Outdoors
Lakes near El Monte
28 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
28
Closest
3.4 mi
Legg Lake
Within 10 miles
4
Reservoirs
18
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 28 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 3.4miLegg Lake
- 5miBaldwin Lake
- 5.2miSanta Fe Lake
- 7.7miEaton Canyon Reservoirreservoir
- 10.9miMorris Reservoirreservoir
- 12.1miCogswell Reservoirreservoir
- 12.6miPuddingstone Reservoirreservoir
- 13.3miEcho Park Lake
- 13.7miSilver Lake Reservoirreservoir
- 14.1miSan Gabriel Reservoirreservoir
- 15.8miSan Dimas Reservoirreservoir
- 17.7miHollywood Reservoirreservoir
- 17.7miAnaheim Lakereservoir
- 19.8miRivers Lake
- 19.9miCrystal Lake
- 22.6miWalnut Canyon Reservoirreservoir
- 24.5miStone Canyon Reservoirreservoir
- 25.2miPeters Canyon Reservoirreservoir
- 25.7miPrado Reservoir
- 25.9miLake Huntingtonreservoir
- 27miIrvine Lakereservoir
- 27.5miCaldwell Lake
- 27.8miLake Balboa
- 27.9miLittle Rock Reservoirreservoir
- 27.9miPacoima Reservoirreservoir
- 28.1miLake Norconian
- 28.3miEncino Reservoirreservoir
- 29miRattlesnake Reservoirreservoir
Straight-line distance from the center of El Monte; 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 El Monte?
Legg Lake, about 3.4 miles from the center of El Monte.
How many lakes are near El Monte?
28 named lakes are within 30 miles, 4 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near El Monte natural?
18 of the 28 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.