The BLVD in downtown Lancaster

Outdoors

Lakes near Lancaster

17 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.

Lakes within 30 mi

17

Closest

6.6 mi

Kee Slough

Within 10 miles

6

Reservoirs

10

Worth the drive

Lake Palmdale
Lake Palmdale9.5 miPhoto: Kfasimpaur, Public domain
Rosamond Lake
Rosamond Lake11.2 miPhoto: Copied to wikipedia commons by Chillmann, Public domain
Elizabeth Lake
Elizabeth Lake14.2 miPhoto: Kfasimpaur, Public domain
Bouquet Reservoir
Bouquet Reservoir14.7 miPhoto: Kfasimpaur, Public domain
Hughes Lake
Hughes Lake16.6 miPhoto: No machine-readable author provided. Kfasimpaur assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Dry Canyon Reservoir
Dry Canyon Reservoir25.5 miPhoto: Chevy111, CC BY-SA 4.0

Map

Map of 17 places loads as you scroll.

All lakes, nearest first

  1. 6.6mi
    Kee Sloughreservoir

    Directions ↗

  2. 7.3mi
    Piute Pondsreservoir

    Directions ↗

  3. 7.7mi
    Duckbill Lakereservoir

    Directions ↗

  4. 7.9mi
    Windy Watersreservoir

    Directions ↗

  5. 9.5mi
    Lake Palmdale

    About ↗Directions ↗

  6. 9.7mi
    Una Lake

    Directions ↗

  7. 11.2mi
    Rosamond Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  8. 14.2mi
    Elizabeth Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  9. 14.7mi
    Bouquet Reservoirreservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  10. 16.3mi
    Little Rock Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  11. 16.6mi
    Hughes Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  12. 23.6mi
    Drinkwater Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  13. 25.5mi
    Dry Canyon Reservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  14. 27.6mi
    Castaic Lakereservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  15. 27.7mi
    Pacoima Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  16. 28.5mi
    Caldwell Lake

    Directions ↗

  17. 28.8mi
    Elderberry Lakereservoir

    Directions ↗

Straight-line distance from the center of Lancaster; driving and trail distances are longer.

Before you go

Swim only where it is allowed

Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.

Watch for algae blooms

Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.

Boats, fishing and fees

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 Lancaster?

Kee Slough, about 6.6 miles from the center of Lancaster.

How many lakes are near Lancaster?

17 named lakes are within 30 miles, 6 of them within 10 miles.

Are the lakes near Lancaster natural?

10 of the 17 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.

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