01
Best overall pick
June Lake Beach
June Lake • Scenic Alpine Swimming Beach • Best For Families And First-Timers
A wide sandy lakeshore with clear turquoise water, mountain views, and an easygoing vibe that suits almost everyone.
June Lake Beach feels like a small alpine resort without the attitude: there’s enough sand to spread out, shallow water near shore, and big Sierra peaks framing every photo. Summer afternoons are lively but rarely chaotic, with paddleboards and kayaks drifting just offshore. Bring layers—the water stays brisk even on hot days—but the long, sunny shoreline keeps people lingering well into the evening.
02
Wide-open water days
Bridgeport Reservoir Shoreline
Near Bridgeport • Laid-Back Reservoir Shoreline • Great For Boating And Casual Swims
A broad, open shoreline on Bridgeport Reservoir where glassy morning water gives way to breezy afternoons ideal for boats and floaties.
On calm mornings, Bridgeport Reservoir can look like a mirror, with low-slung sage hills and the Sierra crest reflecting back at you. Access points along the western shore give you room to park, launch small watercraft, and wade in for a cooling dip when the high-desert sun kicks in. It’s less polished than a resort beach, but the big-sky feel and easy water access are exactly what many locals come for.
03
Quiet mountain classic
Lower Twin Lake Shore
Twin Lakes, Southwest Of Bridgeport • Quiet Mountain Lake Cove • Local Favorite For Low-Key Afternoons
A pine-framed lakeshore with pockets of pebbly beach, clear water, and a slower rhythm than busier swim spots.
Lower Twin Lake sits in a steep-sided valley, so you’re never far from the sound of wind in the pines and the ripple of boats crossing the water. Small pullouts and day-use nooks along the shore give you just enough space for a blanket, a cooler, and a quick swim between fishing runs or hikes. It’s the kind of place where people linger over coffee on the tailgate and let the day unfold at mountain pace.
04
Most unique landscape
Navy Beach, Mono Lake
Mono Lake South Shore • Otherworldly Saline Lakeshore • Best For Scenery And Short Wades
A strange, beautiful strand on Mono Lake where tufas rise from intensely salty water and the shoreline feels almost lunar.
Navy Beach isn’t a traditional swim beach—the water is extremely salty and a bit slick—but wading in and floating is an experience you won’t forget. The flat, gravelly shore makes it easy to walk along the lake edge, watching shorebirds and taking in the sculpted tufa towers across the bay. Rinse off afterward if you do go in, then hang back for late light, when the lake’s colors shift from silver to deep blue and pink.
05
Best warm-water escape
Topaz Lake West Shore
Topaz Lake, Ca–Nv Border • Warm-Weather Boating Beach • Best For Late-Summer Heat Escapes
A broad reservoir on the state line with coves, informal beaches, and warm water that draws boaters and swim crews in the hotter months.
Topaz Lake’s west side offers a looser, more playful beach scene than the higher alpine lakes closer to Aspen Springs. As the day heats up, the water stays inviting, so you see everything from families splashing in the shallows to skiers and tubers working the broader middle of the lake. Pick a cove with some shade, set up a base camp, and plan on staying through golden hour when the surrounding hills light up.