Exploring the Best Lakes Around Phoenix

Emily Miner
Oct 9
4 min read

I would live on the water if I could. I love being in and around water especially during the summer. We are going to go over the 3 major lakes(and a bonus lake 2hr away) in the Phoenix area. Be sure to check out my post on the Salt River too!

Lake Pleasant

Saguaro Lake

Canyon Lake

Woods Canyons (Bonus Lake)

Lake Pleasant

Located about 45minutes North from Phoenix, I use to regularly do solo trips on the weekends here. I want to start by saying that most of the lakes in the Phoenix are more for boating or kayaking. The shores will be rocky and crowed in the summer. So my tip is to paddle! You can get the same kayaks I use for only $75 here!

Lake pleasant is great for fishing and Boating! It has stripper bass and large mouth bass. Every time I have gone I was able to find a semi quiet place to set up with not many people around.

Pros:

More Beach area than other lakes
Restaurants - I've only been to Scorpion Bay Grill (mostly bar food, fish and chips),
Airbnbs on the water
Inflatable Obstacle course! - $27.50 per person online price. Fun for any age!

Cons:

Beaches are rocky not sandy
Less beauty than the other lakes. Not a lot of trees or greenery around.

Before you go:

1. Check weather conditions before going. If its windy there can be very big waves! I once went in a little fisherman boat and not going to lie it was pretty sketchy especially with the wakes of the other much larger boats! but once we found a little cove all to ourselves we fished the whole day happy as clams!

2. You will most likely see wild donkeys (burros) when you go. They are NOT afraid of humans but do not get too close they BITE! Respect wildlife and do not feed them!

Great Hike in this Area: Yavapai Point Trail

Length: 2.9mi Elevation Gain: 439ft Average time: 1- 1.5hr Difficulty: Moderate

Saguaro Lake

Located about 40mins from Phoenix, this is the last lake the Salt River flows into. You'll map it to Butcher Jones Recreation site for the beach side and just Saguaro Lake to get to the boat side. When I went last I was able to find parking on the boat side and since we were kayaking it worked out! The other side was completely full and people were walking long distances to the beach.

This lake is SOO beautiful. There is a portion of the trail and rock walls where everyone like to cliff jump from. (at your own risk). This lake is also a big boating lake because there aren't many beaches. There is no longer a restaurant here, but there is a wine bar.

Pros:

Lots of beauty, amazing rock walls
Two Parking lots, one for boats only

Cons:

Only 1 smaller beach area
Gets VERY busy in the summer. Hard to find parking

Great Hike in this Area: Butcher Jones

Length: 5.8mi Elevation Gain: 639ft Average time: ?hr Difficulty: Moderate

Canyon Lake

Located about 1 hour from Phoenix, only about 20minutes further than Saguaro Lake, in Apache Junction, lies Canyon Lake. A beautiful less busy lake. They call it canyon lake because it is literally in a canyon, meaning there are little no beach areas so you really need a boat, kayak or paddleboard to enjoy this one. Although when I went I saw many people on the shore but I personally would not drive this far for this "beach" because its not even dirt, its solid uneven slippery rock. Just getting into the kayaks was a little difficult.

However, this lake is SOOO gorgeous! If you are paddling, you can paddle up the Salt River where you have canyon walls on either side of you. If you don't have any of your own another fun experience is the Dolly Steamboat Cruise! This is a fun experience on a steamboat where your caption will explain all the wildlife including eagle nest and big horn sheep and also the Mysteries of the Superstation Mountains. They offer a twilight dinner cruise which I haven't done but I thinks sounds so fun and romantic!

Tortilla Flat

This a little town of 6 people!! It is definitely wroth visiting if you are going to Canyon lake. We ate at the Superstitious Salon where they have horse saddle for seats. which you think would be cool but actually not very comfortable lol. Their food was greasy but good.

Tortilla flat also has a candy/ice cream shop where we got some gelato, and a giftshop. Overall this was a great historic town to grab a bite after the lake. Although I wouldn't make the drive unless you were already going to visit Canyon Lake.

Pros:

So much beauty!
Less Crowded
Tortilla Flat
Dolly Steamboat Cruise

Cons:

Bathrooms were not clean
A little further away
No beach areas

Great Hike in this Area: Boulder Canyon Trail to Boulder Canyon Viewpoint

Length: 5.0mi Elevation Gain: 1092ft Average time: 2.5-3hr Difficulty: Moderate

I have been wanting to do this hike for forever!!! You can only do once temperatures drop but the pictures of the views are insane! @Hikersledge on Instagram has some great content of this one!

Woods Canyon Lake

This my favorite on the list. Even though this one isn't technically in Phoenix I wanted to add it to the list because its only a 2 hour drive! And its the MOST beautiful in my opinion. Located on the Mogollon Rim so if you walk the path you'll get incredible views!! The weather is much cooler and the air is so crisp. Pine trees surround the entire lake. It was so relaxing. There is also another lake nearby called Willow Springs.

Pros: