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Lakes in Nevada

22 lakes in Nevada with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Elko County has the most (15). The darkest skies are at Franklin Lake (Bortle 1).

Top lakes

Pyramid LakeLake
Pyramid LakeWashoe County · 1,157 m
Lake MeadLake
Lake MeadClark County
Topaz LakeLake
Topaz LakeDouglas County · 1,527 m
Lake MohaveLake
Lake MohaveClark County · 198 m
Island LakeLake
Island LakeElko County · 2,950 m
Favre LakeLake
Favre LakeElko County · 2,899 m
Overland LakeLake
Overland LakeElko County · 2,883 m
Washoe LakeLake
Washoe LakeWashoe County · 1,532 m
Seitz LakeLake
Seitz LakeElko County · 2,726 m
Cold LakesLake
Cold LakesElko County · 3,008 m
Lamoille LakeLake
Lamoille LakeElko County · 2,971 m
Liberty LakeLake
Liberty LakeElko County · 3,060 m

Lakes by county

All lakes (22)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Pyramid LakeWashoe County1,157 mSpanish Springs2
Lake MeadLake MeadClark County—Moapa Valley3
Topaz LakeDouglas County1,527 mTopaz Ranch Estates3
Lake MohaveLake MeadClark County198 mLaughlin3
Island LakeElko County2,950 mSpring Creek2
Favre LakeElko County2,899 mSpring Creek2
Overland LakeElko County2,883 mSpring Creek1
Washoe LakeWashoe County1,532 mCarson City4
Seitz LakeElko County2,726 mSpring Creek2
Cold LakesElko County3,008 mSpring Creek2
Lamoille LakeElko County2,971 mSpring Creek2
Liberty LakeElko County3,060 mSpring Creek2
Castle LakeElko County2,985 mSpring Creek2
Echo LakeElko County2,994 mSpring Creek2
Griswold LakeElko County2,811 mSpring Creek2
Verdi Lake (Nevada)Elko County3,104 mSpring Creek2
Robinson LakeElko County2,775 mSpring Creek1
Swan Lake Nature Study AreaWashoe County1,499 mLemmon Valley5
North Furlong LakeElko County2,924 mSpring Creek2
Hidden LakesElko County2,898 mSpring Creek2
Franklin LakeElko County1,814 mSpring Creek1
Lahontan ReservoirLyon County—Silver Springs3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lakes

Lakes reflect best in calm air — usually the first hour after sunrise, before breezes ripple the surface.

  • For mirror reflections, get low and close to the water; the reflection grows with a lower camera.
  • A polarizer can remove reflections to show the lakebed — or keep them, depending on rotation.
  • Mist often lifts off lakes on cold mornings after warm days, especially in autumn.
  • Include shoreline rocks, reeds or a log as foreground to give the reflection depth.
  • Expose for the brighter sky; reflections are typically half a stop to a stop darker.

Season: Autumn mornings bring mist and fall color; high-elevation lakes are usually ice-free only from early summer to mid-autumn.