Lake Tahoe draws more than 15 million visitors a year, and its crowds show it. But Nevada has a handful of other lakes that rank among the cleanest in the state — quiet, high-altitude waters where the fish outnumber the people. Using current state and federal water-quality data, here are five worth a look.
Illipah Reservoir, about 40 miles from Ely off Highway 50 — the Loneliest Road in America — currently ranks as the cleanest monitored lake in Nevada and the state's best swimming lake. It sits at nearly 7,000 feet, freezes solid in winter for ice fishing, and offers free first-come, first-served camping. Summer brings trout fishing, swimming and RV-friendly sites.
Rye Patch Reservoir, in Pershing County between Winnemucca and the town of Lovelock, comes in second, with low algae levels and improving water quality. Its 72 miles of shoreline suit swimming, water-skiing and birdwatching, and the state recreation area has two campgrounds with flush toilets and hot showers. Entry is $5 for Nevada residents, $10 for out-of-state vehicles, and late March through early fall is prime time for walleye, catfish and bass.
Onion Valley Reservoir, third-cleanest in the state, is the trickiest to reach: a 14-mile dirt road in the Pine Forest Recreation Area of Humboldt County, best tackled with a high-clearance vehicle in summer. The reward is a 101-acre trout lake at just over 7,000 feet, with free primitive BLM camping. Knott Creek Reservoir, about eight miles away, ranks eighth statewide and produces trout up to 30 inches. Both are remote — the nearest big town, Winnemucca, is over 100 miles from Knott Creek.
Wild Horse Reservoir, 65 miles north of Elko in a state park, rounds out the list at seventh-cleanest with roughly six feet of water clarity. At 6,200 feet, it supports a long ice-fishing season, plus summer swimming, boating and wildflower walks. Fish here include smallmouth bass, yellow perch, catfish and rainbow and German brown trout.
One caveat applies to all five: warm summer water can trigger harmful algal blooms (HABs), which make swimming unsafe. Several of these lakes have had advisories during 2026, so check the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's HAB dashboard and the Department of Wildlife's fishing reports before you go.
These lakes suit campers, anglers and anyone who'd rather have a shoreline to themselves than a beach bar. You'll need to accept rough roads, primitive facilities and long drives — but the trade-off is some of the cleanest, emptiest water in the American West.
