The Most Picturesque Lakes in North America are Ranked, with Lake Tahoe Taking the Top Spot  

2024 Ranking of The Most Picturesque Lakes in North America

A new study has revealed the most picturesque lakes in North America. 

The study, by vacation rental platform Lake.com, analyzed Instagram posts containing hashtags relating to each lake for every major lake in North America to determine the most picturesque ones. 

In first place is Lake Tahoe. Straddling the border between California and Nevada, this freshwater lake has accumulated 3,053,173 Instagram posts featuring the #LakeTahoe hashtag. Lake Tahoe was found to have the most posts of any lake contained solely within America and any lake throughout North America. 

In second place is Lake Michigan. Spread across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, this great lake is the third largest of the great lakes, behind Lake Superior and Lake Huron. In total, Lake Michigan has 2,831,512 posts featuring the #LakeMichigan hashtag on Instagram. 

Lake Superior is third on the list, with 1,187,896 Instagram posts featuring the #LakeSuperior hashtag. Straddling the US-Canada border and touching the coasts of Ontario, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Lake Superior is also notably the largest freshwater lake in North America and the entire world by surface area. 

In fourth place is Lake Ontario, the smallest of the great lakes in terms of area. It spans the US-Canada border with Ontario to the north and New York to the south. Lake Ontario was found to have 1,025,574 posts containing the #LakeOntario hashtag on Instagram. 

Fifth place goes to Lake Erie. Situated on the border between Canada and America, Lake Erie was found to have 1,011,490 posts on Instagram containing the #LakeErie hashtag. 

The remainder of the top ten features Lake Norman in sixth place with 678,983 posts and Lake George in seventh with 626,647 posts. 

Eighth place goes to Lake Geneva with 590,672 posts, while Lake Havasu ranks ninth with 587,434 posts. 

Lake Huron, which was found to have 574,347 posts, is ranked the list in tenth place. 

Interestingly, Lake Fork, Texas, had the fewest hashtag posts in the United States, at just 105. 

The Top 10 Lakes with the Most Instagram Hashtag Posts 

David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, commented on the findings, saying: 

“The data reveal some fascinating insights into the continent’s natural beauty. It’s remarkable to see how social media platforms like Instagram can showcase the captivating allure of these lakes, drawing attention from people far and wide.” 

“These findings underscore the profound impact of these scenic spots, not only on local communities but also on a global scale, as they inspire countless individuals to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature.” 

The Methodology and Full Data Set

Our Methodology

Data was collected on the number of posts featuring the hashtag of each respective lake on Instagram, e.g., #LakeTahoe, #LakeMichigan, #Lake Superior, etc., with lakes ranked by the total number of posts found containing each lake.  “Lake” had to be in the hashtag, as other popular tourist destinations near or on lakes, such as Muskoka, which is a region of the Ozarks, another region, were by definition excluded.

Full Data Set of Most Picturesque Lakes by Instagram Hashtags

Below is a table of extended results: