Roosevelt Lake Arizona

Overview

Theodore Roosevelt Lake is the first and largest 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 area. At about 21,500 acres, it is also the largest lake completely contained within state borders. The lake was created when the Roosevelt dam was finished in 1911 as the first project under the Federal Reclamation Act. The original dam was 284 feet high and 723 feet long, and was once the largest masonry dam in the world. In 1995 the dam was upgraded and is now 357 feet high.

Recreation

At 25 miles long when completely full, and with 21,500 surface acres and 112 miles of shoreline, Roosevelt Lake is a boating and fishing paradise. In the summer the water temperature is very comfortable for swimming, water-skiing, or jet-skiing as it can get close to 90º F!

With so much area it is easy for fishing boats to find a secluded cove or area away from the more active boaters on the lake. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Channel and Flathead Catfish, Sunfish, and Crappie are commonly caught. It has been said that if you aren’t catching anything in Roosevelt Lake you just aren’t trying hard enough. Many Arizona record catches have been caught here, including a 50 pound channel catfish!

There are a number of hikes around Roosevelt Lake with incredible views. The southeastern end of the Mazatzal range (including Four Peaks) contains the lake on its southwestern side, while the Sierra Ancha range holds it in on the northeast side. On the south side of the lake you can hike the Denton Trail, Chillicut Trail, Vineyard Trail, Thompson Trail, Cottonwood Trail, Tonto National Monument Upper Dwelling Trail (you need reservations for this hike), and more. On the north side of the lake you can find the Salome Jug, Cactus Butte Trail, Tucker Box and more.

A unique cultural attraction near the southern end of the lake is Tonto National Monument. The monument features well-preserved cliff dwellings that were occupied in the 13th through 15th centuries by the Salado culture. Check out the museum and watch the brief orientation video before you walk the short trail to the dwellings. Please check the official website for Tonto National Monument to insure they will be open as state budget cuts have resulted in diminished hours for many parks and recreational sites.

Amenities

There are a number of campgrounds on the southwestern side of the lake, which is the easiest shore to access. The north side can be accessed via some dirt 4WD roads and is better for those looking for a more secluded experience. Boat camping is a popular choice as many beach their boat and set up camp on the shore all across the lake. Some of the developed camping sites on the southwest side of the lake are Indian Point (90 sites), Cholla (206 sites), Windy Hill (347 sites), Schoolhouse (204 sites), and the Grapevine Group Site. There are also a number of undeveloped daily-use fee sites, including Bachelors Cove, Cholla Bay, Grapevine Bay, Orange Peel, and Bermuda Flat.

About 10 miles north of the northern edge of the lake is a small rural community called Punkin Center. There is a grocery, restaurant and bar there. The restaurant serves up some great down-home cooking for a very reasonable price and is a great place to stop if you are taking 188 north to the 87 to return to Phoenix after a day on the lake.

Getting There

There are two ways to get to Roosevelt Lake. The first way is to travel north on Route 87, the Beeline Highway, until you reach Route 188. This is about 2/3 of the way to Payson from Fountain Hills. Turn right and drive approximately 20 miles to the north end of the lake. From Fountain Hills this trip is about 83 miles to the marina at the middle of the southwest side of the lake.

The second route that can be used to reach Roosevelt Lake from Fountain Hills or the Phoenix area is to use the Apache Trail (Route 88) from Apache Junction. Although this route is about 10 miles shorter than the aforementioned route, it is NOT recommend if you want to arrive quickly or if you are pulling a trailer or driving an RV. A sizable section of the Apache Trail is dirt, and although well-graded it has a number of hairpin turns and steep ascents and declines with serious drop-offs in sections. Apache Trail is the route to take if you have a lot of time and want to make a day of just getting to Roosevelt Lake.

Related Links:

• Get Map and Directions to Roosevelt Lake
• Roosevelt Lake Marina
• Tonto National Forest
• Tonto National Monument
• Roosevelt Lake reaches Flood Limit
• Water Levels at Canyon Lake and other SRP Lakes
• Tonto National Forest
• Hike Arizona Website with hundreds of trails

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