5 Deepest US Lakes

Inspiration

On our June 2019 Road Trip to Eastern Washington & Western Idaho, without specifically planning it, we took boat trips on our first 2 of the 5 Deepest US Lakes:

  • Lake Chelan, #3
  • Lake Pend Oreille, #5

As we were already planning a visit to Crater Lake, #1, in August 2019, we decided to plan our route to the Bay Area in September to include Lake Tahoe, #2. That gave us 4 of 5 lakes in 2019. We finally made it to Lake Superior, #4, in summer 2024, visiting it from multiple locations, in 3 states! (and took multiple boat trips.)

Boating the 5 Deepest US Lakes

On The Lady of the Lake on Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan approaching Stehekin
On Lake Pend Oreille with Fred
Lake Pend Oreille
On Crater Lake Tour
Crater Lake
On Lake Tahoe Paddle Boat Tour
Lake Tahoe Sunset
On the Isle Royale Queen IV, heading to Isle Royale, smiling before the 8 foot swells
Looking Northeast over Lake Superior, at Scoville Point on Isle Royale

5 Deepest US Lakes – Stats & Visits

DeepestLakeStateDepthVisit
1Crater LakeOregon1,949′3rd – Aug 2019
2Lake TahoeCalifornia
Nevada		1,645′4th – Oct 2019
3Lake ChelanWashington1,486′1st – Jun 2019
4Lake SuperiorMichigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota		1,333′5th – Aug-Sept 2024*
5Lake Pend OreilleIdaho1,152′2nd – Jun 2019

* visited Lake Superior and boated on it from multiple National Parks…Pictured Rocks, Keweenaw Peninsula, Isle Royale, and 2 more to go! (as of Sept 5, 2024)