What is the deepest lake on LakeScope?

Crater Lake in Oregon, about 1949 ft.

The deepest lakes in America: 15 lakes ranked

The 15 deepest lakes we cover with a published depth, deepest first. Depths are the published maximum and rounded.

The list

#	Lake	State	Deepest
1	Crater Lake	Oregon	about 1949 ft
2	Lake Tahoe	California	about 1645 ft
3	Lake Chelan	Washington	about 1486 ft
4	Lake Pend Oreille	Idaho	about 1152 ft
5	Iliamna Lake	Alaska	about 988 ft
6	Tustumena Lake	Alaska	about 950 ft
7	Lake Oroville	California	about 690 ft
8	Fremont Lake	Wyoming	about 690 ft
9	Skilak Lake	Alaska	about 632 ft
10	Lake Crescent	Washington	about 624 ft
11	Seneca Lake	New York	about 618 ft
12	Lake Powell	Utah	about 583 ft
13	Kenai Lake	Alaska	about 569 ft
14	New Melones Lake	California	about 568 ft
15	Ross Lake	Washington	about 540 ft

1. Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake covers 13,200 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Medford (about 55 miles). It holds trout and kokanee salmon. The deepest water is around 1949 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the clearest lakes in the world.

Crater Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Tahoe covers some 122,000 acres. The fish here are lake trout, trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. At about 1645 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake Tahoe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Chelan, Washington

Lake Chelan covers 33,300 acres of water. It holds lake trout, kokanee salmon, trout and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 1486 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work.

Lake Chelan today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho

Lake Pend Oreille spreads over 93,900 acres of water. It holds trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. It goes down to about 1152 ft.

Lake Pend Oreille today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Iliamna Lake, Alaska

Iliamna Lake spreads over 648,000 acres. You will find it in Lake and Peninsula. Trout, lake trout and northern pike are the draw. The deepest water is around 988 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Iliamna Lake is the largest lake in Alaska and home to one of the world's few populations of freshwater seals.

Iliamna Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Tustumena Lake, Alaska

Tustumena Lake covers some 73,400 acres. The lake is near Cohoe. The usual Alaska mix applies: trout, lake trout and northern pike. The deepest water is around 950 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Tustumena Lake is the largest lake entirely within the Kenai Peninsula.

Tustumena Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Oroville, California

Lake Oroville spreads over 15,800 acres. Expect spotted bass, trout and catfish. At about 690 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake Oroville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Fremont Lake, Wyoming

At 5,050 acres of water, Fremont Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 2.8 miles southwest of Pinedale. The usual Wyoming mix applies: trout and yellow perch. It goes down to about 690 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

Fremont Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Skilak Lake, Alaska

At about 24,400 acres, Skilak Lake is a big lake. You will find it within an easy drive of Anchorage (about 55 miles). Like most lakes its size in Alaska, it should hold trout, lake trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 632 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Skilak Lake is a glacially fed lake within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge known for its exceptional clarity. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Skilak Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Crescent, Washington

At 5,130 acres of water, Lake Crescent is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 15 miles east of Port Angeles. It holds trout. It goes down to about 624 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Lake Crescent is famous for its strikingly clear, deep-blue water and hosts endemic trout found nowhere else. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Lake Crescent today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Why depth matters

A deep lake holds cold water all summer. That is where trout, salmon and big predators live when the surface turns warm, and it is why the deepest lakes are also some of the best summer fishing in the country.