North America Lake Spots Map

Banff National Park

Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes

9.2

Banff began in 1885 as a hot springs reserve and is Canada's first national park. It covers 6,641 square kilometres. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are 15 kilometres apart. The Icefields Parkway runs 230 kilometres north to Jasper past Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. UNESCO listed the park in 1984.

Highlights:

🌊 Explore the scenic Johnston Canyon waterfalls trail
🏞️ Hike to Lake Louise and admire turquoise waters
🚡 Ride the Banff Gondola for spectacular mountain views

Lake Louise

Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies

8.9

Lake Louise covers about 0.8 square kilometres, larger than nearby Moraine Lake at 0.5. Canoes rent from a launch on the northeastern shore. The hike to Lake Agnes Tea House is 3.5 kilometres with 400 metres of climbing. The tea house was built in 1901. It is open from June to October.

Highlights:

🚡 Ride the Lake Louise Gondola for panoramic alpine scenery
🥾 Hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House for stunning mountain views
🛶 Canoe on the iconic turquoise waters of Lake Louise

Algonquin Provincial Park

Lakes, forests and wildlife in serene wilderness

9.1

Algonquin Provincial Park covers about 7,650 square kilometres in Ontario and has over 2,400 lakes. Canoe routes total 2,000 kilometres. Highway 60 crosses the south end for 55 kilometres past 19 hiking trails. The painter Tom Thomson died on Canoe Lake in 1917. Public wolf howls run on Thursday evenings in August.

Highlights:

🏕️ Camp under starlit skies in designated sites
🦌 Spot moose and deer along the scenic riverbanks
🥾 Hike the rugged trails of Algonquin's backcountry

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Pristine lakes, untouched wilderness paradise

8.4

Paddlers share the Boundary Waters with loons and wolves. The wilderness covers 1.09 million acres, with over 1,100 lakes and 1,200 miles of canoe routes. Motors are limited and snowmobiles are banned. Overnight trips from 1 May through 30 September need a quota permit reserved in advance.

Highlights:

💧 Discover waterfalls like Devil’s Cascade and Johnson Falls
🥾 Hike to Eagle Mountain, Minnesota’s highest point
🛶 Go on an overnight canoe camping trip through lakes

Voyageurs National Park

Watery wilderness of northern Minnesota

8.0

Voyageurs became a national park in 1975. Most of its 218,200 acres can be reached only by boat in summer. Its four large lakes are Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point. Rainy Lake is about 60 miles long. Kettle Falls Hotel has stood since 1910. Houseboats rent for trips to designated campsites.

Highlights:

🛶 Paddle a canoe through the peaceful waterways and explore wildlife
🌌 Witness the breathtaking northern lights over pristine lakes
🚣‍♂️ Explore hidden islands by boat and camp overnight

Minnesota

Land of 10,000 Lakes and Vibrant Cities

7.7

Minnesota has 11,842 lakes of 10 acres or more, which tops its Land of 10,000 Lakes nickname. Lake shoreline totals 44,926 miles. All but 4 of its 87 counties have a natural lake. Basswood Lake covers 14,071 acres on the Canadian border. Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters have canoe routes.

Highlights:

🛶 Canoe through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
🎢 Shop and ride indoor roller coasters at Mall of America
💧 Admire the cascading waters at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis

Banff

Rocky Mountain Majesty, Endless Adventure

9.0

Go to Vermilion Lakes at sunrise for Mount Rundle reflected in the water. The three lakes are 2.4 kilometres from Banff townsite. Canoe, paddleboard or bike along the shore. Moose sometimes appear early or late in the day. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate for sunrise.

Highlights:

♨️ Relax in the Banff Upper Hot Springs with mountain views
🥾 Hike Johnston Canyon and explore breathtaking waterfalls
🚡 Ride the Banff Gondola for panoramic Sulphur Mountain views

Mackinac Island

Historic charm meets pristine lakeside serenity

9.2

Mackinac Island banned motor vehicles in town in 1898 and across the island in 1901. Bikes and horse carriages travel the 8 mile road around the shore. Ferries run from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace in summer. British soldiers built Fort Mackinac in 1780. Mackinac Island State Park covers about 80 percent of the island.

Highlights:

🏰 Explore Fort Mackinac's preserved 19th-century cannons
🐴 Ride a horse-drawn carriage through downtown island
🚲 Cycle across the historic Mackinac Bridge

Finger Lakes

Waterfalls, wine and pristine lakes

8.0

Glaciers carved the 11 Finger Lakes into long narrow valleys. Seneca Lake is 618 feet deep. Cayuga Lake is 38 miles long. More than 400 wineries and vineyards surround six of the lakes, including Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka. Watkins Glen sits at the south end of Seneca Lake.

Highlights:

🌊 Visit Taughannock Falls, one of the tallest in the East
🖼️ Tour the Corning Museum of Glass and watch live demos
🥾 Hike the scenic Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park

Michigan

Great Lakes State of Wonder

7.9

Sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore rise above Lake Michigan near Glen Arbor. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore lines Lake Superior between Munising and Grand Marais. Michigan has 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 11,037 inland lakes. No spot in the state is more than 85 miles from a Great Lake.

Highlights:

🍁 Drive the scenic M-22 coastal highway in autumn
🎶 Explore Detroit’s revitalized downtown and Motown Museum
🏞️ Admire the Great Lakes views from Sleeping Bear Dunes

Glacier National Park

Crown of the Continent

8.9

Lake McDonald Lodge was built in 1913 and 1914 in a Swiss influenced style. It stands on the shore of the park's longest lake. The lake is 10 miles long and about 464 feet deep. The 53 mile Going-to-the-Sun Road follows its south shore. Apgar sits at the west end.

Highlights:

🌲 Explore Avalanche Lake’s serene hiking trails
🚗 Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road for views
🥾 Hike to Grinnell Glacier and stunning turquoise lakes

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park

Where two nations preserve wilderness

8.9

Plains bison graze in Waterton Lakes National Park, which covers 505 square kilometres beside Waterton Lake. Together with Glacier National Park in Montana it forms the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, set up in 1932. The Prince of Wales Hotel opened in July 1927 and is a national historic site.

Highlights:

🛶 Canoe or kayak on serene Waterton Lake
🚗 Drive the scenic Red Rock Canyon Road
🥾 Hike the challenging Crypt Lake Trail with stunning views

Idaho

Outdoor Paradise with Scenic Beauty

7.3

Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho is 43 miles long and 1,152 feet deep, the fifth deepest in the country. Sandpoint is the largest town on its shore. Farragut State Park, a former Navy training base, sits at the southern tip. Lake Coeur d'Alene is 25 miles long.

Highlights:

🌋 Explore the Craters of the Moon volcanic landscape
💦 Visit Shoshone Falls, higher than Niagara, and take in the power
🏔️ Hike the majestic Sawtooth Mountains and enjoy panoramic views

Montana

Wild Beauty & Vast Big Skies

8.4

Cherry orchards on the east shore of Flathead Lake are ready for picking in July and August. The lake is 27 miles long, 197 square miles in area and 370 feet deep. Wild Horse Island is the largest island in it at 2,164 acres. Polson sits at the lake's south end.

Highlights:

🐎 Go horseback riding through wide open Big Sky Country
🦬 Spot wildlife and geysers in Yellowstone’s rugged wilderness
🏞️ Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

Wisconsin

Four seasons of Midwestern charm

7.6

The Apostle Islands lie off northern Wisconsin in Lake Superior. The national lakeshore has 21 islands. Sandstone sea caves line parts of the shore. Eight historic lighthouses stand on six islands. Congress created the lakeshore in 1970. The islands are reached by boat. Kayak tours paddle along the sea caves.

Highlights:

🧀 Sample fresh cheese curds at a local creamery
🌊 Relax beside Lake Michigan at Milwaukee’s waterfront parks
🏍️ Tour the Harley-Davidson Museum and learn motorcycle history

Yellowstone National Park

Geysers, wildlife and untamed wilderness

8.8

Yellowstone Lake freezes by early December and the ice can last until late May or early June. It covers 136 square miles at 7,732 feet. The lake is up to 20 miles long and 15 miles wide. A marina operates at Bridge Bay. Boaters need a Yellowstone Boating Permit.

Highlights:

🐃 Spot bison, elk, and bears roaming in Lamar Valley
🌈 Walk the boardwalks of the Grand Prismatic Spring and admire its vivid colors
🌋 Watch Old Faithful erupt and feel the geothermal power of Yellowstone

Grand Teton National Park

Stunning Peaks and Wildlife Wonders

8.6

Jenny Lake sits at the base of the Teton Range at 6,783 feet. A 7.1 mile trail circles it with 700 feet of climbing. A boat shuttle run by a concessioner crosses the lake. Jackson Lake is 15 miles long and 438 feet deep. Grand Teton rises to 13,775 feet above the park.

Highlights:

🏞️ Trek through Cascade Canyon for breathtaking views
💧 Explore Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point nearby
🚶‍♂️ Hike the scenic Jenny Lake Loop Trail

California

Golden State of Endless Experiences

8.7

Tufa towers at Mono Lake are limestone columns that formed underwater. They rose into view as Los Angeles diverted the lake's streams starting in 1941. The lake is at least 760,000 years old and covers 70 square miles. A brine shrimp species found only here feeds nesting California gulls.

Highlights:

🚗 Drive the stunning Pacific Coast Highway from LA to Big Sur
🏞️ Explore Yosemite National Park’s waterfalls and granite cliffs
🌉 Stroll across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Jasper National Park

Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies

8.8

Boat tours to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake run from spring to autumn. The lake is 22 kilometres long and lies 44 kilometres south of Jasper. Pyramid Lake lies just north of town. Medicine Lake drains through sinkholes in its bottom. Its water reaches Maligne Canyon underground about 16 kilometres away.

Highlights:

🧊 Walk on the Athabasca Glacier with a guided tour
🐻 Spot elk, moose, and bears along Icefields Parkway
🛶 Cruise Maligne Lake and marvel at Spirit Island

Alaska

Land of superlatives and adventure

8.9

Freshwater seals surface in Iliamna Lake, one of the few places in the world that has them. The lake is 77 miles long and 22 miles wide. It is the largest lake in Alaska and the 7th largest in the United States. Sockeye salmon spend half of their five year lives in its water.

Highlights:

🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks

New York (state)

Beyond the city that never sleeps

8.8

Steamboats called the Mohican and Le Lac du Saint Sacrement cruise Lake George. The lake is 32 miles long with over 170 islands, 148 of them state owned. Lake George Village at the south end has the Fort William Henry Hotel. French forces burned the original fort there in 1757.

Highlights:

🌳 Walk through Central Park and row across the lake
🏙️ Admire New York City from the Empire State Building
💦 Stand beneath the roaring Niagara Falls mist

Oregon

Diverse Landscapes and Outdoor Wonders

7.9

The Wallowa Lake Tramway rises from 4,450 to 8,150 feet on Mount Howard in about 15 minutes. It runs from mid May to early October. The base is near Joseph, Oregon. The tram opened in 1970. From the top riders look over the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Wallowa Lake sits in the valley below.

Highlights:

🏞️ Explore volcanic Crater Lake National Park
🌊 Drive the scenic Oregon Coast Scenic Byway
💧 Hike to breathtaking Multnomah Falls viewpoint

Nicaragua

Tropical beauty with volcanic charm

6.7

Lake Nicaragua is slightly smaller than Lake Titicaca and covers 8,264 square kilometres. It is the largest freshwater lake in Central America. Ometepe is the largest island in the lake and is volcanic. Granada sits on the northwest shore. The Solentiname Islands are reachable only by boat.

Highlights:

🛶 Kayak around the tiny islets of Lake Nicaragua
🏘️ Wander through the colorful colonial streets of Granada
🏂 Hike up Cerro Negro volcano and try volcano boarding

Moraine Lake

Turquoise jewel of the Rockies

The Rockpile Trail is a 300 metre walk that gains 24 metres. From the top you see the Valley of the Ten Peaks, once printed on the Canadian 20 dollar bill. The lake sits at 1,884 metres and fills by late June. Private cars are banned, so visitors take the Parks Canada shuttle.

Highlights:

📸 Capture iconic photos with the Valley of the Ten Peaks
🛶 Take a canoe out on the crystal-clear lake waters
🥾 Hike around the vibrant turquoise Moraine Lake shoreline

Lake Minnewanka

Banff's Majestic Alpine Jewel

A dam finished in 1941 raised Lake Minnewanka by 30 metres. It flooded Minnewanka Landing, a resort village open since 1888. Divers now explore the village, bridge pilings and the 1912 dam. The lake is 21 kilometres long. Boat tours leave from the parking area at the west end.

Highlights:

🐻 Spot wildlife along the tranquil scenic drive
🥾 Hike trails with panoramic mountain and lake views
🛥️ Take a scenic boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka

Lake Atitlán

Crimson sunsets over turquoise waters

Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel Maya live in the villages around Lake Atitlan. No road circles the lake. Boats link towns such as Panajachel, San Pedro La Laguna and Santiago Atitlan. The lake sits at 1,562 metres and is up to 340 metres deep. The volcanoes Atitlan, Toliman and San Pedro rise beside it.

Highlights:

☕ Explore Panajachel markets and taste local coffee
🥾 Hike to Semuc Champey for crystal clear pools
🚣‍♂️ Kayak across turquoise waters, spotting colorful houseboats

Lake Tahoe

Crystal waters framed by towering pine peaks

Emerald Bay on the west shore has Vikingsholm, a 38 room mansion. Fannette Island there holds an old teahouse. Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long and 1,645 feet deep. The Tahoe Rim Trail circles it for 165 miles. Fifteen ski areas sit around the basin.

Highlights:

🌌 Stargaze from the summit of Mount Tallac in summer
🥾 Hike to Emerald Bay for panoramic lake views
🏂 Ski or snowboard at Heavenly Mountain Resort during winter

Crater Lake

Eternal blue depths echo volcanic history

Crater Lake is 1,949 feet deep, the deepest lake in the United States. The caldera formed about 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed. Rim Drive runs 33 miles around it. Wizard Island is a 316 acre cinder cone. Lakeshore access and boat tours are suspended through summer 2028.

Highlights:

🛶 Explore Wizard Island by kayak or hike
🚤 Take a scenic boat tour across turquoise waters
🏞️ Hike to Crater Lake rim at sunrise

Best lake destinations in North America