Main Beach and the Laguna Beach coast

Outdoors

Lakes near Laguna Beach

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

Lakes within 30 mi

24

Closest

1.9 mi

Top of the World Resevoir

Within 10 miles

9

Reservoirs

13

Worth the drive

Laguna Niguel Lake
Laguna Niguel Lake3.8 miPhoto: Ashahabi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Mission Viejo
Lake Mission Viejo9.6 miPhoto: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Irvine Lake
Irvine Lake17.2 miPhoto: Toksave, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore25.6 miPhoto: Trojan2010, Public domain
Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews28.6 miPhoto: Jeremy Caesar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Norconian
Lake Norconian29.4 miPhoto: Rdt8888, Public domain

Map

Map of 24 places loads as you scroll.

All lakes, nearest first

  1. 1.9mi
    Top of the World Resevoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  2. 3.8mi
    Laguna Niguel Lakereservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  3. 5.5mi
    Barbara's Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  4. 7.3mi
    San Joaquin Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  5. 8mi
    Lake Forest One

    Directions ↗

  6. 8mi
    Sand Canyon Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  7. 8.7mi
    Lake Forest Keys

    Directions ↗

  8. 9.6mi
    Lake Mission Viejo

    About ↗Directions ↗

  9. 9.9mi
    South Lake

    Directions ↗

  10. 10.4mi
    North Lake

    Directions ↗

  11. 10.9mi
    Trampas Canyon Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  12. 12.1mi
    Upper Oso Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  13. 13.7mi
    Rattlesnake Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  14. 17.2mi
    Irvine Lakereservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  15. 17.3mi
    Peters Canyon Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  16. 18.1mi
    Lake Huntingtonreservoir

    Directions ↗

  17. 21.5mi
    Walnut Canyon Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  18. 23.4mi
    Anaheim Lakereservoir

    Directions ↗

  19. 24.1mi
    Lee Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  20. 25.6mi
    Lake Elsinore

    About ↗Directions ↗

  21. 26.9mi
    Prado Reservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  22. 28.6mi
    Lake Mathewsreservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  23. 29.2mi
    Lake Oneillreservoir

    Directions ↗

  24. 29.4mi
    Lake Norconian

    About ↗Directions ↗

Straight-line distance from the center of Laguna Beach; 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 Laguna Beach?

Top of the World Resevoir, about 1.9 miles from the center of Laguna Beach.

How many lakes are near Laguna Beach?

24 named lakes are within 30 miles, 9 of them within 10 miles.

Are the lakes near Laguna Beach natural?

13 of the 24 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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