Lakes in Arizona

Top Recreational Lakes in Arizona

Arizona Lakes provide something for everyone. Boating, swimming or simply relaxing next to the water, Arizona lakes have it all! Most also feature campgrounds to make your experience complete.

Lake Pleasant

Lake Pleasant provides a picturesque getaway north of Phoenix that provides ample outdoor recreation opportunities. Its 10,000 acres cover 10 nautical miles of pristine waters, while the shoreline stretches over 116 miles. It is ideal for power boating enthusiasts who love water skiing, sailing and other forms of recreational boating activities. Furthermore, hiking trails throughout Lake Pleasant allow visitors to appreciate both scenery and wildlife at Lake Pleasant.

Visitors to the park can also take advantage of its campgrounds, which offer breathtaking views of both the lake and its desert landscape. Campsites can be reserved in advance, and some even provide RV areas. Those seeking an easygoing experience may enjoy swimming in designated swimming areas or simply lounging around on the beach.

At Lake Pleasant, guests can also test their fishing skills.

Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu, one of four large reservoirs on the Colorado River, is an idyllic desert oasis where its sandy beaches, coves, inlets and canyon walls draw visitors looking for adventure, romance or simply relaxation. Situated near Arizona/California border this unique reservoir serves both snowbirds in wintertime, as well as families during summer vacation.

The area provides outdoor recreational opportunities like camping, swimming, fishing, boating and hiking in its sunny desert landscape. Beachside campsites for tents and RVs nestle directly against its beautiful lake. Furthermore, this venue hosts annual music festivals as well as international jet ski competitions and auto shows that draw thousands to Lake Havasu each year.

Hikers will enjoy exploring Lake Havasu's scenic backcountry, which boasts 6 wilderness areas, historic mines, and exotic wildlife.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is the largest lake in Comal County and an aquatic recreational paradise that provides swimming, fishing, water skiing, paddling and other watersports activities for fun-seekers of all kinds.

On the shores of this breathtaking lake are areas offering camping, picnicking and boating activities. Some even feature pavilions or playgrounds! There are also hiking trails offering stunning Hill Country vistas; hiking enthusiasts may even catch sight of wildlife species like foxes, road runners or white-tailed deer!

Apache Lake

Apache Lake is an idyllic oasis set amidst the lush canyon walls of Tonto National Forest and makes a wonderful boating and fishing destination. Apache Lake boasts year-round marina services as well as trout stocking. Channel and flathead catfish as well as crappie, sunfish, walleye, and carp are regularly found here as well.

This beautiful lake is ideal for water sports like wakeboarding, wakesurfing and waterskiing due to its seclusion. Visitors can enjoy glassy waters without dealing with choppy conditions common on more popular lakes. Bass anglers love targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass in its rocky structures and submerged vegetation. Lures such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits jerkbaits or soft plastics work effectively at this lake.

Roosevelt Lake

At 128 miles long of shoreline, its sapphire waters spanning across 128 miles make Roosevelt Lake one of the premier recreational spots.

Roosevelt Lake offers a host of recreational activities, from fishing to boating. With healthy populations of crappie, channel catfish, carp, sunfish and smallmouth bass inhabiting its waters, anglers have even caught trophy-sized bass at Roosevelt Lake!

Visitors should always remain conscious of how their activities impact the ecology of Roosevelt Lake and Tonto National Forest, located approximately 80 miles east of Phoenix and 150 miles north of Tucson.

Bartlett Lake

Bartlett Lake provides visitors with a host of recreational activities and amenities. Situated 48 miles northwest of Phoenix in Tonto National Forest, this lake boasts RV and primitive campsites, marina, hiking trails and boat launches. The lake has popular fishing species like largemouth bass, channel catfish and flathead catfish, making fishing an excellent way to unwind! A valid Arizona Fishing License must be presented.

Rattlesnake Cove trail, the lake's most popular hike, offers beautiful panoramic views of its surrounding mountains and ospreys and other species of birds such as bald eagles and ospreys can often be seen here.

Saguaro Lake

Saguaro Lake is a magnificent man-made lake located within Tonto National Forest and features a restaurant, boat launching facilities, and other amenities that make this lake an ideal location family fun. Additionally, there are breathtaking views of Arizona cacti and wildlife!

Two paved launch ramps at the lake accommodate both motorized and non-motorized craft.

Lake Mead

Lake Mead, North America's largest and southwestern reservoir, serves over 25 million people and was created by the Hoover Dam as an essential water supply in desert communities.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area covers 1.5 million acres, approximately two times larger than Rhode Island. It also features nine designated wilderness areas that account for 13% of its surface area

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