake covers approximately 160 acres and is flanked by the volcanic peaks of the Eastern Sierra. It is an active recreation destination, not an abandoned one: the loop supports fishing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and winter skiing at June Mountain Ski Area. Rainbow trout fishing is particularly popular. The June Lake area sees heavy summer and fall visitation for the combination of lake recreation and the vibrant fall foliage of the aspen groves throughout the loop. Campgrounds and lodging are available in the community of June Lake Village.
16. Gull Lake
Gull Lake is a small alpine lake in the June Lake Loop, Mono County, sitting just above June Lake at an elevation of about 7,600 feet. It covers roughly 65 acres. Despite its modest size, it offers scenic views of the surrounding volcanic peaks and is connected to the other June Lake Loop lakes by trail. Fishing for rainbow and brown trout is the primary draw. A boat launch and campground are located at the lake. The trail system linking Gull Lake to the broader loop area connects to Silver Lake and beyond, making it a natural stop on a full tour of the June Lake basin.
17. Silver Lake
Silver Lake is the largest of the four June Lake Loop lakes in Mono County, covering approximately 85 acres at an elevation of about 7,215 feet. It is fed by Rush Creek and drains through a series of lower lakes and meadows into Mono Lake. Fishing (rainbow and brown trout), kayaking, canoeing, and swimming are all permitted. A campground and boat rentals are available at the lake. Silver Lake offers some of the most dramatic Eastern Sierra scenery of the loop, with steep canyon walls rising above the water to the west. In fall, the surrounding aspen groves color the hillsides with gold, making the area one of the most photographed in the Sierra Nevada.
18. Convict Lake
Convict Lake is a small but exceptionally scenic alpine lake in Mono County, located about 5 miles south of the town of Mammoth Lakes at an elevation of approximately 7,600 feet. It covers roughly 170 acres and is enclosed on three sides by steep, multi-colored volcanic and metamorphic peaks, including Mount Morrison and Laurel Mountain. The lake gets its name from an 1871 incident in which a group of escaped convicts were tracked and captured in the canyon above. The surrounding trail circumnavigates the lake in under 2 miles and continues into the backcountry toward Genevieve Lake and beyond. Fishing for rainbow and brown trout is popular, and a small resort at the trailhead offers boat rentals and a restaurant. Early morning light on the peaks above the lake is a reliable subject for landscape photographers.
19. Manzanita Lake
Manzanita Lake is a small lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Shasta County, at an elevation of 5,890 feet near the park’s northwestern entrance. It covers approximately 52 acres and was formed when a volcanic lava flow dammed Manzanita Creek in the relatively recent geologic past. The lake is best known for its mirror-like reflections of Lassen Peak (10,457 feet), which rises to the southeast and is particularly photogenic at dawn. A 1.8-mile trail loops the shoreline. Kayaking and canoeing are permitted (no motorized craft). The Manzanita Lake Campground has 179 sites, making it the largest campground in the park, and the Loomis Museum and park visitor facilities are nearby. Because Lassen Volcanic is less visited than Yosemite or Kings Canyon, Manzanita Lake often provides a quieter Sierra Nevada experience.
20. Clear Lake
Clear Lake in Lake County is the largest natural freshwater lake entirely within California (Lake Tahoe being larger but shared with Nevada), covering approximately 43,000 acres with 100 miles of shoreline. It is also considered one of the oldest lakes in North America, estimated to be between 480,000 and 2.5 million years old. The lake sits in a volcanic depression north of the Mayacamas Mountains and supports a warm-water fishery dominated by largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill — it is consistently ranked among the top bass fishing destinations in the country. The surrounding community of the same name, as well as the towns of Lakeport and Clearlake Oaks, provide access to marinas, campgrounds, and lodging. Clear Lake is also a productive habitat for western grebes, bald eagles, and other waterbirds.
For more on California’s lakes and outdoor recreation, see the site’s guides to dispersed camping in California, camping along the Feather River, fishing at Cachuma Lake, and yurt camping near Lake Cachuma.
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