Outdoors
Lakes near Santa Clara
30 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
30
Closest
7.4 mi
Stevens Creek Reservoir
Within 10 miles
4
Reservoirs
19
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 7.4miStevens Creek Reservoirreservoir
- 7.4miVasona Reservoir
- 8.6miShoreline Lakereservoir
- 8.9miLake Cunningham
- 11.7miLexington Reservoirreservoir
- 11.8miCalaveras Reservoirreservoir
- 11.9miGuadalupe Reservoirreservoir
- 12.1miFelt Lakereservoir
- 12.2miCherry Flat Reservoirreservoir
- 12.3miLake Lagunita
- 13.4miLake Elizabethreservoir
- 13.7miGrant Lake
- 15.1miBear Gulch Reservoirreservoir
- 15.2miAlmaden Reservoirreservoir
- 15.2miRainbow Lake
- 15.3miLaguna Seca
- 15.6miCalero Reservoirreservoir
- 15.8miLake Elsman
- 17.5miSan Antonio Reservoirreservoir
- 18.3miLoch Lomondreservoir
- 20.7miCentral Lake
- 21.4miChesbro Reservoirreservoir
- 21.7miLake Del Vallereservoir
- 21.9miTulare Lake
- 23.1miAnderson Lakereservoir
- 24.8miCrystal Springs Reservoir
- 25.2miUvas Reservoirreservoir
- 27.1miLake Chabotreservoir
- 28.3miCoyote Lakereservoir
- 29.9miSan Andreas Lake
Straight-line distance from the center of Santa Clara; driving and trail distances are longer.
Before you go
Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.
Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.
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 Santa Clara?
Stevens Creek Reservoir, about 7.4 miles from the center of Santa Clara.
How many lakes are near Santa Clara?
30 named lakes are within 30 miles, 4 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near Santa Clara natural?
19 of the 30 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.