Summary
- Lake Superior is the largest lake in the world, spanning Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada's Ontario. Its vastness is connected to the sea and other Great Lakes.
- Pyramid Lake in Nevada stands out for its beauty and geothermal attractions. It is a remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan and is located on a Native American reservation.
- Crater Lake in Oregon is famous for being the bluest and deepest lake in the USA. It is protected in Crater Lake National Park and offers stunning natural wonders and hiking opportunities.
The United States is full of stunning lakes - from the remnants of large prehistoric lakes like Nevada's Pyramid Lake (it is a remnant of Lake Lahontan). The most famous lakes in the United States (and Canada) are the Great Lakes (in fact, four of the five Great Lakes can be seen from Ontario, perfect for a road trip).
There are plenty of stunning and contrasting lakes to discover all across America. Here are some of the most remarkable lakes in the US to visit found all across the country.
10 Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest lake in the United States (and the largest in the world). It is one of the Great Lakes that straddles the border with Canada and the United States (only Lake Michigan is solely located within the United States).
The vast lake is connected to the sea by the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the other Great Lakes, and ship canals.
- Why Remarkable: The Largest Lake In The World
- State: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan (& Canada's Ontario)
9 Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake is also one of the best lakes in the US to visit; it is a remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan and is located on a Native American reservation just north of Reno, Nevada.
Pyramid Lake is one of the most stunning in Nevada. It is located in the desert and has a number of geothermal attractions and formations to see.
- Why Remarkable: Beauty, Geothermal Attractions
- State: Nevada
8 Crater Lake
Crater Lake fills the caldera of a volcano in Oregon. It is protected in the Crater Lake National Park and is famous for being the bluest lake on earth.
It is one of the top destinations in central Oregon and one of the greatest natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest (it is also possible to hike down the crater to the lake).
- Why Remarkable: Claimed To Be The Bluest Lake, Deepest Lake In USA
- State: Oregon
7 Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes completely located in the United States. Alternatively, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron can be thought of as a single lake as they are connected by the five-mile wide Straits of Mackinac.
There are plenty of amazing facts to know about Lake Michigan, and there are plenty of things to see and do around it.
- Why Remarkable: Only Completely American Great Lake
- State: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
6 Salton Sea
The Salton Sea was the result of a flood in 1905. It soon became a natural wildlife refuge full of birds and fish, and soon, Salton City - a resort city - was built on it.
But the lake deteriorated, and the salinity rose. The birds left, the fish died, and Salton City became a ghost town.
- Why Remarkable: See The Salton City Ghost Town
- State: California
5 Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake is another one of the most beautiful lakes in the US to visit; it is the largest of the famous Finger Lakes of Upstate New York. The Finger Lakes are the glacial lakes, and Seneca Lake has been claimed to be the lake trout capital of the world.
It is exceptionally deep for the Finger Lakes and has plenty of recreational opportunities.
- Why Remarkable: Largest Of The Finger Lakes
- State: New York
4 Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake not only in the United States but also in the Western Hemisphere. As large as it is, it is a remnant of the prehistoric lake called Lake Bonneville.
It is very shallow (only averaging around 16 feet deep), and its size fluctuates depending on droughts and diversion of water.
- Why Remarkable: Largest Salt Lake In The Americas
- State: Utah
3 Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is among the most beautiful US lakes to visit; it is the largest lake in Yellowstone National Park, and is located around 7,700 feet above sea level with an average depth of 139 feet. It freezes over in the winter - except for where the lake is fed by hot springs.
Like the rest of the Yellowstone Eco Region, the lake is famous for its wildlife and its hydrothermal attractions.
- Why Remarkable: Rich Wildlife & Hydrothermal Attractions
- State: Wyoming
2 Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe always ranks among the best lakes in America to visit; it is the most famous alpine lake in North America and one of the top lake vacation destinations in the country. It is split between California and Nevada (there are plenty of casinos on the Nevadan side of the border).
Lake Tahoe is deep and the largest lake by volume after the Great Lakes in the United States.
- Why Remarkable: Popular Holiday Destination, Pristine Alpine Lake
- State: Nevada, California
1 Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the only artificial lake on this list. It is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam that dammed the Colorado River. It is the largest reservoir in the country and is one of the top destinations for outdoor recreation in the US.
The lake provides water to some 20 million people and large areas of farmland.
- Remarkable For: Largest Reservoir In USA, Recreational Opportunities
- State: Nevada, Arizona