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.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo Lake NM (Colorado, New Mexico, Northwest New Mexico, NM, Southeast Colorado, US Southwest Region, US West Region, USA) |
6,106 ft | Also known as Navajo Reservoir Navajo Lake offers a surprising and welcome expanse of water in northwestern New Mexico. The 15,600-acre reservoir stretches north into southwest Colo… |
| Flaming Gorge Reservoir, UT/WY (Dinosaurland Region, UT, Southwest Wyoming, US West Region, USA, Utah, Wyoming) |
6,040 ft | With more than 42,000 acres of boating and fishing waters, surrounded by choice camping and picnic areas, Flaming Gorge Reservoir – straddling the Wyo… |
| Lac de Tignes (France, Rhone-Alps Region, Southern France, Southern France Region) |
5,873 ft | Nestled snugly within the Parc National de la Vanoise in France’s Rhone Alps tourism region, Lac de Tignes is a small glassy lake known for its surrea… |
| Palisades Reservoir, ID/WY (Eastern Idaho, Idaho, Southwest Wyoming, US West Region, USA, Wyoming) |
5,620 ft | 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… |
| Cherry Creek Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Denver Area, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,598 ft | Also known as Cherry Creek Lake Affectionately called “Denver’s Backyard,” Cherry Creek Lake and State Park provide recreation opportunities for families from all over. Located in Au… |
| Echo Reservoir, UT (Mountainland Region, UT, US West Region, USA, Utah) |
5,570 ft | Echo Reservoir sits almost smack in the middle of the countryside between Salt Lake City and the Utah/Wyoming border. It’s hard to miss, as Interstate… |
| Chatfield Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Denver Area, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,500 ft | Also known as Chatfield Lake Standing in fields of prairie clover looking at blue herons on beautiful Chatfield Reservoir, it’s hard to imagine that this spot is just outside the… |
| Cochiti Lake, NM (New Mexico, North-Central, NM, US Southwest Region, USA) |
5,474 ft | Stretching 7 miles long on the Rio Grande River, Cochiti Lake is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, about 20 miles west of Santa Fe and 60 miles… |
| Horsetooth Reservoir, CO (Colorado, Front Range Region, CO, US West Region, USA) |
5,429 ft | Also known as Horsetooth Lake On the high, arid ridges and plains of Colorado’s Front Range, Horsetooth Reservoir delights the visitor and refreshes the senses. Developed as a stor… |
| Deer Creek Reservoir, UT (Mountainland Region, UT, US West Region, USA, Utah) |
5,425 ft | Deer Creek Reservoir is located near Heber, Utah, the home of the historic “Heber Creeper,” a train with a steam engine that takes tourists on trips f… |
| Shaver Lake, CA (California, High Sierra Region, CA, US West Region, USA) |
5,370 ft | Also known as Shaver Reservoir Sixty miles east of Fresno, hidden in the High Sierra Region, Shaver Lake is one of California’s favorite recreation destinations. There have been man… |
| Smolyan Lakes (Bulgaria) |
5,249 ft | Also known as Smolian Lakes, Smolianski Ezera, Smolyanski Lakes, Lake Matno, Lake Bristroto, Lake Blatistoto, Lake Lagot, Ezerov Gyol Known as the “emerald eyes” of the Rhodope Mountains, the Smolyan Lakes are a series of scenic lakes set in southern Bulgaria close to the border with… |