National Parks

Bodies of Water in North America's National Parks

Name

 

National Park

Athabasca Falls
At Athabasca Falls, the Athabasca River is compressed through a narrow gorge, producing a violent torre
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Emerald Lake
At Emerald Lake, a vivid turquoise shimmer at the base of the President Range, you can rent a canoe, have
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Lake O'Hara
Lake O'Hara, in Yoho's southern half, is widely regarded as one of the ultimate destinations for outdoo
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Maligne Lake
The remarkably blue, 14-mi-long (22-km-long) Maligne Lake is one of the largest glacier-fed lakes in the
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Moraine Lake
This beauty, 7 mi (11 km) south of Lake Louise, is a photographic highlight of Banff National Park. Se
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Takakkaw Falls
Takakkaw Falls, in the northern half of Yoho National Park, has a sheer drop of 833 feet—one o
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Windermere Lake
For summer water sports, Windermere Lake —actually an extra-wide stretch of the Columbia River—is
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Moraine Lake
This beauty, 7 mi (11 km) south of Lake Louise, is a photographic highlight of Banff National Park. Se
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Dugout Wells
A windmill using the restless desert winds continues to siphon water from the lowlands, creating a shady
  Big Bend National Park
Fishlake National Forest
Sitting at an elevation of 8,800 feet is Fish Lake, which lies in the heart of its namesake, 1.4-million-acre
  Capitol Reef National Park
Rattlesnake Springs
Enormous cottonwood trees shade the picnic and recreation area at this cool oasis near Black River. The
  Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Badwater
This shallow sodium chloride pool lies in an expanse of desolate salt flats. At 282 feet below sea level,
  Death Valley and Mojave
Darwin Falls
Named for Dr. Darwin French, who explored this desert wilderness in 1860, the 80-foot Darwin Falls are
  Death Valley and Mojave
Lake McDonald
This beautiful 10-mi-long lake is accessible year-round on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Take a boat ride to
  Glacier National Park
Running Eagle Falls (Trick Falls)
Cascading near Two Medicine, this is actually two different waterfalls from two different sources. I
  Glacier National Park
Jackson Lake
The biggest of Grand Teton's glacier-carved lakes, this body of water in the northern reaches of the park
  Grand Teton National Park
Jenny Lake
Named for the Native American wife of mountain man Beaver Dick Leigh, this alpine lake south of Jackso
  Grand Teton National Park
Deep Creek Waterfalls
For the effort of a 2-mi hike, Deep Creek Waterfalls will reward you with three pretty waterfalls, Tom
  Great Smoky Mtns. National Park
Fontana Lake & Dam
More than 29 mi long, Fontana Lake & Dam borders the southern edge of the Great Smokies. Unlike mos
  Great Smoky Mtns. National Park
Lake Santeetlah
Formed in 1928 with the construction of the Santeetlah Dam, Lake Santeetlah, meaning "blue waters" i
  Great Smoky Mtns. National Park
Nantahala River
The most popular river in western North Carolina for rafting and kayaking is Nantahala River, which races
  Great Smoky Mtns. National Park
Athabasca Falls
At Athabasca Falls, the Athabasca River is compressed through a narrow gorge, producing a violent torre
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Maligne Lake
The remarkably blue, 14-mi-long (22-km-long) Maligne Lake is one of the largest glacier-fed lakes in the
  Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Christine Falls
These two tiered falls were named in honor of Christine Louise Van Trump, who climbed to the 10,000-foo
  Mount Rainier National Park
Narada Falls
A steep but short trail leads to the viewing area for these spectacular 168-foot falls, which expand to
  Mount Rainier National Park
Tipsoo Lake
The short, pleasant trail that circles the lake here—ideal for families—provides breathtaking
  Mount Rainier National Park
Lake Crescent
Visitors see Lake Crescent as Highway 101 winds along its southern shore, giving way to gorgeous views
  Olympic National Park
Lake Quinault
This glimmering lake, 4½ mi long and 300 feet deep, is the first landmark you'll reach when driving
  Olympic National Park
Cottonwood Spring Oasis
Noted for its abundant birdlife, this is an example of the palm-shaded oases that were a welcome sigh
  Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park
Fortynine Palms Oasis
Sights within the oasis include stands of fan palms, interesting petroglyphs, and evidence of fires buil
  Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park
Lost Palms Oasis
More than 100 palms comprise the largest group of the exotic plants in the park. A spring bubbles from
  Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park
Bear Lake
Thanks to its picturesque location, easy accessibility, and the good hiking trails nearby, this small
  Rocky Mountain National Park
Gibbon Falls
Water rushes over the caldera rim in this 84-foot waterfall on the Gibbon River.
  Yellowstone National Park
Lake Butte
Reached by a spur road off the East Entrance Road, this wooded promontory rising 615 feet above Yellowstone
  Yellowstone National Park
LeHardy Rapids
Witness one of nature's epic battles as cutthroat trout migrate upstream to spawn in spring by catapulting
  Yellowstone National Park
Tower Fall
This is one of the easiest waterfalls to see from the roadside (follow signs to the lookout point); you
  Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Lake
One of the world's largest alpine lakes, encompassing 132 square mi, Yellowstone Lake was formed whe
  Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Lake area
Yellowstone Lake area, in the park's southeastern segment, is permeated by the tranquility of massive
  Yellowstone National Park
Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall, a filmy fall of 620 feet that is often diverted as much as 20 feet one way or the othe
  Yosemite National Park
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which supplies water and hydroelectric power to San Francisco, is about 40
  Yosemite National Park
Hume Lake
This reservoir, built by loggers in the early 1900s, is now the site of several church-affiliated camps,
  Yosemite National Park
Mammoth Lakes Basin
The lakes of the Mammoth Lakes Basin, reached by Lake Mary Road off Highway 203 southwest of town, are
  Yosemite National Park
Mono Lake
Eerie tufa towers—calcium carbonate formations that often resemble castle turrets—rise from
  Yosemite National Park
Nevada Fall
Climb Mist Trail from Happy Isles for an up-close view of 594-foot Nevada Fall, the first major fall as
  Yosemite National Park
Ribbon Fall
At 1,612 feet, Ribbon Fall is the highest single fall in North America. It's also the first valley waterfall
  Yosemite National Park
Vernal Fall
Fern-covered black rocks frame 317-foot Vernal Fall, and rainbows play in the spray at its base. Take
  Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls —which form the highest waterfall in North America and the fifth-highest in the world—are
  Yosemite National Park
Weeping Rock
A short, paved walk leads up to this flowing rock face, where wildflowers and delicate ferns thrive nea
  Zion National Park

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