If you have never seen sapphire stars twinkling in the water at twighlight, here is an invitation to visit some of the most breathaking blue lakes in the U.S. You don’t have to travel to the Caribbean to get a taste of sapphire waves. America is dotted with hidden spots that have an almost otherworldly beauty and absolutely pristine waters. Here are some of the most shockingly blue lakes you’ll ever see in some of the most beautiful lakes in the U.S.
- Diablo Lake, Washington
Unsplash Diablo Lake looks like something from another planet. Located in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, this lake gets its surreal coloring from a fine rock powder carried to the lake via creeks and suspended in its waters. You can fish, camp, kayak and canoe here, as well as explore the myriad other beautiful spots in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. This is easily one of the most beautiful lakes in the U.S. Diablo Lake, Diablo Dam, Rockport, WA 98283, USA
- Amethyst Lake, Utah
Flickr/Jason Corneveaux Amethyst Lake is located in the High Uintas and is one of the most gorgeous natural spots in Utah. You can reach this stunning lake via a 12-mile out-and-back hike through flower-filled meadows and hilly terrain. The water is clear, chilly and sparkling. It is one of the best sapphire lakes in the U.S. High Uintas Wilderness, North Duchesne, UT 84021, USA
- Ice Lake, Colorado
TripAdvisor/Akami1989 As you might have gathered from the name, this lake is gorgeous but frigid. Located in the scenic San Juan Mountains of Colorado, Ice Lake is perched at nearly 14,000 feet and covered by snow nearly eight months out of the year. A summertime visit to this spot might be your best bet. Ice Lake Basin, Colorado 81301, USA
4.Cosmic Cavern, Arkansas
Facebook/Cosmic Cavern Sapphires come from underground, and that’s just where you’ll find these two startlingly blue lakes. Cosmic Cavern is located in in Berryville and is the largest privately owned show cave in Arkansas. It’s home to two crystal-clear underground lakes that are said to be bottomless. You can explore the cavern and check out South Lake on a one hour tour of this blue lake in the U.S. Cosmic Cavern, 6386 AR-21, Berryville, AR 72616, USA
5.Lake Helen, Northern California
Flickr/Joe Parks Lake Helen is a beautiful glacial lake located in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s fed by melting snow and has some of the most pristine, turquoise waters you’ll ever spy. The lake has the unique mineral content of the surrounding terrain to thank for its stunning hue. Lassen Volcanic National Park Headquarters, 38050 Hwy 36 E, Mineral, CA 96063, USA
- Lake Powell, Arizona
Wikimedia Commons/Genbao Zhang Head to Glen Canyon area in Arizona for a taste of one of the most celebrated lakes in the country. Lake Powell is known for being a popular vacation destination, due in no small part to how its startlingly blue waters are set off beautifully by the intense reds and yellows of the dramatic northern Arizona landscape. Enjoy this beautiful blue lake in the U.S. Canyonlands National Park, Utah 84532, USA
- Lake Michigan, Wisconsin
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy Okay, so this lake is no secret. But it’s hard to truly appreciate how “great” the Great Lakes really are until you’re standing on their shores. Lake Michigan has many moods, but on a clear day it can transform into something almost resembling a tropical pool. One public access to this lake is in Pleasant Prairie. 8611 1st Ave, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, USA
- Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Flickr/Don Graham Lake Tahoe is the highest alpine lake in the country and sits at a staggering 6,225 feet above sea level. Its colorful waters and beautiful shoreline draw thousands of visitors a year, but the foot and boat traffic hasn’t done anything to dampen the splendor of this magnificent, beautiful spot. 2005 Nevada Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA
- Torch Lake, Michigan
Flickr/Scott Smithson Torch Lake is spread over Antrim and Kalkaska counties and is a great alternative to the famed Great Lakes. With pure, cool waters that will surround you in Caribbean blue, it’ll be a real struggle to pull yourself away from this spot. Torch Lake, MI 49648, USA
- Lava Lake, Oregon
Flickr/m01229 Lava Lake is located in Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest and rimmed by a volcano. If that unforgettable setting isn’t enough to inspire a visit, the lake’s waters are a clear cerulean that stands out beautifully against the snow-capped peaks in the distance. Deschutes National Forest, Oregon 97703, USA
Are you convinced to set out to at least one of these gorgeous sapphire lakes in the U.S.? If you like the idea, there are hundreds of places to explore along the way. For more of the most unforgettable scenery in America, check out these 18 dazzling mountain views that will leave you breathless.
Unsplash
Diablo Lake looks like something from another planet. Located in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, this lake gets its surreal coloring from a fine rock powder carried to the lake via creeks and suspended in its waters. You can fish, camp, kayak and canoe here, as well as explore the myriad other beautiful spots in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. This is easily one of the most beautiful lakes in the U.S.
Diablo Lake, Diablo Dam, Rockport, WA 98283, USA
Flickr/Jason Corneveaux
Amethyst Lake is located in the High Uintas and is one of the most gorgeous natural spots in Utah. You can reach this stunning lake via a 12-mile out-and-back hike through flower-filled meadows and hilly terrain. The water is clear, chilly and sparkling. It is one of the best sapphire lakes in the U.S.
High Uintas Wilderness, North Duchesne, UT 84021, USA
TripAdvisor/Akami1989
As you might have gathered from the name, this lake is gorgeous but frigid. Located in the scenic San Juan Mountains of Colorado, Ice Lake is perched at nearly 14,000 feet and covered by snow nearly eight months out of the year. A summertime visit to this spot might be your best bet.
Ice Lake Basin, Colorado 81301, USA
Facebook/Cosmic Cavern
Sapphires come from underground, and that’s just where you’ll find these two startlingly blue lakes. Cosmic Cavern is located in in Berryville and is the largest privately owned show cave in Arkansas. It’s home to two crystal-clear underground lakes that are said to be bottomless. You can explore the cavern and check out South Lake on a one hour tour of this blue lake in the U.S.
Cosmic Cavern, 6386 AR-21, Berryville, AR 72616, USA
Flickr/Joe Parks
Lake Helen is a beautiful glacial lake located in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s fed by melting snow and has some of the most pristine, turquoise waters you’ll ever spy. The lake has the unique mineral content of the surrounding terrain to thank for its stunning hue.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Headquarters, 38050 Hwy 36 E, Mineral, CA 96063, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Genbao Zhang
Head to Glen Canyon area in Arizona for a taste of one of the most celebrated lakes in the country. Lake Powell is known for being a popular vacation destination, due in no small part to how its startlingly blue waters are set off beautifully by the intense reds and yellows of the dramatic northern Arizona landscape. Enjoy this beautiful blue lake in the U.S.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah 84532, USA
Flickr/Elvis Kennedy
Okay, so this lake is no secret. But it’s hard to truly appreciate how “great” the Great Lakes really are until you’re standing on their shores. Lake Michigan has many moods, but on a clear day it can transform into something almost resembling a tropical pool. One public access to this lake is in Pleasant Prairie.
8611 1st Ave, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, USA
Flickr/Don Graham
Lake Tahoe is the highest alpine lake in the country and sits at a staggering 6,225 feet above sea level. Its colorful waters and beautiful shoreline draw thousands of visitors a year, but the foot and boat traffic hasn’t done anything to dampen the splendor of this magnificent, beautiful spot.
2005 Nevada Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, USA
Flickr/Scott Smithson
Torch Lake is spread over Antrim and Kalkaska counties and is a great alternative to the famed Great Lakes. With pure, cool waters that will surround you in Caribbean blue, it’ll be a real struggle to pull yourself away from this spot.
Torch Lake, MI 49648, USA
Flickr/m01229
Lava Lake is located in Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest and rimmed by a volcano. If that unforgettable setting isn’t enough to inspire a visit, the lake’s waters are a clear cerulean that stands out beautifully against the snow-capped peaks in the distance.
Deschutes National Forest, Oregon 97703, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Blue Lakes In The US June 02, 2022 Carolyn Harmon What are some other sapphire lakes in the U.S.? Smith Lake, in Alabama, spans approximately 22,000 acres with an impressive 500 miles of shoreline through Winston, Cullman and Walker counties. This recreational space is fun for boaters and swimmers, and don’t forget the tackle box, as plenty of good fish are found in this gorgeous lake. You might also check out Deer Lake, in Minnesota, which is over 4,000 acres with 22 miles of shoreline. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy wildlife and inspirational, scenic sunsets. Where are some more beautiful lakes in the U.S.? If you need help knowing where to begin, this list of 19 beautiful lakes in the U.S. is a good place to get started. Try out Maroon Lake in Gunnison County, Colorado, for an unforgettable skyline and astounding way to get-away-from-it-all. Or try the placid allure of Lake Mead in Mohave County, Arizona. Whichever lake you choose, provides a variety recreational fun for all. What is the best bed and breakfast near a sapphire lake in the U.S.? The Torch Lake Bed & Breakfast, is the only B&B located on Torch Lake, centrally located in northern Michigan between Charlevoix, Traverse City, Elk Rapids and Petoskey. This location offers many choices for shopping and dining. But don’t forget why you came, for the boating, swimming, paddle boarding, windsurfing, fishing, hiking, golfing, biking, tennis, and horseback riding. Oh yeah, and remember to take time for relaxing in this gorgeous setting in the U.S.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Blue Lakes In The US
June 02, 2022
Carolyn Harmon
What are some other sapphire lakes in the U.S.? Smith Lake, in Alabama, spans approximately 22,000 acres with an impressive 500 miles of shoreline through Winston, Cullman and Walker counties. This recreational space is fun for boaters and swimmers, and don’t forget the tackle box, as plenty of good fish are found in this gorgeous lake. You might also check out Deer Lake, in Minnesota, which is over 4,000 acres with 22 miles of shoreline. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy wildlife and inspirational, scenic sunsets. Where are some more beautiful lakes in the U.S.? If you need help knowing where to begin, this list of 19 beautiful lakes in the U.S. is a good place to get started. Try out Maroon Lake in Gunnison County, Colorado, for an unforgettable skyline and astounding way to get-away-from-it-all. Or try the placid allure of Lake Mead in Mohave County, Arizona. Whichever lake you choose, provides a variety recreational fun for all. What is the best bed and breakfast near a sapphire lake in the U.S.? The Torch Lake Bed & Breakfast, is the only B&B located on Torch Lake, centrally located in northern Michigan between Charlevoix, Traverse City, Elk Rapids and Petoskey. This location offers many choices for shopping and dining. But don’t forget why you came, for the boating, swimming, paddle boarding, windsurfing, fishing, hiking, golfing, biking, tennis, and horseback riding. Oh yeah, and remember to take time for relaxing in this gorgeous setting in the U.S.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Where are some more beautiful lakes in the U.S.? If you need help knowing where to begin, this list of 19 beautiful lakes in the U.S. is a good place to get started. Try out Maroon Lake in Gunnison County, Colorado, for an unforgettable skyline and astounding way to get-away-from-it-all. Or try the placid allure of Lake Mead in Mohave County, Arizona. Whichever lake you choose, provides a variety recreational fun for all.
What is the best bed and breakfast near a sapphire lake in the U.S.? The Torch Lake Bed & Breakfast, is the only B&B located on Torch Lake, centrally located in northern Michigan between Charlevoix, Traverse City, Elk Rapids and Petoskey. This location offers many choices for shopping and dining. But don’t forget why you came, for the boating, swimming, paddle boarding, windsurfing, fishing, hiking, golfing, biking, tennis, and horseback riding. Oh yeah, and remember to take time for relaxing in this gorgeous setting in the U.S.