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15 Best Lakes in California (By a Local)

Updated January 19, 2025
McKenna Mobley
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View of the clear water in Lake Tahoe

From luxurious alpine escapes to ancient geologic wonders, there’s an abundance of lakes in California — but how do you pick which ones to visit? I’m a local who’s spent countless hours wakeboarding, swimming, and jet skiing all around the state. From my experience, I can confirm that planning a lake day is one of the best things to do in California.  To help you decide where to go, I’ve put together this list of some of my favorite destinations. Let’s dive in!

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McKenna Mobley is an avid adventurer, traveler, mountaineer, and writer from Southern California. Her goal is to climb some of the world's highest mountains and visit as many countries as she can. She loves Latin America and has been to almost every Latin country. She also has a thirst for solo adventuring and has hiked 400 consecutive miles by herself through the Arizona desert. She is the author of Budget Travel 101, Your Practical Handbook for Exploring the World on the Cheap.