8 Most Beautiful Lakes In Wyoming
Blessed with over 4,000 lakes and reservoirs and the world-renowned Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming is one of the best states for outdoorsy tourists, thrill seekers, and the summer crowd. Enjoy a classic weekend getaway by the lake in the state's best nature, complete with beaches, boating, fishing, and hikes all around. You can take up windsurfing, paddleboarding, and other water pursuits, or attempt to climb peaks and explore the area around with wildlife watching. Visiting tourists and residents alike immerse themselves in the national natural treasures that surround these lakes with remote nature that matches the scenery.
Alcova Reservoir
Alcova Reservoir is about 40 miles southwest of Casper, one of the state's largest cities, in central Wyoming. Enjoy the serene string of beaches and boat rentals along the lakeside, and great amusement with nightlife entertainment not far away. The next-door Pathfinder Reservoir and National Wildlife Refuge have more swimming beaches, boat launches, and wildlife trails with numerous species of birds, native plants, mule deer, and pronghorn.
This reservoir is a kayakers' haven with open-water wetlands and waterways, like the Fremont Canyon in the southwest. Take the seasonal shuttle service for kayakers of any skill level to enjoy the canyon and self-journey back to the resort. Enjoy the scenic paddling on your escape from the city, like the sky-high rocks hugging the narrow waterway of the canyon wall, or hike and have picnics around it. The city's National Historic Trails Interpretive Center and Fort Casper Museum and Historic Site offer insights into the natural area around.
Fremont Lake
This beautiful lake within the scenic Wind River Mountain Range is only a couple of miles from Pinedale in west-central Wyoming. Fremont Lake offers a great weekend respite from the city or a whole summer vacation along the banks as the southern gateway into the Grand Teton National Park. The state's second-largest lake is great for swimming and boating, with beaches along the vast shore, the Lakeside Marina, and Lower Boat Dock. Try windsurfing or camping in the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Snatch a lake house and moor your boat privately next to a pier, which is also perfect for sunset strolls and fishing for plentiful trout and salmon. Enjoy kayaking, paddling, and sailing along the lake, with eagles flying overhead. Hike the nature trails with wildlife sightings like black bears, moose, and mule deer between the trees. Rent in the quiet town of Pinedale just south and enjoy a vacation complete with restaurants, museums, and entertainment.
Jackson Lake
This natural lake is fed by the Snake River at 6,772 feet above sea level and was first formed by a large glacier. Officially established in 1911, Jackson Lake is part of the Grand Teton National Park in northwest Wyoming and has been expanded since then for farming. Jackson Lake is among the US' largest high-altitude lakes, while the original log-built Jackson Lake Dam also increased the lake's volume in 1906. Choose to relax along the primitive western shoreline or head to the east side for plenty of marinas, lodges, and camping grounds.
The state's fourth-largest lake is a 25,540-acre vacation land amid spectacular scenery with plenty of outdoor activities. Enjoy swimming and boating amid mountain peaks, while the lake's 438-foot depth means great deep diving and exploring around its 15 islands. The largest Elk Island and Donoho Point are ideal for setting up remote picnics and blissful fishing for brown trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout, pike, and salmon. You can also try water skiing here, as well as windsurf, sail, and navigate motorized boats.
Jenny Lake
One of the most visited places in the expansive Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake is particularly popular among the summertime crowd. Tourists enjoy the beautiful lake with a sweet name and refreshing waters for a post-hike dip, picnicking, and sunbathing away from the shaded haven of the park. Jenny Lake is ancient, originally formed and shaped more than 12,000 years ago by the way of glaciers. The ice sheets pushed "rock garbage," making the Cascade Canyon, and this opening was filled with the astoundingly delightful waters of Jenny Lake.
Having evolved since then and developed during the 20th century, it has become one of the most famous hotspots of the Grand Teton National Park. Find many climbing trails around the 1,191-acre lake at 6,783 feet above sea level, amid some of the tallest peaks in the Teton Range. Jenny Lake is also the gateway to climbing courses and trailheads. It is an Instagrammable, swimmable, and boat-worthy lake amid a stunning alpine environment and is one of the state's best lakes just for the views.
Lake Alice
Alice Lake, the state's largest natural lake, dates back thousands of years to when it was formed by a massive landslide from Lake Mountain. This lake lies amid the magnificent surroundings of the Bridger-Teton National Forest at an elevation of 7,745 feet. You have to travel there on foot, horseback, or mountain bike, as there are no paved roads, but the intense beauty is worth it.
Lake Alice is great for camping, so pack up your tent and head over to immerse yourself in pure natural bliss on a tranquil holiday getaway at one of the nine campsites at the southeast corner and more in the park. The vast, 230-acre remote lake means there is little chance of running into other tourists for all the tranquility in small groups. Enjoy backpacking and hiking through the area or set up a relaxing picnic by the water's edge. Enjoy the unique opportunity of reeling in the only pure lake strain of naturally reproducing Bonneville cutthroat trout found here.
Phelps Lake
This 1.5-mile-long and 0.75-mile-wide body of water south of Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming will stun you with its isolated beauty. The swimmable lake, complete with a jumping rock as a diving board, is also great for canoeing. Find tons of hiking trails starting along the shores for a day in nature, like the Death Canyon Trailhead through the rugged rocks and pine forests. The fairly easy Phelps Lake Loop Trail is a great day outing for families, and even small children can enjoy the views.
The off-the-beaten-path location at 6,633 feet above sea level gives you the vantage point of the towering mountains and the mouth of Death Canyon, but there are also no nearby towns or vacation rentals along the lake. You can snag a place to settle at Teton Village or Wilson, just to the south. There is also no vehicle access, so arrive by foot from the Death Canyon Trailhead or Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and bring along a fishing rod for all the cutthroat trout, brook trout, whitefish, and lake trout.
String Lake
The small String Lake on the south side of Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton National Park boasts incredible scenery all around during your favorite outdoor pursuits. The warm and shallow waters are great for family days on the lake, with depths for wading, splashing, and swimming. Settle along the south side of the lake in the peaky shadow, and you will also enjoy quick access to Jenny Lake above.
Enjoy the picturesque lake via paddleboard or take a hike along the Paintbrush Canyon Trailhead or the Jenny Lake Trail in the morning when there is no wind. This is the best time for calm waters and to spot the park’s resident moose and elk. Enjoy peace and serenity with no towns around, or head down to Jackson for a small-town vibe and great food. You can also rent a cool inflatable paddleboard at Rendezvous Sports in Jackson Hole.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is your geyser-gazing haven in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, in the dead center of Yellowstone National Park. The meeting point with the Yellowstone River along the north shore is strewn with vacation rentals for the best views and most activities at hand. The nearby Fishing Bridge and its Fishing Bridge Visiting Center offer education on and reeling in aquatic life. You can rent a boat or kayak at the Bridge Bay Marina to get personal with the lake or choose from the multitude of trails around for hikes and biking. Head to the Lake Village for more lodges and a camping area, as well as ranger-led programs for kids.
Find the natural geysers at the West Thumb part of the lake and learn more about this part of Yellowstone’s unique geology. Enjoy the hot springs after a trek to the famed Old Faithful, just a short way from there. The biggest lake in the park is also the biggest freshwater lake in North America at an astounding 86,400 acres and 110 miles. Find your private spot on a dreamy escape for camping, with climbing and cycling trails veering off and a fishing pier at the north tip of the lake. Join the popular one-hour guided boat tour, a peaceful pastime with brilliant views, or choose to free-wing it via paddling, kayaking, or drifting.
Wyoming, the state with two renowned national parks, is your ultimate portal into a wild, natural world like no other in the US. Immerse yourself in nature's best along one of these beautiful lakes on a quick city respite or a summer vacation along the shores. You can explore the Grand Tetons or spend relaxing days sunbathing and fishing from the banks. Set up camp in the area and enjoy easy access to provisions in town to set up evening picnics by the water. From endless shore strolls to sunset views that will leave you breathless with scenery on the spot, you will leave with lasting memories of the best getaway ever spent.
