Canyon Lake Arizona

Overview

Canyon Lake is the third of four artificial reservoirs along the Salt River east of Fountain Hills created as part of the Salt River Project to supply water for the Phoenix metro area known as 'The Valley of the Sun.' The lake was created in 1925 when the Mormon Flat Dam was completed. It is the smallest of the Salt River Project (SRP) reservoirs. The surface area of the lake is about 950 acres at full capacity. Canyon Lake is the first lake you will see when driving up the Apache Trail (Route 88) from Apache Junction.

Recreational Opportunities and Amenities

Recreational opportunities abound at Canyon Lake. Whether you are up for boating, jet-skiing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking, or just want to bring a picnic or eat at the Lakeside Restaurant and Cantina, you will have a fun day at Canyon Lake!

Canyon Lake is a great place for fishing. It is stocked with trout every winter, and yellow bass and channel catfish are plentiful. Smallmouth and Largemouth bass as well as walleyes are also present in Canyon Lake but are more rarely caught.

Canyon Lake is very popular for recreational boating and water sports like tubing and skiing due to its close proximity to the east valley of Phoenix. The marina has all the facilities you will need to launch, dock, store, fuel, and maintain your boat. If you don’t own a boat there are rentals available at Precision Marine located on the lake. Runabouts, pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks and canoes can be rented.

If you are a landlubber there are great hiking options near Canyon Lake in the Superstition Wilderness. A great trail starts right across the Canyon Lake Marina parking lot. Boulder Canyon Trail runs 7.3 miles, however the best part of the trail is the first few miles so it is a great day hike. You will be rapidly rewarded with expansive views of the lake and rugged geography surrounding it.

As the commercials say: “But wait, there’s more!” Many people take the beautiful drive out to Canyon Lake to enjoy a meal at the Lakeside Restaurant & Cantina. A wide variety of food is served in a casual atmosphere with great views of the lake. Lakeside Restaurant & Cantina serves lunch 7 days a week, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you love fish but don’t want to do all the work of catching and cooking them, show up on Friday for Lakeside’s All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry!

Another very popular attraction at Canyon Lake is the Dolly Steamboat. Cruise secluded waterways and relax while you admire the breathtaking flora and fauna of the lower Sonoran desert. Along the way, your captain will recount the legends and lore of the Superstition Mountains. A variety of tours are available on the Dolly Steamboat: regular cruise, dinner cruise, narrated nature cruise, and even a twilight astronomy cruise is an option.

RV sites and tent camping is available, or you can camp on the lake in various places in your boat. A picnic table, grill, and fire ring are provided at each site. Pets are welcome too!

Getting There

Getting to Canyon Lake is as enjoyable for most people as arriving. Canyon Lake is about 15 miles from Apache Junction on paved Route 88, otherwise known as the Apache Trail. These 15 miles can take you an hour to traverse, especially on weekends during the summer recreation season. Apache Trail is a convoluted, undulating road that offers so many spectacular views you will hardly stop ‘oohhhing-and-ahhhing’ until you reach the lake! Many Fountain Hills residents take their out-of-town guests to Canyon Lake and years later they are still talking about the drive.

The Apache Trail continues on past Canyon Lake to Tortilla Flat, which started as a stage stop in 1904 and is now a small group of authentic western buildings that house a restaurant and saloon, BBQ patio, country store, museum, post office, gift shop and more. After Tortilla Flat the paved Apache Trail turns into a well-maintained dirt road that takes travelers to Apache Lake and then to Roosevelt Lake.

Related Links:

• Get Map and Directions to Canyon Lake
• Canyon Lake Marina
• Precision Marine - Boat Rentals at Canyon Lake
• Lakeside Restaurant at Canyon Lake
• Dolly Steamboat
• Tortilla Flat
• Fishing Report
• History of the Apache Trail - Route 88
• Water Levels at Canyon Lake and other SRP Lakes
• Tonto National Forest
• Hike Arizona Website with hundreds of trails

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