Wyoming’s mountain lakes are some of the deepest in the country – cold, clear, glacier-carved waters that plunge hundreds of feet beneath the peaks. This guide ranks the deepest lakes in Wyoming and explains what makes each one special. It’s part of our Wyoming Lakes Database.
The deepest lakes in Wyoming
- Fremont Lake – about 600 feet deep; the deepest natural lake in Wyoming, a glacial trench near Pinedale.
- Jackson Lake – about 438 feet, beneath the Tetons in Grand Teton National Park.
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir – about 436 feet near the dam, in the red-rock canyons of the Green River.
- Yellowstone Lake – about 390 feet deep, atop the Yellowstone supervolcano.
- Jenny Lake – 256 feet (about 78 meters), according to the National Park Service; below Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park.
- Shoshone Lake – over 200 feet, the largest backcountry lake in the Lower 48.
- Lewis Lake and Bull Lake round out the deep-water list.
Why these lakes are so deep
Wyoming’s deepest lakes are glacial. During the Ice Age, massive glaciers flowed off the Wind River and Teton ranges, gouging long, narrow, extraordinarily deep trenches that filled with cold, clear meltwater – that’s Fremont, Jackson and Jenny lakes. The big reservoirs in deep river canyons, like Flaming Gorge, are deep for the same reason their canyons are – tall dams flooding steep gorges. That depth keeps the water cold enough for lake trout (Mackinaw) and kokanee salmon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deepest lake in Wyoming?
Fremont Lake near Pinedale, at about 600 feet – the deepest natural lake in Wyoming. Jackson Lake (438 ft) and Flaming Gorge (436 ft) are next.
How deep is Jenny Lake?
The National Park Service lists Jenny Lake’s maximum depth as 256 feet (about 78 meters). This is the lake below Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Published figures differ: a 2024 study by Larsen and colleagues reports 73 meters (about 240 feet). The list above uses the NPS figure. Our Jenny Lake guide covers trails, the shuttle boat and access.
Are Wyoming’s deep lakes good for lake trout?
Yes – the cold, deep glacial lakes (Fremont, Jackson, Flaming Gorge, Bull) grow trophy lake trout (Mackinaw) and kokanee salmon.
See the largest lakes, best lakes, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
Quick answers about Wyoming lakes
What is the deepest lake in Wyoming?
Jackson Lake is among the deepest lakes in Wyoming at roughly 438 feet, set beneath the Teton Range; several Yellowstone and alpine lakes are also very deep.
