Wakesurf Reservoirs Across the US

near Guntersville

Alabama's largest lake, a TVA Tennessee River reservoir of about 69,100 acres in northeast Alabama.

Best season: May–October

near Alexander City

A large, popular central-Alabama reservoir widely used for wakesurfing and wakeboarding.

Best season: April–October

near Cullman

Alabama's deepest lake, with clear water and deep coves that draw wakesurfers north of Birmingham.

Best season: May–October

near Florence

A TVA Tennessee River reservoir of about 43,100 acres spanning Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Best season: May–October

near Decatur

Alabama's second-largest lake, a TVA Tennessee River reservoir of about 67,100 acres.

Best season: May–October

near Florence

A TVA Tennessee River reservoir of about 15,500 acres in northwest Alabama.

Best season: May–October

near Roosevelt

It is a reservoir on the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, about 65 miles east of Phoenix.

Best season: April–November

near Carefree

Remote Tonto National Forest reservoir prized for glassy mornings and lighter boat traffic.

Best season: April–November

near Lake Havasu City

Big Colorado River reservoir on the AZ-CA line where you can almost always find flat water somewhere.

Best season: March–November

near Peoria

The largest lake near Phoenix and one of the most accessible wakesurf spots in Arizona.

Best season: April–November

near Tonto Basin

One of Arizona's largest lakes, offering long uninterrupted sets and room to progress.

Best season: April–October

near Mesa

Scenic canyon-walled lake about 45 minutes from the East Valley, famous for smooth, beginner-friendly wakes.

Best season: April–November

near Eureka Springs

A clear Ozarks reservoir on the White River with narrow, glassy upper sections favored for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Heber Springs

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Little Red River, dedicated by President Kennedy in 1963, with over 30,000 acres for water sports.

Best season: May–September

near Hot Springs

A roughly 7,200-acre reservoir wrapping around Hot Springs, about 18 miles long, popular for wakeboarding and wake surfing.

Best season: May–October

near Hot Springs

Arkansas's largest lake at about 40,000 acres in the Ouachita Mountains, celebrated for exceptionally clean, clear water.

Best season: May–October

near Sacramento

Big open reservoir ~30 minutes from Sacramento that's a go-to for local wakesurf lessons and camps.

Best season: May–October

near Napa

The largest reservoir in Napa County, managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, popular for boating and wakeboarding.

Best season: April–October

near La Grange

A large Sierra-foothills reservoir with over 160 miles of shoreline rated among California's best recreational lakes for watersports.

Best season: May–October

near Snelling

A 7,100-acre reservoir on the Merced River with more than 80 miles of shoreline in the Sierra foothills.

Best season: May–October

near Friant

A reservoir on the San Joaquin River near Friant, about 15 miles north of Fresno, created by Friant Dam.

Best season: April–October

near Angels Camp

A large Sierra-foothills reservoir on the Stanislaus River offering boating and watersports recreation.

Best season: May–October

near Piedra

An artificial lake on the Kings River in the Sierra Nevada foothills of eastern Fresno County formed by Pine Flat Dam.

Best season: April–October

near Redding

365 miles of shoreline with countless coves and some of California's glassiest water.

Best season: May–October

near Dillon

It is a high-altitude reservoir of roughly 3,300 acres near the town of Dillon in Summit County.

Best season: July

near Fort Collins

Long, narrow foothills reservoir just west of Fort Collins with a public marina and active wake-sports scene.

Best season: June–September

near Granby

One of Colorado's largest reservoirs, high in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, popular for full-suite wake sports.

Best season: July–August

near Pueblo

It is a roughly 4,600-acre reservoir at Lake Pueblo State Park with about 60 miles of shoreline.

Best season: May–September

near Danbury / New Milford, CT

Connecticut's largest lake and the region's #1 wakeboard/wakesurf destination, home to a full-time wake school.

Best season: June–September

near New Milford / Bridgewater, CT

A quieter Housatonic River impoundment with little boat traffic, prized for smooth watersports conditions.

Best season: June–September

near Southbury

A Housatonic River impoundment in western Connecticut bordered by Southbury, Newtown, Monroe and Oxford.

Best season: June–September

near Acworth

A historic pro-wakeboarding hub about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta with multiple pro-run wake schools.

Best season: May–October

near Hartwell

A large Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Savannah River forming part of the Georgia-South Carolina border.

Best season: May–October

near Gainesville

Atlanta's go-to wake lake with warm water, easy launches, and many tucked-away coves for surfing.

Best season: May–October

near Buford

A major Corps of Engineers reservoir north of Atlanta with an active wakesurf and wakeboard lesson scene.

Best season: May–October

near Eatonton

Calm, protected coves and consistently glassy water make it one of the Southeast's premier wakesurf lakes.

Best season: April–October

near Lagrange

A roughly 25,900-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Chattahoochee River near LaGrange.

Best season: April–October

near Ahsahka

It is a long, deep reservoir behind Dworshak Dam with Dworshak State Park on its shores.

Best season: June–September

near Cascade

It is a roughly 27,000-acre reservoir, one of the largest bodies of water in Idaho, at Lake Cascade State Park.

Best season: July–August

near Boise

It is a reservoir behind Lucky Peak Dam near Boise, with Lucky Peak State Park on its shores.

Best season: June–September

near Shelbyville

Central Illinois Corps reservoir widely cited as one of the state's best boating lakes for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Bloomington

At about 10,750 acres, Monroe Lake is Indiana's largest lake.

Best season: May–September

near Polk City / Des Moines

Central Iowa's go-to wakesurf reservoir near Des Moines, with multiple wake boat rental and lesson operators.

Best season: June–September

near Cheney

A roughly 9,500-acre reservoir west of Wichita popular for sailing, water skiing, and other watersports.

Best season: May–September

near Lawrence

Popular eastern-Kansas reservoir near Lawrence/Kansas City used for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Junction City

Kansas' largest reservoir ('the Fishing Capital of Kansas') and a popular spot for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Vassar

A 4,000-acre reservoir in Osage County promoted as part of the 'Water Sports Capital of Kansas.'

Best season: May–September

near Manhattan

A large U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir on the Big Blue River north of Manhattan in the Flint Hills.

Best season: May–September

near Sylvan Grove

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir of about 9,000 surface acres often described as the clearest lake in Kansas.

Best season: May–September

near Glasgow

Barren River Lake is a reservoir of over 10,000 acres in southern Kentucky near Bowling Green, with Barren River Lake State Resort Park on its shore.

Best season: May–September

near Morehead

Cave Run Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Licking River in the Daniel Boone National Forest of eastern Kentucky.

Best season: May–September

near Burkesville

Touted as one of the cleanest lakes in the US, with crystal-clear water for wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Campbellsville

Green River Lake is an 8,210-acre reservoir in the heart of Kentucky near Campbellsville with over 28 miles of water.

Best season: May–September

near Danville

Herrington Lake is Kentucky's deepest lake, a roughly 2,300-acre reservoir about a 30-mile drive from Lexington.

Best season: May–September

near Gilbertsville

Kentucky Lake is one of the largest reservoirs by surface area in the United States, formed by damming the Tennessee River.

Best season: May–September

near Cadiz

Lake Barkley is a large Cumberland River reservoir on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, linked to neighboring Kentucky Lake by a canal.

Best season: May–September

near Somerset

Deep, clear water and thousands of wooded coves make for smooth, tranquil wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Corbin

Laurel River Lake is a clear-water US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in the Daniel Boone National Forest of southeastern Kentucky.

Best season: May–September

near Mammoth Cave

Nolin River Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir of over 5,000 acres in central Kentucky near Mammoth Cave.

Best season: May–September

near Mcdaniels

Rough River Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in western Kentucky with Rough River Dam State Resort Park nearby.

Best season: May–September

near Taylorsville

Taylorsville Lake is a reservoir of nearly 3,000 acres on the Salt River in central Kentucky, with Taylorsville Lake State Park on its shore.

Best season: May–September

near Benton

A roughly 3,000-acre reservoir district near Benton with designated ski and wakeboard areas.

Best season: April–October

near Farmerville

The largest man-made lake in northern Louisiana at over 16,000 surface acres, near Farmerville in Union Parish.

Best season: April–October

near Many

The largest man-made lake in the South, with broad open water used for wakesurfing and wakeboarding.

Best season: April–October

near Mchenry / Oakland, MD

Maryland's largest lake, where wakesurfing has exploded in popularity in the mountains of Garrett County.

Best season: June–August

near Jackson

A roughly 33,000-acre impoundment of the Pearl River near Jackson, central Mississippi's largest recreational lake.

Best season: April–October

near Sardis

A large Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Little Tallahatchie River in northern Mississippi.

Best season: May–October

near Osage Beach / Camdenton

The Midwest's marquee water-sports reservoir, hosting amateur and pro wake events and called one of the best water-sports lakes in the nation.

Best season: May–September

near Hermitage

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir about 50 miles north of Springfield at the confluence of Lindley Creek and the Pomme de Terre River.

Best season: May–September

near Stockton

A V-shaped U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Sac River with about 298 miles of shoreline.

Best season: May–September

near Branson / Kimberling City

Ozarks reservoir near Branson that has hosted MasterCraft Pro wakeboarding and supports a strong wakesurf coaching scene.

Best season: May–September

near Helena

It is a large reservoir on the Missouri River near Helena and one of Montana's most popular recreation waters.

Best season: July–August

near Fort Peck

It is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States, behind Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River.

Best season: June–September

near Helena

It is a roughly 3,200-acre reservoir on the Missouri River created by Hauser Dam near Helena.

Best season: June–September

near Decker

It is a 12-mile-long reservoir at Tongue River Reservoir State Park in southeastern Montana.

Best season: June–September

near Ogallala

Lake McConaughy is Nebraska's largest reservoir at roughly 35,700 acres.

Best season: June–September

near Fallon

A 17-mile-long impoundment of the Carson River at Lahontan State Recreation Area, about 18 miles west of Fallon.

Best season: May–September

near Las Vegas

The largest reservoir in the US by capacity, just 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, a top desert wakesurf spot.

Best season: April–October

near Laughlin

Colorado River reservoir below Hoover Dam on the NV-AZ line, popular for wakeboarding and houseboating.

Best season: March–November

near Topaz Lake

A 2,410-acre reservoir on the California-Nevada border about 75 miles south of Reno along U.S. 395.

Best season: June–September

near Tucumcari

Wide-open northeastern New Mexico reservoir with long stretches for water-skiing and wakeboarding.

Best season: April–September

near Truth Or Consequences

New Mexico's largest lake and its most popular water-sports destination for waterskiing, boating and wakeboarding.

Best season: April–October

near Farmington

New Mexico's second-largest lake near Farmington, popular for wakeboarding and windsurfing, especially in spring.

Best season: May–September

near Logan

It is a roughly 8,200-acre reservoir at Ute Lake State Park in eastern New Mexico.

Best season: April–October

near Northville

A large Adirondack reservoir created in 1930 by damming the Sacandaga River for flood control, spanning roughly 24,700 acres.

Best season: June–August

near Stokesdale

Belews Lake is a power-company reservoir in the North Carolina Piedmont known for an extended boating season due to warm-water discharge.

Best season: May–October

near Lexington

High Rock Lake is the second-largest lake in North Carolina, on the Yadkin River near Lexington and Salisbury.

Best season: May–October

near Semora

Power-plant heated water and tree-lined coves give year-round, glassy wakesurf conditions.

Best season: May–October

near Apex

B. Everett Jordan Lake is a large reservoir near the Research Triangle popular for water sports.

Best season: April–October

near Littleton

A hydroelectric reservoir with constant water levels and quiet creeks ideal for wakesurfing.

Best season: May–September

near Mooresville

North Carolina's largest man-made lake with ample space, coves, and a busy wake-charter scene.

Best season: May–October

near Mount Gilead

Lake Tillery is a reservoir on the Pee Dee River in central North Carolina covering over 5,000 acres with more than 100 miles of shoreline.

Best season: April–October

near Charlotte

Mountain Island Lake is a Catawba River reservoir between Lake Norman and Lake Wylie near Charlotte.

Best season: May–October

near Riverdale

Lake Sakakawea is the large reservoir formed by Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, one of the biggest man-made lakes in the U.S.

Best season: June–August

near Waynesville (near Dayton/cincinnati)

Quieter southwest-Ohio reservoir favored for smooth wakesurf/wakeboard rides, home to the Wake & Ride lesson school.

Best season: June–September

near Warren

Mosquito Creek Lake is one of Ohio's largest inland lakes at about 7,850 acres.

Best season: June–September

near Ravenna

The Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir at West Branch State Park is a 2,650-acre lake east of Ravenna.

Best season: June–September

near Grove / Disney

Northeast Oklahoma's premier wakeboarding reservoir, called one of the nation's top wake destinations, with countless coves and inlets.

Best season: May–September

near Eufaula

The largest lake entirely within Oklahoma, formed by Eufaula Dam on the Canadian River and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Best season: May–September

near Gore

A clear-water reservoir of over 13,000 acres in eastern Oklahoma nicknamed 'Oklahoma's Clear Water Wonderland.'

Best season: May–September

near Detroit

A Cascade Mountains reservoir behind Detroit Dam in Marion and Linn counties, popular for boating and watersports.

Best season: July–September

near Dexter

A reservoir on the Middle Fork Willamette River about 16 miles southeast of Eugene, known locally for water skiing.

Best season: June–September

near Eugene

The Eugene area's largest lake and most popular water-sports destination.

Best season: June–September

near Sweet Home

Crystal-clear water and red-rock shoreline often called the closest thing in Oregon to Lake Shasta.

Best season: June–September

near Gaston

The closest sizable warm-water wakeboarding lake to Portland.

Best season: June–September

near Culver

One of Central Oregon's most popular wakeboarding lakes with deep water and hidden arms.

Best season: June–September

near Lowell

A large reservoir on the Middle Fork Willamette River about 20 miles southeast of Eugene, heavily used by water-skiers.

Best season: July–September

near Prineville

A 3,000-acre Crooked River reservoir spanning ~15 miles popular for boating and wake sports.

Best season: June–September

near Lehighton

A 949-acre USACE reservoir at Beltzville State Park in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, that allows unlimited-horsepower boats.

Best season: June–September

near Hawley / Lake Ariel, PA

A 5,700-acre Pocono reservoir with 52 miles of shoreline, a paradise for waterskiers and wakeboarders.

Best season: June–August

near Huntingdon / Hesston, PA

The largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania, with an undeveloped shoreline and no horsepower or boat-size limits.

Best season: June–September

near Greenwood

A reservoir in upstate South Carolina popular with boaters and water-skiers.

Best season: April–October

near Seneca

Clear upstate-SC lake served by several wakesurf schools and charter wakeboats.

Best season: May–October

near Columbia

A large reservoir near Columbia with a dedicated wakesurf/wakeboard lesson operator.

Best season: April–October

near Camden

A Duke Energy reservoir on the Catawba/Wateree River in central South Carolina.

Best season: April–October

near Pierre

Lake Sharpe is the Missouri River reservoir impounded by Big Bend Dam in central South Dakota.

Best season: June–September

near Smithville

Deep, wide, and uncrowded water near Nashville prized for clean wakesurf sessions.

Best season: May–September

near Nashville

A roughly 14,200-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir just east of Nashville.

Best season: May–September

near Andersonville

East-Tennessee lake with several dedicated wakesurf/wakeboard schools and charters.

Best season: May–September

near Hendersonville

A roughly 22,500-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Cumberland River near Nashville.

Best season: May–September

near Nashville

Nashville's closest wake lake, with multiple wakesurf charters and lesson operators.

Best season: May–September

near Winchester

A TVA reservoir on the Elk River in south-central Tennessee, near Lynchburg and Winchester.

Best season: May–September

near New Braunfels

Clear Hill Country reservoir between Austin and San Antonio, a scenic wakeboarding and boating destination.

Best season: March–October

near Austin

A narrow, constant-level Highland Lake right in the city, prized for glassy water close to downtown Austin.

Best season: March–October

near Conroe

The big Houston-area wakesurf lake — calm water that's beginner-friendly and home to wake contests.

Best season: April–October

near Horseshoe Bay

A constant-level Highland Lake in the Hill Country popular with wakesurfers staying at lakeside resorts.

Best season: March–October

near Quinlan

A roughly 37,800-acre reservoir about an hour east of Dallas popular for wakeboarding, tubing, and jet skiing.

Best season: April–October

near Denison

A large Red River impoundment formed by Denison Dam on the Texas-Oklahoma border, popular for water skiing, boarding, and wind sports.

Best season: May–October

near Austin

The marquee Austin-area wakesurf lake — deep, expansive water, world-class marinas, and a heavy wake-boat scene.

Best season: March–October

near Lewisville

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River about 20 miles northwest of Dallas, popular for high-performance ski and wake boats.

Best season: April–October

near Graford

A clear, deep reservoir in the Brazos River canyon country covering roughly 17,000 acres with 310 miles of shoreline.

Best season: April–October

near Heber City

Accessible Wasatch reservoir near Provo/Heber, a favorite for spontaneous evening surf missions.

Best season: June–September

near Park City

Clear, deep mountain reservoir near Park City, one of Utah's most consistent and upscale wakesurf lakes.

Best season: June–September

near Page

Iconic desert-canyon reservoir on the Utah-Arizona line, considered one of the best surf destinations in the western US.

Best season: April–October

near Ogden

Forest-ringed northern Utah reservoir, a hidden gem for sunrise surf sessions away from the crowds.

Best season: June–September

near Hurricane

It is the reservoir at Quail Creek State Park near St. George, Utah.

Best season: April–October

near Hurricane

It is the reservoir at Sand Hollow State Park near St. George and is among the warmest in Utah.

Best season: April–October

near Dublin

Claytor Lake is a New River reservoir in southwest Virginia and the site of Claytor Lake State Park.

Best season: June–September

near Clarksville

John H. Kerr Reservoir, locally called Buggs Island Lake, is Virginia's largest lake with more than 850 miles of shoreline and about 50,000 acres of water.

Best season: May–October

near Mineral

Central Virginia wakesports destination with a dedicated boardshop and pro wakesurf coaching.

Best season: May–September

near Petersburg

Lake Chesdin is a reservoir on the Appomattox River that stretches across three counties in south-central Virginia and supplies drinking water to the Petersburg area.

Best season: May–September

near Huddleston

Leesville Lake is a reservoir below Smith Mountain Lake, used for hydroelectric pumped storage on the Roanoke River.

Best season: May–September

near Bassett

Philpott Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir created by damming the Smith River in the mountains of southern Virginia.

Best season: May–September

near Moneta

Virginia's premier watersports lake with clear water and a dedicated wake shop and lessons.

Best season: May–September

near Electric City

A 27-mile-long reservoir in central Washington's Grand Coulee, part of the Columbia Basin Project, with Steamboat Rock.

Best season: June–September

near Coulee Dam

A 130-mile-long reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, administered as a National Recreation Area.

Best season: June–September

near Bonney Lake

Inlets, peninsulas and islands shelter the water, often giving calmer, glassier conditions than Lake Washington.

Best season: July–September

near Hinton

Bluestone Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in southern West Virginia, the third-largest lake in the state, near Hinton.

Best season: June–September

near Morgantown

Cheat Lake is a 13-mile-long reservoir on the Cheat River near Morgantown, West Virginia.

Best season: June–September

near Justice

R.D. Bailey Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in the rugged hills of southwestern West Virginia.

Best season: May–September

near Weston

Stonewall Jackson Lake is a reservoir in Lewis County, West Virginia, surrounded by Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.

Best season: June–September

near Summersville

Summersville Lake is the largest lake in West Virginia, formed by damming the Gauley River, with striking sandstone cliffs nicknamed the 'Little Bahamas of the East.'

Best season: June–September

near Grafton

Tygart Lake is a reservoir in the Tygart Valley near Grafton, West Virginia, with Tygart Lake State Park along its shore.

Best season: June–September

near Mosinee (central Wisconsin)

Large central-Wisconsin flowage with room to spread out for water skiing, wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Best season: June–August

near Alcova

It is a North Platte River reservoir in Natrona County southwest of Casper, managed as a county recreation area.

Best season: June–September

near Shoshoni

It is the reservoir at Boysen State Park, partly within the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming.

Best season: June–September

near Glendo

It is the reservoir at Glendo State Park on the North Platte River in eastern Wyoming.

Best season: June–September

near Moorcroft

It is the reservoir at Keyhole State Park in northeastern Wyoming, with over 9,000 surface acres.

Best season: June–September