Arizona Lakes Near The Phoenix Area

By Tony Subia

Last updated on May 8, 2026.

Lakes near Phoenix offer some of Arizona’s best warm-weather recreation, with scenic desert reservoirs, boat ramps, marinas, fishing areas, kayaking coves, camping, and dramatic canyon views all within day-trip distance of the metro area. From Lake Pleasant northwest of Phoenix to Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake, and Bartlett Lake, visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, water skiing, paddle sports, wildlife viewing, and desert scenery close to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and Apache Junction.

Phoenix is known for sunshine and Sonoran Desert scenery, but the region also has several excellent lakes within easy driving distance. These Phoenix-area lakes provide cool water recreation, fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, camping, and scenic shoreline escapes for residents and visitors looking for outdoor adventure beyond the city.

Why Visit Lakes Near Phoenix

Lakes near Phoenix are popular because they combine desert landscapes with year-round outdoor recreation. Visitors can launch boats, rent kayaks, fish for bass, enjoy marina restaurants, explore canyon shorelines, camp near the water, or take scenic drives through areas like the Apache Trail, Tonto National Forest, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, and the Lower Salt River region.

Things To Do & See At Lakes Near Phoenix

• Boating: Launch a boat or rent watercraft at popular lakes including Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Bartlett Lake, Apache Lake, and Roosevelt Lake.
• Fishing: Target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and other warm-water species.
• Kayaking and Paddleboarding: Explore calm coves, desert shorelines, canyon walls, and scenic inlets by paddle craft.
• Water Skiing and Tubing: Larger lakes near Phoenix offer open-water areas for water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and personal watercraft.
• Camping and RV Parks: Several Phoenix-area lakes offer campgrounds, RV sites, picnic areas, and nearby lodging.
• Wildlife Viewing: Look for wild burros, desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles, javelina, coyotes, and waterfowl around desert lakes.
• Scenic Drives: Enjoy routes through the Apache Trail, Tonto National Forest, Lake Pleasant area, and desert mountain corridors.
• Photography: Capture desert sunsets, saguaro cactus, canyon cliffs, blue water, wildflowers, and mountain reflections.

Fishing, Boating & Kayaking Lakes Near Phoenix

• Lake Pleasant: One of the largest and most popular boating lakes near Phoenix with marinas, ramps, camping, fishing, sailing, and open-water recreation.
• Saguaro Lake: Scenic Salt River lake with canyon walls, marina services, fishing, boat rentals, kayaking, and dinner cruises.
• Canyon Lake: Dramatic desert canyon lake near Apache Junction and the Apache Trail, popular for boating, fishing, kayaking, and sightseeing cruises.
• Apache Lake: Remote lake along the Apache Trail known for rugged scenery, camping, boating, kayaking, and fishing.
• Roosevelt Lake: Large reservoir east of Phoenix with excellent boating, fishing, camping, and wide-open water.
• Bartlett Lake: Popular Verde River lake near Scottsdale and Carefree with boating, fishing, kayaking, and desert mountain views.

Best Times To Visit Lakes Near Phoenix

• Spring: One of the best seasons for boating, fishing, kayaking, camping, wildflowers, and comfortable desert weather.
• Summer: Peak lake season for swimming, boating, tubing, water skiing, and early morning fishing, though midday heat can be intense.
• Fall: Warm water, lighter crowds, cooler evenings, and good fishing make fall a favorite season for lake trips.
• Winter: Mild daytime weather is good for fishing, kayaking, photography, hiking, and quiet shoreline visits.

Phoenix area lakes offer vast, clear surface water created by the rivers feeding the Phoenix area. Each of the Phoenix lakes offers an abundance of lake fun including boating, sailing, and fishing, water skiing, swimming and camping enjoyment. Some lakes offer RV parks for traveler convenience. Some lakes offer picturesque mountainous scenery, large stands of Saguaro Cactus with beautiful desert views with spectacular wildflowers during the spring.

The colorful painted canyon walls of Canyon, Saguaro and Apache Lakes are stunningly spectacular. It's not unusual to find natural springs flowing along their hiking trails. At large Lake Pleasant look for the wild roaming burros. Apache Lake is abundant with wildlife including javelina , mountain sheep, soaring eagles, deer and an occasional black bear.

If you are an avid fisherman, the Phoenix lakes offer some of the best bass fishing in the country. Expect the largemouth, smallmouth and white bass excitement. A trophy catch is waiting at the blue water lakes near Phoenix Arizona.

Lake Pleasant

A short scenic drive 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix is the second largest of the Phoenix area lakes offering over 10,000 acres of fresh, clear blue water. Located in the vast Lake Pleasant Regional Park just north of Sun City and West Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is filled by the Agua Fria River flowing from the north cool country of Northern Arizona. Lake Pleasant provides marina facilities, large boat ramps, campgrounds and RV parks. Read more about Lake Pleasant

Saguaro Lake

Picturesque Saguaro Lake is about 40 miles northeast of Phoenix and the Scottsdale area. Saguaro Lake offers special views, canyon walls and excellent boating fun. The Saguaro Lake Marina offers boat mooring, boat rentals, a restaurant and picnic facilities. Saguaro Lake is a sister lake of Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt Lake which are all created along the Salt River which becomes a dry river bed as it flows through Phoenix. Read more about Saguaro Lake

Canyon Lake

Just northeast of Mesa and Apache Junction Arizona about 40 miles from the Phoenix area, Canyon Lake offers the most spectacular canyon walls. Canyon Lake lies in the Superstition Mountain area and is the gateway to the Apache Trail leading to both Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. This entire area features amazing views and very scenic hiking. Read more about Canyon Lake

Apache Lake

Apache Lake is a relatively short drive up the very scenic Apache Trail from Canyon Lake. High canyon walls and deep luscious mountain valleys accent one of the most beautiful landscapes in Arizona. There are several miles of dirt road leading to Apache Lake but is accessible to everyday automobiles. Apache Lake is surrounded by the Superstition Wilderness, home of picturesque Superstition Mountain and the Legend of The Lost Dutchman’s gold mine. Apache Lake Marina and Resort provides a multitude of amenity services. Read more about Apache Lake

Roosevelt Lake

Roosevelt Lake lies above Apache Lake up the Apache Trail and is the farthest from the Phoenix area cities. But it is the largest of the lakes within one and one half hour driving distance of Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun at over 17 miles in length. Roosevelt Lake was formed in 1911 with the construction of Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River. Today about 10 miles of the original river is beneath lake waters. Lake Roosevelt offers marina features, camping grounds and nearby motels and RV parks. Read more about Roosevelt Lake.

Bartlett Lake

Bartlett Lake is noted for its spectacular views of surrounding desert mountains and Saguaro-studded foothills. In the spring when cactus are in bloom and wildflowers dot the landscape, Formed by Bartlett Dam and fed by the Verde River, these pristine waters are very popular favorites among water recreation enthusiasts.

FAQ

What are the best lakes near Phoenix?
Popular lakes near Phoenix include Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake, and Bartlett Lake.

What is the closest major lake to Phoenix?
Lake Pleasant is one of the closest large recreation lakes to the Phoenix metro area, while Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake are popular options east of the city.

Can you go boating near Phoenix?
Yes. Several lakes near Phoenix offer boat ramps, marinas, boat rentals, fishing boats, pontoons, kayaks, and personal watercraft access.

Are Phoenix-area lakes good for fishing?
Yes. Lakes near Phoenix are popular for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and other warm-water fish.

Can you kayak at lakes near Phoenix?
Yes. Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Bartlett Lake, Apache Lake, and Roosevelt Lake all offer kayaking opportunities depending on weather and lake conditions.

When is the best time to visit lakes near Phoenix?
Spring and fall are often the best seasons because temperatures are more comfortable, while summer is popular for swimming, boating, tubing, and water skiing.

Are there scenic lakes near Scottsdale?
Yes. Saguaro Lake, Bartlett Lake, Canyon Lake, and Lake Pleasant are all popular lake destinations within driving distance of Scottsdale.

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Arizona Lakes