Outdoors
Lakes near Palo Alto
30 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
30
Closest
2.1 mi
Lake Lagunita
Within 10 miles
5
Reservoirs
17
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 2.1miLake Lagunita
- 3.6miFelt Lakereservoir
- 4.8miBear Gulch Reservoirreservoir
- 9.9miStevens Creek Reservoirreservoir
- 9.9miVasona Reservoir
- 10.4miCentral Lake
- 12.7miLake Elizabethreservoir
- 14.2miCrystal Springs Reservoir
- 17.6miCalaveras Reservoirreservoir
- 18.7miLexington Reservoirreservoir
- 19.2miLake Cunningham
- 19.3miSan Andreas Lakereservoir
- 20miSan Antonio Reservoirreservoir
- 20.8miLake Chabotreservoir
- 21miTulare Lake
- 21.5miGuadalupe Reservoirreservoir
- 22.8miLoch Lomondreservoir
- 23.7miGrant Lake
- 23.9miLake Elsman
- 24miUpper San Leandro Reservoirreservoir
- 25miAlmaden Reservoirreservoir
- 25.3miMcNab Lake
- 25.7miLake Del Vallereservoir
- 25.8miLaguna Seca
- 25.9miCalero Reservoirreservoir
- 28.1miLake Merced
- 28.3miTwin Peaks Reservoirreservoir
- 28.5miLaguna Honda Reservoirreservoir
- 28.6miPine Lake
- 29.1miSunset Reservoir
Straight-line distance from the center of Palo Alto; driving and trail distances are longer.
Before you go
Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.
Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.
Boat launches often need a day pass or inspection for invasive mussels, and anglers 16 and older usually need a state fishing license.
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Questions
What is the closest lake to Palo Alto?
Lake Lagunita, about 2.1 miles from the center of Palo Alto.
How many lakes are near Palo Alto?
30 named lakes are within 30 miles, 5 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near Palo Alto natural?
17 of the 30 are reservoirs made by dams; the rest are mapped as natural lakes. Swimming rules differ, so check each one.
Sources: Wikidata and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked 2026-11-08; photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses shown. Access, fees and conditions change; check before visiting.