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Canyon Lake Kayaking and Camping

Description and Directions >>

Description:
Canyon Lake is a 950 acre lake located in Tonto National Forest near Mesa, AZ. Canyon Lake is known for its wonderful shorelines along giant red rock cliffs. For more information please visit the Tonto National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto. For information on the Canyon Lake Marina and Campground, visit http://www.canyonlakemarina.com.

Activities:
kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, sightseeing

Directions:
From Mesa, AZ, take US60 to the Idaho Exit #196. Go north on State Hwy 88 (the scenic Apache Trail). From Apache Junction, the lake is approximately 15 miles through beautiful country. An alternative would be to turn off onto Hwy 88 from Hwy 188. This part of the road is dirt, but you will be able to see more lakes of the Salt River Project, such as Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake.

Story Date 4/13/2005
Publish Date 12/27/2005

Story Perspectives >>

According to Mikala: We often drive through Arizona while visiting relatives. Most of the time, I do not notice much of the desert landscape. However, one time we decided to take a different highway (Bush Highway). As we were driving along, we noticed a lake near the highway. We also noticed these tremendous rock cliff walls lining the lake and located throughout the mountains. It was very beautiful. Being avid kayakers, we thought that it would be nice to come back at a later date to try out the lake. The lake we saw was Saguaro Lake, and is part of a string of lakes in the Arizona Salt River Project. The other lakes further along the Salt River are Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Theodore Roosevelt Lake.

After further research, we decided on a camping trip on Canyon Lake, which is the next lake above Saguaro Lake. Canyon Lake has a marina and campground that is located on the banks of the lake, which would allow for easy kayak access. The campground caters to mostly motor homes, but they do offer a few dirt campsites for tents. These sites are fairly small, but as I mentioned, they are right on the lake edge. Our trip was in April, so the desert wildflowers were blooming all around the lake. We were lucky to get sunny weather. The temperatures during the day were around 90 degrees...great for being in the water all day.

The lake consists of a large open area with about 4-5 inlets or coves (including the dam area), and one very long arm going up the Salt River area toward Apache Lake. On our first outing, we explored the inlets very near our campsite: Tortilla Bay and La Barge Cove. The inlet toward Tortilla Bay was very calm and peaceful. I was amazed at the beauty of the landscape...numerous wildflowers, grasses and cati lined the rocky cliffs. After exploring these inlets, we made our way along the shore toward the dam. Near the dam, there are very, very high red cliffs that line the banks of the lake. As we rounded the bend to kayak up the arm of the lake, we were surrounded by massive rock walls. It was very exciting and awesome to kayak near these. I felt so small.

The arm of the lake goes on for a few miles, until it nears Apache Lake. We only kayaked about halfway to Beer Can Point. I understand that boat-in camping is allowed at this point...something we want to take advantage of in the future. We pulled out onto a rocky shore for lunch. It was getting pretty hot out, but we had packed our chairs and umbrellas, so we had some shade. I would have liked to continue on, but we knew we had to kayak back the same day.

The next day, we kayaked up along the west banks of the lake, stopping to take a short walk up a canyon near First Water Creek. It was very quiet and pretty...the green of the trees contrasting nicely with the red rocks. During both of our outings, we didn't come across many other people. There were a few fishing boats, but they stayed mostly in the main area of the lake. When we explored the different coves and inlets, we were mainly by ourselves.

I would highly recommend this lake for kayaking. The view is just outstanding! However, I have read that the summer months are very busy, so I would recommend kayaking during the off-season. Springtime is an excellent opportunity to see the desert flowers in bloom.

Pictures >>

Please click on a picture for a larger image.


Red cliffs along Hwy 88.


Hwy 88 drive...canyon view.


Wildflower and cactus along Hwy 88.


More Hwy 88 views.


View from our campsite.


Our campsite.


Wildflower viewing during morning kayak.


Beautiful cactus view.


Flat water kayaking.


Another beautiful landscape setting.


Red cliffs in the background.


The wildflowers were blooming everywhere.


What a view!


Inlet going toward Tortilla Bay.


Many fish were visible in the water.


This was very peaceful.


Closer to the end of the inlet.


Hillside view.


Saguaro cactus.


This rock wall was massive to kayak next to.


Looks almost prehistoric.


Caves in the rock walls.


Kayaking up for closer inspection.


More beautiful landscape.


These enormous walls were amazing.


Rock formations further on.


This was near Beer Can Point.


Gliding along...


Another strange looking rock formation.


High cliffs near the west side of the lake.


An oasis along an arm of the lake.


This is at the end of First Water Creek.

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