List of lakes of California


There are more than 3,000 named lakes, reservoirs, and dry lakes in the U.S. state of California.

Largest lakes

In terms of area covered, the largest lake in California is the Salton Sea, a lake formed in 1905 which is now saline. It occupies in the southeast corner of the state, but because it is shallow it only holds about of water. Tulare Lake in the San Joaquin Valley was larger, at approximately, until it was drained during the later years of the nineteenth century.
In terms of volume, the largest lake on the list is Lake Tahoe, located on the California-Nevada border. It holds roughly of water. It is also the largest freshwater lake by area, at, and the deepest lake, with a maximum depth of.
Among freshwater lakes entirely contained within the state, the largest by area is Clear Lake, which covers.
Many of California's large lakes are actually reservoirs: artificial bodies of fresh water. In terms of both area and volume, the largest of these is Lake Shasta, which formed behind Shasta Dam in the 1940s. The dam can impound of water over.
Lake Elsinore, which covers, is billed as the largest natural freshwater lake in Southern California.

List

The list is alphabetized by the name of the lake, with the words lake, of, and the ignored. To sort on a different column, click on the arrows in the header row.
Geographic coordinates, approximate elevations, alternative names, and other details may be obtained by following the Geographic Names Information System links in the third column.
Note: Lakes grow and shrink due to precipitation, evaporation, releases, and diversions.
For this reason, many of the surface areas tabulated below are very approximate.
For reservoirs, the areas at maximum water storage are indicated. Reservoirs used for flood control are seldom allowed to reach maximum storage.
NameCalifornia countyGNIS idType Surface area
Abbotts LagoonMarinnatural lake
Almaden ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Plumasreservoir
El Doradoreservoir
Alpinereservoir
Alpine LakeMarinreservoir
Amadorreservoir
Anderson LakeSanta Clarareservoir
Angora LakesEl Doradonatural lakes
Antelope LakePlumasreservoir
Antonelli PondSanta Cruzreservoir
Contra Costareservoir
San Bernardinoreservoir
Atascadero LakeSan Luis Obisporeservoir
Tuolumne Countylake
Badwater BasinInyonatural dry lake
Baker LakeShastanatural lake
Los Angeles
Baldwin Hills ReservoirLos Angelesformer reservoir breached in 1963
Baldwin LakeLos Angelesnatural lake
Baldwin LakeSan Bernardinonatural intermittent lake
Balsam ForebayFresnoreservoir
Barker ReservoirRiversidereservoir
Bass LakeMaderareservoir
Bass LakeMarinnatural lake
Bear Gulch ReservoirSan Mateoreservoir
Bear River ReservoirAmadorreservoir
Beardsley LakeTuolumnereservoir
Belvedere LagoonMarinartificial lagoon
Napareservoir
Bethany ReservoirAlamedareservoir
Beyers LakesNevadanatural lakes
Bicycle LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Big Bear LakeSan Bernardinoreservoir
Big Dry Creek ReservoirFresnoreservoir
Big Sage ReservoirModocreservoir
Big Tujunga ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Black Butte Lakereservoir
Boca ReservoirNevadareservoir
Bon Tempe LakeMarinreservoir
Bouquet ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Bowman LakeNevadareservoir
Brea ReservoirOrangereservoir
Brickyard Cove PondContra Costaflooded quarry
Bridgeport ReservoirMonoreservoir
Briones ReservoirContra Costareservoir
Bristol LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Shastareservoir
Broadwell LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Brock ReservoirImperialreservoir
Brush Creek ReservoirEl Doradoreservoir
Bucks LakePlumasreservoir
Buena Vista LakeKernformer natural lake drained in the mid 20th century
Butt Valley ReservoirPlumasreservoir
Butte LakeLassennatural lake
Santa Barbarareservoir
Calaveras Reservoirreservoir
Calero ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Lake CaleroSacramentoreservoir
Camanche Reservoirreservoir
Camp Far West Reservoirreservoir
Camp LakeTuolumnenatural lake
Canyon LakeRiversidereservoir
Caples LakeAlpinereservoir
Carbon Canyon ReservoirOrangereservoir
Venturareservoir
Castaic LakeLos Angelesreservoir
Castac LakeKernnatural lake
Castle LakeSiskiyounatural lake
Cathedral LakesMariposanatural lakes
Cedar LakeSan Bernardinoreservoir
Alamedareservoir
Charlotte LakeFresnonatural lake
Cherry LakeTuolumnereservoir
Chesbro ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Clear LakeLakenatural lake raised by Cache Creek Dam
Clear Lake ReservoirModocreservoir
Placerreservoir
Clifton Court ForebayContra Costareservoir
Cogswell ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Collins LakeYubareservoir
Concow ReservoirButtereservoir
Contra Loma ReservoirContra Costareservoir
Convict LakeMononatural lake
Copco LakeSiskiyouNatural lake, former name Lake Klamea name changed when dam was built
Courtright ReservoirFresnoreservoir
Coyote LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Coyote LakeSanta Clarareservoir
Crowley LakeMonoreservoir
Crystal LakeLos Angelesnatural lake
Crystal Springs ReservoirSan Mateo and reservoirs
Cuddeback LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Santa Clarareservoir
Lake CuyamacaSan Diegoreservoir
Danby LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Plumasreservoir
Lake De SablaButtereservoir
Deep LakeSiskiyounatural lake
Alamedareservoir
Diamond Valley LakeRiversidereservoir
Diaz LakeInyo
Dingleberry LakeInyonatural lake
Dog LakeTuolumnenatural lake
Dorris ReservoirModocreservoir
Dixon LakeSan Diegoreservoir
Dodge ReservoirLassenreservoir
Don Pedro ReservoirTuolumnereservoir
Donnell LakeTuolumnereservoir
Donner LakeNevadanatural lake raised by Donner Lake Dam
Duvall LakeNapareservoir
Eagle LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Eagle LakeLassennatural lake
Eagle LakeTularenatural lake
Del Nortenatural lagoon
East Park ReservoirColusareservoir
Eastman Lakereservoir
Eaton Wash ReservoirLos Angelesflood-control reservoir
Echo LakeEl Dorado and natural lakes raised by Echo Lake Dam
Ediza LakeMaderanatural lake
El Capitan ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
Montereynatural lake
El Mirage LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Contra Costa
Elderberry ForebayLos Angelesreservoir
Tuolumnereservoir
Venturareservoir
Alamedareservoir
Elizabeth LakeLos Angelesnatural lake
Ellis LakeYuba
Riversidenatural lake
Santa Clarareservoir
Emerald LakeShastanatural lake
Emerald LakeTrinitynatural lake
Emerald PoolMariposanatural lake
Emerson LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Encino ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Englebright Lakereservoir
Kern
Fallen Leaf LakeEl DoradoNatural lake Fallen Leaf Dam raised level
Farmington Flood Control Basinflood-control reservoir
Flora LakeTuolumnenatural lake
Florence LakeFresnoreservoir
Folsom Lakereservoir
Foster LakeRiversidereservoir
Fountaingrove LakeSonomareservoir
Fowler LakePlumasnatural lake
Francis LakeEl Doradonatural lake
French Lake ReservoirNevadareservoir
French Meadows ReservoirPlacerreservoir
Frenchman LakePlumasreservoir
Lake FulmorRiversidereservoir
Gibraltar ReservoirSanta Barbarareservoir
Gilmore LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Goldstone LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Goose LakeModocnatural intermittent lake
Grant LakeMonoreservoir
Green Valley LakeSan Bernardinoreservoir
San Bernardinoreservoir
Grizzly LakePlumasnatural lake
Grizzly ForebayPlumasreservoir
Guadalupe ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Hansen Flood Control BasinLos Angelesflood-control reservoir
Harper LakeSan Bernardinonatural lake
San Bernardinoreservoir
Shastanatural lake
Hell Hole ReservoirPlacer and reservoir
Riversidereservoir
Napareservoir
San Diegoreservoir
Hensley LakeMaderareservoir
Hernandez ReservoirSan Benitoreservoir
Hesperia LakeSan Bernardino
Hetch Hetchy ReservoirTuolumnereservoir
Hidden Valley LakeLakereservoir
Hilltop LakeContra Costa
San Diegoreservoir
Hog Flat ReservoirLassenreservoir
Hollywood ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Honey LakeLassennatural lake
Horseshoe LakeShastanatural lake
Horseshoe LakeAlamedaflooded quarry
Howard LakeMendocinonatural lake
Howard LakeMendocinonatural lake
Hughes LakeLos Angelesnatural lake
Hume LakeFresnoreservoir
Huntington LakeFresnoreservoir
Sonomareservoir
Imperial ReservoirImperialreservoir
Indian Tom LakeSiskiyou
Indian Valley ReservoirLakereservoir
Iron Canyon ReservoirShastareservoir
Iron Gate ReservoirSiskiyoureservoir
Orangereservoir
Isabella LakeKernreservoir
Ivanhoe ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Ivanpah LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Jackson Meadows Reservoirreservoir
Jenkinson LakeEl Doradoreservoir
Jenks LakeSan Bernardinoreservoir
San Diegoreservoir
Jewel LakeContra Costareservoir
June LakeMononatural lake
Juniper Lakenatural lake
Kangaroo LakeSiskiyou Countynatural lake
Tularereservoir
Kent LakeMarin and reservoir
Kern LakeKernformer natural lake drained in the 19th century
Kesterson ReservoirMercedformer drainage reservoirs now wetlands
Keswick ReservoirShastareservoir
Kibbie LakeTuolumnenatural lake
Koehn LakeKernnatural dry lake
La Grange Reservoirreservoir
Lafayette ReservoirContra Costareservoir
Lago Los OsosAlamedaflooded quarry
Laguna BlancaSanta Barbaranatural lake
Laguna Honda ReservoirSan Franciscoreservoir
Laguna Lakenatural intermittent lake
Laguna LakesOrangenatural lakes
Laguna SecaSanta Claraformer natural lake
Santa Clarareservoir
Marinreservoir
Lassenreservoir
Lee LakeRiversidereservoir
Lewiston LakeTrinityreservoir
Lexington ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Lincoln Park LakeLos Angeles
Little Grass Valley ReservoirPlumasreservoir
Lloyd LakeSan Francisco
Loch LevenInyonatural lake
Loch Leven LakesPlacernatural lakes
Loch LomondSanta Cruzreservoir
Fresnonatural lake
Loon LakeEl Doradonatural lake raised by Loon Lake Dam
Lopez LakeSan Luis Obisporeservoir
Los Vaqueros ReservoirContra Costareservoir
Lost LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Lost LakeRiversidenatural lake
San Diegoreservoir
Lower Bear ReservoirAmadorreservoir
Lower Klamath LakeSiskiyounatural lake
Lower Otay ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
Lucerne LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Lyons ReservoirTuolumnereservoir
Magalia ReservoirButtereservoir
Malibu LakeLos Angelesreservoir
Malibu ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Mammoth Pool Reservoirreservoir
San Bernardinoformer natural lake
Inyoformer natural lake
Manzanita LakeShastanatural lake
Martha LakeFresnonatural lake
Martis Creek LakeNevadareservoir
Mary LakeShastareservoir
Riversidereservoir
May LakeMariposanatural lake
reservoir
Mariposareservoir
McCoy Flat ReservoirLassenreservoir
McKay's Point ReservoirCalaverasreservoir
Meiss LakeSiskiyounatural lake
Mendocinoreservoir
San Francisconatural lake
Alamedanatural inlet dammed in the 1860s
Miller/Knox LagoonContra Costaflooded quarries
Millerton Lakereservoir
Mills LakeInyonatural lake
Minaret LakeMaderanatural lake
Kernreservoir
Miramar ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
Mirror LakeMariposanatural lake
Orangereservoir
Modesto ReservoirStanislausreservoir
San Bernardinoformer natural lake
Moon LakeLassenreservoir
Mono LakeMononatural lake
Morena ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
Morris ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Mountain Meadows ReservoirLassenreservoir
Mud Lake
Munz LakesLos Angelesnatural lake
Murphy LakePlumasnatural lake
Murphy LakeSutterformer natural lake
San Diegoreservoir
Mystic LakeRiversidenatural lake
San Luis Obisporeservoir
Naraghi LakeStanislausreservoir
Sacramentoreservoir
Nelson LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
New Bullards Bar ReservoirYubareservoir
New Hogan LakeCalaverasreservoir
New Melones Lakereservoir
New Spicer Meadow ReservoirTuolumnereservoir
Nicasio ReservoirMarinreservoir
Riversideartificial lake
Olivenhain ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
O'Neill ForebayMercedreservoir
Buttereservoir
Ostrander LakeMariposanatural lake
Owens LakeInyonatural dry lake
Pacheco ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Pacoima ReservoirLos Angeles and reservoir
Los Angelesreservoir
Paradise LakeButtereservoir
Pardee Reservoirreservoir
Peeler LakeMononatural lake
Pee Wee LakeInyonatural lake
Riversidereservoir
Petaluma ReservoirSonomareservoir
Philbrook ReservoirButtereservoir
Lakereservoir
Pine Flat LakeFresnoreservoir
Pinecrest LakeTuolumnereservoir
Venturareservoir
Pit Six ReservoirShastareservoir
Pit 7 ReservoirShastareservoir
Piute PondsLos Angelesreservoir
Point Potrero PondContra Costaflooded quarry
San Diegoreservoir
Prado Reservoirflood-control reservoir
Prosser Creek ReservoirNevadareservoir
Puddingstone ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Pyramid LakeLos Angelesreservoir
Pyramid LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Quail LakeLos Angelesreservoir
Rae LakesFresnonatural lakes
Rainbow LakeAlamedaflooded quarry
Raker and Thomas ReservoirsModocreservoirs
Sonomareservoir
San Diegoreservoir
Rancho Seco LakeSacramentoreservoir
Rector ReservoirNapareservoir
Red Pass LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Redinger Lakereservoir
Roberts LakeSonomareservoir
Rodeo LagoonMarinnatural lake
Rogers Dry LakeKernnatural dry lake
Rogers LakePlumasnatural lake
Rosamond Lakenatural dry lake
Ruth ReservoirTrinityreservoir
Inyoreservoir
Salt Spring Valley ReservoirCalaverasreservoir
Salt Springs Reservoirreservoir
Salton Seanatural basin flooded since 1905
San Andreas LakeSan Mateoreservoir
reservoir
San Antonio ReservoirAlamedareservoir
San Antonio ReservoirSan Bernardinoreservoir
San Gabriel ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
San Joaquin ReservoirOrangereservoir
San Justo ReservoirSan Benitoreservoir
San Luis ReservoirMercedreservoir
San Pablo ReservoirContra Costareservoir
San Vicente ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
Santa Anita ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Santa Fe ReservoirLos Angelesflood-control reservoir
Santa Margarita LakeSan Luis Obisporeservoir
Santa Rosa Creek ReservoirSonomareservoir
Sapphire LakeTrinitynatural lake
Scotts Flat ReservoirNevadareservoir
Searles LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Searsville LakeSan Mateoreservoir
Sepulveda Flood Control BasinLos Angelesflood-control reservoir
Serene LakesPlacernatural lake
Seven Oaks ReservoirSan Bernardinoflood-control reservoir
Shastareservoir
Siskiyoureservoir
Shaver LakeFresnoreservoir
Venturareservoir
Shinn PondAlamedaflooded quarry
Silver LakeAmadorreservoir
Silver Lake ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Silver LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Silverwood LakeSan Bernardinoreservoir
Siskiyoureservoir
Skinner ReservoirRiversidereservoir
Slab Creek ReservoirEl Doradoreservoir
Sly Creek ReservoirButtereservoir
Smith LakePlumasnatural lake
Snag LakeLassennatural lake
Snake LakePlumasnatural lake
Soda LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Soda LakeSan Luis Obisponatural alkali lake
Sonomareservoir
Nevadareservoir
Spreckels LakeSan Franciscoreservoir
Spring Creek ReservoirShastareservoir
Square LakeTehamanatural lake
Squaw LakeFresnonatural lake
Stafford LakeMarinreservoir
Stampede ReservoirSierrareservoir
Stanford LakeMononatural lake
Statue LakeSiskiyounatural lake
Stevens Creek ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Stone Canyon ReservoirLos Angelesreservoir
Stony Gorge ReservoirGlennreservoir
Tularereservoir
Sugar Pine ReservoirPlacerreservoir
Sulphur Creek ReservoirOrangereservoir
Summit LakeShastanatural lake
Sunset ReservoirSan Franciscoreservoir
Superior LakeSan Bernardinonatural dry lake
Sonomareservoir
Sweetwater ReservoirSan Diegoreservoir
natural lake raised by Lake Tahoe Dam
Alamedareservoir
Tenaya LakeMariposanatural lake
Thermalito AfterbayButtereservoir
Thermalito ForebayButtereservoir
Fresnoreservoir
Thousand Island LakeMaderanatural lake
Three LakesPlumasreservoir
Timber LakeLakenatural lake
Tinemaha ReservoirInyoreservoir
Tioga LakeMonoreservoir
Tolay LakeSonomanatural lake partly drained in the 19th century
Toluca LakeLos Angelesnatural lake
Topaz LakeMononatural lake raised by diversions and levees
Trinity LakeTrinityreservoir
San Bernardinoreservoir
Tulare LakeKingsformer natural lake drained in the late 19th century
Tule Lakenatural intermittent lake
Tulloch ReservoirCalaverasreservoir
Turlock LakeStanislausreservoir
Twain Harte LakeTuolumnereservoir
Twin LakesMononatural lakes
Twitchell Reservoirreservoir
Ukonom LakeSiskiyoureservoir
Union Valley ReservoirEl Doradoreservoir
Uvas ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Vail LakeRiversidereservoir
Mendocinoreservoir
Vasona ReservoirSanta Clarareservoir
Tuolumnenatural lake
Fresnonatural lake
Virginia LakesMononatural lakes
Waca LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Kern
West Valley Reservoirreservoir
Whale Rock ReservoirSan Luis Obisporeservoir
Whiskeytown LakeShastareservoir
Whitfield ReservoirAlamedareservoir
Whittier Narrows ReservoirLos Angelesflood-control reservoir
Fresnoreservoir
San Diegoreservoir
El Doradonatural lake
Woodward ReservoirStanislausreservoir
Wrights LakeEl Doradonatural lake
Mercedreservoir