11 Amazing National Parks With Lakes in the US
Looking for national parks with lakes?
Luckily, there are plenty of national parks with lakes in the United States.
I put together a list with some of America’s national parks with lakes so you don’t have to research all 63 parks to find the right one for you.
The lakes in these parks are great for activities like boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, or just admiring their dazzling beauty. Just be sure to check with each national park for specific rules around these activities.
Ready to find your park? Here are 11 US national parks with lakes.
1. Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is the main attraction in Oregon’s sole national park.
It’s the deepest lake in the United States.
As the name suggests, Crater Lake formed when water filled a crater after an eruption that took place thousands of years ago. The lake isn’t fed by any rivers but instead by rain and snowmelt falling into the crater, resulting in unusually pure water and its deep blue color.
The easiest way to enjoy Crater Lake is to admire it from up on the road and trails at the edge of the lake.
You can get out on the lake as long as you’re up for a short but steep hike down to the water. The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only way to access the water.
You can take a dip in Crater Lake, but know that the water is incredibly frigid!
Boat tours are also available if you’d rather not get in the water.
Whether you head down to the lake or not, Crater Lake National Park is absolutely worth visiting to see this extraordinary lake for yourself.
2. Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is unique in that the main way to explore it is by water.
This park contains 84,000 acres of water at the border between Minnesota and Canada, including 30 named lakes. The four main lakes are Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Namakan Lake, and Sand Point Lake.
Voyageurs National Park offers guided boat tours for an easy way to experience this park.
If you’re comfortable navigating on your own, bring your own boat to get around or find a boat rental company near the park.
Fish can be caught in all 30 of the park’s named lakes. There are 54 fish species in these lakes, but the park is particularly known for its walleye.
If you want to camp in Voyageurs National Park, know that even the campsites can only be reached by boat.
For the ultimate lakeside national park adventure, Voyageurs National Park can’t be topped.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park
Although Rocky Mountain National Park is one of America’s national parks known for their mountains, its lakes are among the top sights in the park.
There are more than 50 lakes scattered all throughout the national park!
Most of the popular and easily accessible lakes are located along the Bear Lake Road corridor. The namesake Bear Lake is in this area, along with Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Sprague Lake, Bierstadt Lake, and more.
These glistening alpine lakes are not ideal for swimming and boating, but they are worth seeking out for their beauty and fishing opportunities.
Rocky Mountain National Park has over a dozen lake hikes, including many of the popular and easy hikes in the park.
Trout fishing is a favorite activity among many of Rocky Mountain’s visitors. Fishing is allowed in many of the park’s lakes.
No matter how you plan to explore this park, no trip to Rocky Mountain is complete without stopping to see one of its stunning lakes.
4. Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park may be well-known for its rocky coastline, but the Atlantic Ocean isn’t the only body of water worth seeing at this national park.
There are 24 named lakes and ponds in Acadia National Park. The four large ones that are worth spending time at are Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Echo Lake, and Long Pond.
If you want to spend time out on Acadia’s lakes, paddling and fishing are allowed at all four of the big lakes. There is a designated swimming beach at Echo Lake, too.
Alternatively, Acadia’s lakes can be appreciated from the shore instead.
If you plan to see Acadia’s highlights by driving along the popular Park Loop Road, you can get a glimpse of Eagle Lake by stopping at the Eagle Lake Overlook. You can continue admiring Eagle Lake by biking or walking along Acadia’s car-free carriage roads, which circle most of the lake’s perimeter.
Additionally, Jordan Pond is one of the most popular spots in Acadia National Park. The national park’s only restaurant is by Jordan Pond, so plan to eat there or bring a picnic as you gaze out on this iconic body of water.
Whether you seek out water-based activities or simply pass these lakes on a drive through the park, there’s no denying that Acadia’s lakes are a key feature of this national park.
5. North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park has some of the most exceptionally beautiful lakes you may ever see.
As glaciers erode the surrounding mountains, tiny rock particles enter the lakes and refract sunlight in such a way that creates a dazzling turquoise color.
Visitors who come to see the top sights in North Cascades National Park shouldn’t miss the overlooks at Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. These viewpoints offer jaw-dropping views of these mesmerizing lakes surrounded by majestic mountain peaks.
Take a boat out on these lakes for fishing, boat-in camping, or just a few hours of paddling. If you don’t have your own boat, boats are available to rent from Ross Lake Resort.
The lakes in North Cascades National Park make this underrated park absolutely worth a visit.
6. Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is home to a variety of environments: dramatic coastline, spectacular mountains, and rare temperate rainforest. Lakes are part of this mix of ecosystems, too.
Lake Crescent and Lake Ozette are the two major lakes in Olympic National Park.
While both lakes offer opportunities for boating and camping, Lake Crescent has more amenities and is the easier lake to access.
Visitors can take advantage of boat launches at either end of Lake Crescent and boat rentals from the Lake Crescent Lodge. If you want to stay overnight, the drive-up campground on Lake Crescent’s shore is one of the best lakeside campgrounds in all of Washington.
There are plenty of ways to have fun from Lake Crescent’s shore, too. Enjoy a picnic while admiring the lake’s clear blue water or take one of the park’s popular hikes like the trail to Marymere falls.
Lake Ozette is better suited for visitors who are ready for a more rugged adventure.
Both car camping and boat-in camping are available at Lake Ozette, but the drive-up campground is small and only available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, the lake’s location near the coast means that its cold waters can turn to dangerously large waves at any moment.
Between these two lakes, Olympic National Park offers water-based recreation for every style of adventure.
7. Glacier National Park
There are hundreds of lakes located throughout Glacier National Park.
Over 100 of these lakes have been named, but more than 700 lakes have been discovered altogether!
Many of the large lakes you’ll see on a map are long, finger-like lakes. These lakes formed as water filled valleys that were carved by glaciers in this aptly-named park.
Most visitors will marvel at two of the park’s biggest lakes as they tour the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Lake McDonald – the largest lake in the park at 10 miles long – is near the western end of the road while Saint Mary Lake is near the eastern side.
If you want to get out of the car and onto Glacier’s lakes, there are plenty of ways to do so.
Small boat rentals and guided boat tours are both provided at Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine. Boaters with their own watercraft can take them out on the lakes in these areas and a handful of others.
Fishing is also permitted in many areas of the park.
Whether you’re seeking out water-based activities or not, make sure to spend time appreciating the amazing lakes when you visit Glacier National Park.
8. Yellowstone National Park
Many tourists come to Yellowstone National Park to witness Old Faithful’s consistent display and the surreal rainbow of colors in Grand Prismatic Springs.
But America’s oldest national park also has a huge lake that visitors can enjoy.
Yellowstone Lake is the biggest high-elevation lake in the continental United States. It’s 20 miles long by 14 miles wide!
Anyone who visits Yellowstone National Park shouldn’t miss this huge lake. A section of Grand Loop Road, the main road in the park, runs along the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Visitors can stop to admire the lake from several pullouts along the road.
Better yet, check out views of Yellowstone Lake from one of the hiking trails near the lake.
Bring your own boat or check out the boat rentals and guided boat tours that are available through the park’s lodges.
If you want to boat or fish in Yellowstone Lake, just know that the water is extremely cold and can experience waves several feet high. These conditions can be incredibly dangerous if you end up in the water, so be sure to take safety precautions.
As you create an itinerary to visit Yellowstone National Park, make sure to include Yellowstone Lake in your plans.
9. Grand Teton National Park
What’s better than visiting a national park with lakes? Visiting TWO national parks with lakes!
Grand Teton National Park is just south of Yellowstone, so if you’re planning a trip to one park you should make time to visit both.
Several lakes lie at the base of the Teton mountain range. Jackson Lake is by far the biggest of these lakes, but the other lakes are worth a stop too.
At a minimum, visitors can appreciate the lakes in Grand Teton National Park by enjoying views of these mountain-backed waters from pullouts along the main roads in the park.
Swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating are allowed at lakes throughout the park.
The spectacular setting and the widespread availability of water activities make Grand Teton National Park a great park to visit for lake-based adventures.
10. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is known for its waterfalls and iconic granite walls that tower around the Yosemite Valley.
But visitors who allot time to venture beyond Yosemite’s top sights can discover the park’s lakes.
Tenaya Lake is one of the easiest lakes to access in the park, which makes it ideal for activities like paddling. You can also swim in its sparkling blue water or take the trail along the lake’s shore for one of Yosemite’s best easy hikes.
Keep traveling on Tioga Road beyond Tenaya Lake to reach several more lake hikes near Tuolumne Meadows.
When you see the lakes in Yosemite National Park, you’ll be glad you made time to get off the beaten path.
11. Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park is a remote park in the Great Lakes.
The island is not just surrounded by Lake Superior – the largest freshwater lake on Earth – but also has lakes within the island. These lakes offer a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
It does take some extra effort to enjoy these lake-based activities. There are no roads to or on Isle Royale National Park, so these activities are better suited for outdoor enthusiasts who are up for more rugged adventures.
If that doesn’t deter you, you’re in for tons of fun on the waters of Isle Royale.
The national park offers several guided boat tours so you can learn more about the park as you cruise around the area.
One of the more unique activities you can enjoy at Isle Royale National Park is scuba diving. Divers can explore 10 major shipwrecks that occurred in Lake Superior.
Of course, typical lake activities like paddling and fishing are popular on both Lake Superior and the island’s interior lakes. Just be sure to have the appropriate watercraft and experience if you want to boat on Lake Superior since its rough waters are not like paddling on calm inland lakes.
If you don’t have your own boat, rentals are available at either end of the island.
Between its remoteness and the variety of recreation options, Isle Royale National Park is one of the most unique national parks with lakes in the United States.
Related Articles
- 4 Must-See Lakes At Acadia National Park (+10 More Ponds)
- 11 Amazing National Parks With Mountains In The US
- How To Plan A National Park Trip: 7 Tips For A Perfect Visit
As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.
