Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada, is also home to one of the tallest mountains in the US, Mt. Whitney, and is a breathtaking freshwater lake. It is the largest alpine lake in North America and is stunning, with a clear cobalt blue hue.

Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake is America's deepest lake, with a depth of more than 1,900 feet. It nestles in the dormant Mount Mazama volcano of the Cascade Range. It offers one-of-a-kind views, such as the cinder cone Wizard Island, which rises 767 above the deep water. Towering cliffs of up to 2,000 feet surround the water body.

Lake Michigan, Michigan

Lake Michigan is the second largest of North America’s great lakes by volume. It is the only one situated entirely within the United States. The lake has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline and borders Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

Flathead Lake, Montana

Flathead Lake, Montana, is the remnant of glacial Lake Missoula. It is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River and one of the cleanest in the world. The Mission Mountains border the lake on the east, and the Salish Mountains border it on the west.

Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah

Looking at the warm blue waters, red sandstone cliffs, and incredible canyons of the stunning Lake Powell, it’d be hard to guess that this spectacular beauty is a human effort. Lake Powell is an artificial lake formed as a reservoir. Its shoreline is longer than the entire U.S. West Coast.

Lake Superior, Michigan/Minnesota/Wisconsin

Lake Superior is the largest of North America's Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world. Its massive expanse earned it the nickname “freshwater sea.” It would take almost two hundred years to drain Lake Superior.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin is an artificial lake on the Tallapoosa River. It's a reservoir formed by the Thomas Wesley Martin Dam. Forests, hiking trails, horse trails, golf courses, campgrounds, and RV parks dot its 700-mile shoreline.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Lake of the Ozarks is one of the largest artificial lakes in the United States.  It covers 93 square miles and has an impressive shoreline of more than 1,100 miles.

Lake Erie, the Midwest

By surface area, Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake in the United States. It forms the boundary between Ontario, Canada, and the United States, extending across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan in the U.S.

Lake George, New York

Called the  "Queen of American Lakes,” Lake George, New York, has a rich history. It was the site of the Battle of Lake George in 1755. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Gilded Age robber barons built mansions along the shoreline. Some of the original waterfront stone mansions still stand.

Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Yellowstone Lake is within Yellowstone National Park, one of the most geologically active areas in the world. Although several active geysers are in the area, the lake maintains an icy landscape. It is 7,730 feet above sea level and cold all year.

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

This picture-perfect lake is at the foothills of the White Mountains in Laconia. Its forested shoreline, crystal clear water, stunning landscape, and bustling waterfront draw hundreds of summer tourists annually.

Lake Murray, South Carolina

Called the “Jewel of South Carolina,” this idyllic lake is famed for its natural beauty. It has stunningly beautiful sunsets, lush countryside, exotic wildlife, and water the color of a London blue topaz.

Caddo Lake, Texas/Louisiana

If you enjoy the gothic style, you'll appreciate the mysterious aura of Caddo Lake. Spanish moss hangs from giant cypress trees, and as you row through the winding lake, you find alligators peeking from barely submerged tree roots.

Echo Lake, New Hampshire

Echo Lake is small but offers a sense of privacy. Old-growth trees and rocky outcrops surround it.

Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina

Lake Santeetlah is between the Great Smoky Mountains and Nantahala National Forest. The lake and surrounding areas provide a sanctuary for an impressive biodiverse collection of flora and fauna to thrive undisturbed. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.

Stanley Lake, Idaho

Within the 756,00-acre Sawtooth National Forest, Stanley Lake lies at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains. The lake provides a fantastic view of the area's mountain peaks and pine tree forests.

Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Kentucky Lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in the eastern United States. It's a bustling vacation destination that attracts up to 17 million visitors yearly. Resorts, state parks, public access areas, camps, clubs, and wildlife preserves dot the shoreline.

Moosehead Lake, Maine

The stunning natural landscape of Moosehead Lake is a haven for wildlife lovers. In the forested wilderness surrounding the lake, observers can spot moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, Ruffed Grouse, and the endangered Peregrine Falcon.

Redfish Lake, Idaho

Redfish Lake is the largest lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. They named it for the bright red color of the sockeye salmon that was once abundant in it.