When most people think of Nevada, gambling, entertainment and desert landscapes come to mind. But the Silver State also has incredible natural beauty. Mountains, forests, and winding rivers run through the state. Nevada has many lakes throughout the state, some of which serve as popular swimming areas. Here is a list of the 10 best lakes to swim in Nevada.
10. Pyramid Lake
About 40 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada is Pyramid Lake. This geographic sink along the Truckee River spans 125,000 acres, most of which is within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Reserve. It is the only lake left of Lake Lahontan, a huge ancient sea that once covered most of Nevada.
Pyramid Lake gets its name from the large pyramidal limestone formations in the southeastern corner of the lake. If you wish to visit the lake for swimming or fishing, you must secure a valid tribal permit. Once you have access to the lake, you can enjoy a variety of activities such as boating, fishing, camping and swimming.
Vaquero Beach ranks as the most popular tourist destination on Pyramid Lake. Just below the Vista del Lago Visitor Center is a large sandy beach popular with families. Other beach amenities include boat rentals, picnic benches, and restrooms.
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9. Lake Mojave
Lake Mojave is located on the border of Nevada and Arizona along the Colorado River. This 28,260-acre reservoir averages 4 miles wide and 75 feet deep.
Created in 1951, Lake Mojave primarily serves as a means of regulating water released from the Hoover Dam on its way to Mexico. However, with the completion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 1964, the lake quickly became a popular tourist destination. Today, many people visit Lake Mojave to swim, boat, fish, and scuba dive.
Lake Mojave’s location and warm waters mean you can swim in the lake all year round. The clear water of the lake is popular not only for swimming, but also for sightseeing and photography. On the Nevada (western) side of the lake, swimmers flock to popular swimming spots such as Aria de Playa, Six Mile Cove and Cottonwood Cove.
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8. Cable Break
Located in eastern Nevada, Cave Lake lies within the Shell Creek Mountains next to Humboldt National Forest. This 32-acre reservoir is located within Cave He Lake State Park, about five miles southeast of the city of Ely.
During the winter, the lake freezes over and attracts visitors for ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice and snow sculpting contests. Meanwhile, popular summer lake activities include trout fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, and swimming.
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7. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe straddles the state line with Nevada. California, just west of Carson City. Located 6,225 meters above sea level and measuring 191 square miles, Lake Tahoe ranks as the largest alpine lake in North America. With a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, it ranks as her second deepest lake in the United States, after Oregon’s Crater Lake.
Nearly three million people visit Lake Tahoe each year, making it one of the most popular lakes in the United States. There are many tourism-related industries around the lake, including restaurants, casinos, ski resorts and golf courses.
The Nevada side of the lake has several popular swimming spots. Sand Harbor is located on the northeastern shore of the lake. It’s shallow, so it’s a popular spot for small children, but there are rocks on the shore, so you can dive deep. For a more dangerous outing, you can head to Secret Cove, an unofficial nude beach on Lake Tahoe. This small, secluded beach is accessed via a 1-mile (1.6 km) trail off Highway 28 just 3 miles (3 miles) south of Sand Harbor.
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6. Angel Lake
At the northern end of the East Humboldt Mountains in northeastern Nevada lies Lake Angel. This small 13-acre glacier area is accessible via scenic State Route 231 from the city of Wells in Elko County.
Steep cliffs surround the lake on three sides. Twenty-six camping sites and 11 picnic areas cover most of the lake’s eastern shore. Many people come to the lake to fish or use non-motorized boats. The lake does not have a sandy beach, but you can jump into it from anywhere and swim in the cool, clear water.
©Dorian Wallender/Flickr
5. Echo Canyon Reservoir
Echo Canyon Reservoir is a man-made lake located about 12 miles east of Pioche, Nevada. Echo Canyon State Park surrounds this 65-acre reservoir that was formed in 1970 by the construction of the Echo Canyon Dam. A key location along the historic Mormon Trail, the reservoir primarily serves as a reservoir and flood control facility.
Today, many people participate in recreational activities at Echo Canyon Reservoir. Popular activities at the reservoir include camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming.You can swim along the shores of the reservoir and enjoy the views of the nearby scenery and wildlife, mainly waterfowl heron, mallard, teal.
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4. Spooner Lake
Located in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Spooner Lake is a man-made reservoir in the Carson Mountains of the Sierra Nevada. This 100-acre lake primarily serves as a source of irrigation water, but also offers visitors the opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational activities.
More than 50 miles of biking and hiking trails encircle the lake and pass through rugged country dominated by poplar trees. Other popular summer activities include fishing, camping and swimming. You can also enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the lake in winter.
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3. Lake Mead
Formed by the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead is a huge artificial reservoir on the Colorado River. At 26,134,000 acre feet, Lake Mead ranks as the largest reservoir in the United States by volume. This lake is a very important water source for residents of Arizona, California and Nevada.
Although Lake Mead primarily serves as a source of irrigation and drinking water, it is also a very popular tourist destination. Millions of people come to the lake each year to fish, boat, water ski, hike, camp and swim.
There are many great places to swim on the Nevada side of Lake Mead. Lake Mead National Recreation Area has many secluded beaches for quiet, tranquil swimming. Alternatively, you can head to Boulder Beach on the west shore of the lake. This rocky beach and campground has bathroom facilities and plenty of space for swimming, tubing and rafting in the water.
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2. Walker Lake
Located in the Wassack Mountains of western Nevada, Walker Lake is a natural lake in northwestern Mineral County. The Walker River flows into this 50-square-mile lake on the north side, and the community of Walker Lake lies on the south shore of the lake.
For more than half a century, Walker Lake has served as an important tourist and recreational destination for the region. However, due to poor water conservation throughout the 20th century, the size and volume of the lake decreased significantly. Today there are very few fish left in the lake, but it still attracts visitors to swim, camp, boat and sightsee.
Walker Lake Recreation Area is located on the west shore of the lake. Sportsman’s Beach has 31 separate campsites, restrooms, picnic tables, and grills.
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1. Sparks Marina Park Lake
Sparks Marina Park is located at 300 Howards Drive in Sparks, Nevada. The park has a 77-acre lake fed by a natural aquifer that replenishes the lake with 2-3 million gallons of freshwater daily. Many people come to this beautiful freshwater lake for windsurfing, sailing, fishing, scuba diving and swimming.
A variety of facilities surround the lake, including a dog park, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and showers. During the summer months, you can shop for sweets at the concession stand or attend one of the many special events held offshore.
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