Canyon Lake, the most photographed of the Salt River lakes, is closed right now. The Tonto National Forest shut it in early September 2026 while the Salt River Project drains about 54 feet of water for once-in-20-years dam inspections, and the refill isn’t due to finish until around January 2027. That’s the kind of detail that decides a day on the lakes near Phoenix, and it’s the kind most lake guides miss. The Valley’s desert reservoirs are wonderful: canyon-walled water an hour from downtown, with boat rentals, cruises, swimming beaches and wild horses on the river below them. But each one is run by a different agency, charges a different fee, and has its own rules for getting a boat on the water. This guide compares them side by side, prices the day, and explains the Tonto Pass rules that catch visitors out.
Short answer: For a first lake day, go to Saguaro Lake, 43 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale and 55 from downtown Phoenix, where you can rent a pontoon or take the Desert Belle cruise; buy a Tonto Daily Pass for $8 from a Valley retailer before you go, or pay $12 at the lake’s machine (checked September 2026). For big-water sailing and West Valley convenience, choose Lake Pleasant, a county park with a $10 vehicle fee. Skip Canyon Lake until its drawdown ends, around January 2027.
Prices, hours and rules in this guide were last checked on September 24, 2026.
| Lakes near Phoenix at a glance | Details (checked Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Closest big lake | Saguaro Lake: 43 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale, 55 from downtown Phoenix |
| Biggest nearby lake | Lake Pleasant, northwest Valley: 54 minutes from downtown to Pleasant Harbor Marina |
| Closed now | Canyon Lake: drawdown and closure from September 2026 to about January 2027 |
| Tonto Pass (Saguaro, Canyon, Bartlett, Lower Salt River) | $8 per vehicle per day from Forest offices or retailers; $12 at on-site machines; boats need a $4 Watercraft Use Sticker |
| Lake Pleasant fees | $10 per vehicle; $5 per motorized boat, $3 per non-motorized craft (Maricopa County, 2026) |
| Cruises | Desert Belle on Saguaro Lake (80 minutes); Dolly Steamboat on Canyon Lake paused until about January 2027 |
| River tubing | Salt River Tubing’s 2026 season ended in late September; it reopens in spring |
| Best months | March to May and October to November; summer works early in the morning |
Which of the lakes near Phoenix is right for you?
The Valley’s lakes fall into three groups. The Salt River chain east of the Valley (Saguaro, Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt lakes) is a string of reservoirs in deep desert canyons, managed as part of the Tonto National Forest. Bartlett Lake sits on the Verde River northeast of Cave Creek, also in the Tonto. Lake Pleasant, in the northwest Valley, is a Maricopa County regional park with its own fees and marinas. And inside the city, Tempe Town Lake is an urban lake on the Salt River bed, a place for a paddle or a walk rather than a day trip.
| Lake (off-peak, checked Sep 2026) | From downtown Phoenix | From Old Town Scottsdale | From downtown Mesa | Managed by | Entry cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempe Town Lake | 17 min | 11 min | 17 min | City of Tempe | No park entry fee; rentals extra | A quick paddle, evening walks |
| Saguaro Lake | 55 min | 43 min | 41 min | Tonto National Forest | Tonto Pass | Rentals, cruises, a first lake day |
| Lake Pleasant | 54–61 min | 67–73 min | 76–83 min | Maricopa County | $10 per vehicle, plus boat fees | Sailing, big boats, camping, the West Valley |
| Canyon Lake | 72 min | 64 min | 54 min | Tonto National Forest | Tonto Pass | Canyon scenery; closed until about January 2027 |
| Bartlett Lake | About 1.5 hr | About 1 hr 20 min | About 1.5 hr | Tonto National Forest | Tonto Pass | Quieter water northeast of Cave Creek |
| Roosevelt Lake | About 2 hr 15 min | About 2 hr | About 2 hr | Tonto National Forest | Tonto Pass | The biggest Salt River lake, overnight trips |
| Apache Lake | About 3 hr (road closure) | About 2 hr 40 min | About 2 hr 40 min | Tonto National Forest | Tonto Pass | Remote canyon water, overnight trips |
If you’re in Scottsdale, Mesa or the East Valley, the Salt River lakes are your side of town: Saguaro Lake is the nearest big lake. If you’re in the West Valley, Glendale or north Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is closer: 47 minutes from Westgate to Pleasant Harbor Marina (checked September 2026). One currency note: Visit Phoenix describes Lake Pleasant as about 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix; the free-flow drive we measured to the regional park is 61 minutes, and 54 to Pleasant Harbor Marina, so plan on an hour.
The Tonto Pass: the rule that catches visitors out
Most of the lakes near Phoenix are in the Tonto National Forest, and nearly every picnic site, shoreline area and boat launch at Saguaro, Canyon and Bartlett lakes and on the Lower Salt River requires a Tonto Pass on your vehicle’s dashboard. It’s the most common way visitors get ticketed, and it’s easy to avoid.
| Pass (checked Sep 2026) | Price | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonto Daily Pass, bought ahead | $8 per vehicle per day | Tonto National Forest offices and retail vendors around the Valley | The cheap way; buy before you leave town |
| Tonto Daily Pass at the lake | $12 per vehicle per day | On-site Tonto fee machines | The same pass for $4 more |
| Watercraft Use Sticker | $4 each | Forest offices and retail vendors | Needed for each boat, kayak or paddleboard with a Daily or annual pass |
| Annual pass | $80 ($60 senior or access) | Forest offices and vendors | Worth it after about ten days |
| Tonto Discovery Pass | $80 | Forest offices only | Includes watercraft access; no sticker needed |
Here’s how it works in practice. A family driving to Saguaro Lake with a kayak needs a Daily Pass for the car and a Watercraft Use Sticker for the kayak: $12 if bought from a vendor in town, or $16 if you rely on the lake’s machine for the pass and still need a sticker from a vendor (checked September 2026). Don’t assume a national parks pass covers these sites; check the Forest’s passes page, and when in doubt, buy the Tonto Pass rather than finding out in the parking lot. And if you’re renting a boat from a marina, ask whether the rental includes lake access, because the marina’s own parking and launch rules differ from the Forest’s public sites.
Retail vendors around the Valley sell the pass and stickers, but availability varies, so the Forest Service suggests calling ahead. The Mesa Ranger District office, at 5140 E. Ingram St., sells passes on weekdays and stops pass sales at 4 p.m. The Tonto National Forest passes page lists current vendors. Lake Pleasant and Tempe Town Lake don’t use the Tonto Pass at all; each has its own fee rules, covered below.
Saguaro Lake: the easy first lake day
Saguaro Lake is the closest of the big Salt River lakes: 41 minutes from downtown Mesa, 43 from Old Town Scottsdale and 55 from downtown Phoenix to the marina (checked September 2026). The drive out along the Bush Highway passes the Lower Salt River’s recreation sites, and the lake itself sits between steep desert ridges, with saguaros on the slopes and cliffs at the water’s edge. Visit Phoenix counts 22 miles of shoreline, and it’s the lake most visitors should start with.
Saguaro Lake Marina rents boats for the day, including pontoons, a deck boat, a tritoon for bigger groups and a double-decker pontoon with a water slide, all with stereos and bimini tops for shade. Call the marina at (480) 986-5546 for current rates and availability, which vary by season and day of the week. Book early for spring weekends, when the fleet rents out.
The Desert Belle, the lake’s tour boat, runs an 80-minute cruise narrated by a Coast Guard-certified captain, covering the history, geology and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. It adds live music and discounted mimosas on weekend cruises and craft-beer cruises on Friday evenings, and a lunch cruise with the lake’s restaurant was in development in September 2026. It’s the easiest way to see the lake without a boat of your own, and a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want to drive one.
For swimming and a picnic, the Butcher Jones area on the lake’s north side, 59 minutes from downtown Phoenix, is the classic choice, with a beach and a shoreline trail; it requires a Tonto Pass. There are no lifeguards at any of the Valley’s lakes, so swim close to shore and keep children in life jackets.
Canyon Lake: closed until about January 2027
Canyon Lake is usually the most dramatic of the lakes near Phoenix, a narrow reservoir between tall red cliffs 54 minutes from downtown Mesa and 72 from downtown Phoenix. For the 2026–27 season, though, it’s off the table. The Salt River Project and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are lowering the lake about 54 feet for roughly 16 weeks from September 16, 2026, to inspect and repair the normally submerged parts of Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams, something they do once every 20 years. The plan is about four weeks to lower the lake, eight weeks of work and four weeks to refill it, according to SRP’s drawdown fact sheet (checked September 2026).
During the project, the Tonto National Forest closes the lake, including every boat ramp and access point, and nobody is allowed onto the exposed lakebed by boat, vehicle or on foot. Canyon Lake Marina, which operates independently, is relocating its slips and boats. The Dolly Steamboat, the lake’s paddle-wheel tour boat, has paused its cruises from August 30, 2026 until about January 2027 (checked September 2026). SRP’s project line is (602) 236-2872, and the Forest’s alerts page lists the current closure status.
When it reopens, the Dolly is worth the trip. Its Scenic Nature Cruise lasts an hour and a half from $35, the Twilight Dinner Cruise two hours from $88 plus tax and gratuity, the Astronomy Dinner Cruise two hours from $96, and the Game & Fish Bighorn Sheep Cruise three hours from $55 (checked September 2026). To get there, take State Route 88 from Apache Junction; farther along, SR 88 is closed to through traffic beyond Fish Creek Hill, past Tortilla Flat, as the Dolly’s own site warns, so don’t plan to continue to Apache Lake. Lost Dutchman State Park, at the foot of the Superstition Mountains on the way, charges $10 per vehicle with one person and $20 with two to four, and makes a good stop while the lake is closed.
Lake Pleasant: big water in the northwest Valley
Lake Pleasant is the big lake of the West Valley, a Maricopa County regional park 54 minutes from downtown Phoenix to Pleasant Harbor Marina and 61 minutes to the park’s main entrance, and 47 minutes from Westgate (checked September 2026). Visit Phoenix calls it the largest lake in the Phoenix area, with more than 10,000 acres of water and 116 miles of shoreline, and it’s the lake for sailing, larger boats and personal watercraft, with open water that the narrow Salt River canyons can’t match.
Because it’s a county park, its fees, posted on Maricopa County’s fee page, are different from the Tonto’s. Since January 1, 2026, the county charges $10 per vehicle for day use, $5 per motorized watercraft and $3 per non-motorized craft, and $5 for hikers, cyclists and riders entering without a car. Camping costs $20 a night for primitive sites, $25 semi-developed, $40 developed and $65 for shaded RV sites, and an annual pass costs $120, rising to $140 on January 1, 2027, while the vehicle fee stays at $10 (checked September 2026). There are two marinas, Scorpion Bay and Pleasant Harbor, for rentals, slips and supplies.
A day at Lake Pleasant for a family with a car and a kayak costs $13 in park fees, against $12 for the same outing at a Tonto lake with a pass bought in advance (checked September 2026). The difference is small; the real choice is geography. From the West Valley, Lake Pleasant is closer; from Scottsdale and the East Valley, the Salt River lakes are.
Bartlett Lake: the quieter one
Bartlett Lake, on the Verde River in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Cave Creek, is about an hour and 20 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale and about an hour and a half from downtown Phoenix (checked September 2026). It’s farther than Saguaro Lake from most of the Valley and less visited, which is its appeal: on a weekday, you’ll share it with anglers and a few boats. The Tonto Pass rules apply at its day-use areas and boat launches. The drive in is scenic but slow, so it’s a full-day outing rather than a quick swim.
Two bigger lakes worth the longer drive: Roosevelt and Apache
Roosevelt Lake, the largest lake on the Salt River and the top of the chain, is about 2 hours and 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix by road, 107 miles, with a full-service marina and equipment rentals (checked September 2026). It’s a lake for an overnight trip, with campgrounds, fishing and big open water behind Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
Apache Lake, between Canyon and Roosevelt, is one of the most beautiful reservoirs in Arizona, with deep canyon walls and a marina offering boat rentals, a motel and a restaurant. It’s also the hardest to reach right now. State Route 88, the Apache Trail, has been closed to through traffic since 2019 flood damage between Fish Creek Hill and the Apache Lake Marina road; part of that stretch reopened in September 2024 to high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and UTVs only, with no full reopening date. For most drivers, that means reaching Apache Lake the long way, via Globe and Roosevelt, about 3 hours from downtown Phoenix (checked September 2026). It’s a destination for a night or two, not a day trip.
The Salt River: tubing, paddling and wild horses
Below Saguaro Lake, the Lower Salt River flows through a desert valley lined with cottonwoods, 34 minutes from downtown Mesa and 47 from downtown Phoenix at the tubing company’s base (checked September 2026). It’s the Valley’s river playground in summer and its best wildlife-watching spot in winter.
Salt River Tubing runs the classic summer float. Its 2026 season opened on April 25 and ended in late September, with weekend-only operation from September 8; a tube rental with the shuttle cost $28 and shuttle-only with your own tube $22, riders had to be at least 4 feet tall, and children 12 and under wore life jackets (checked September 2026). Expect the 2027 season to start in spring; check its site for the date. It’s a sunny, social, often crowded float, best for teens and adults.
The river is also home to the Salt River wild horses, which live along an 18-mile stretch of the Lower Salt. The best chances to see them are at the Phon D. Sutton, Granite Reef and Raccoon Bluff recreation sites (the Forest Service’s current name for what locals still call Coon Bluff), within two or three hours of sunrise or sunset. The volunteer group that monitors them asks visitors to stay at least 50 feet away, never feed them, and keep dogs on a leash. Those sites are Tonto fee areas, so bring a pass.
Tempe Town Lake: the in-town option
Tempe Town Lake, about two miles long on the usually dry Salt River bed, is 17 minutes from downtown Phoenix and 11 from Old Town Scottsdale (checked September 2026). There’s no park entry fee to walk its paths, and boat and paddle rentals come from Boat Rentals of America at Tempe Beach Park. It’s the right choice for a short paddle, an evening walk or a family outing without a long drive; for more family ideas near the water, see our guide to things to do in Phoenix with kids. In summer, go after sunset, when the lake’s lights come on and the heat eases a little.
Lakes by trip type
Couples. Take the Desert Belle on Saguaro Lake for an easy morning, or head to Lake Pleasant for a late-afternoon sail or paddle and a sunset on the water. When Canyon Lake reopens, the Dolly Steamboat’s Twilight Dinner Cruise, from $88 plus tax and gratuity, is the Valley’s most romantic lake evening (checked September 2026).
Families. Start close to town at Tempe Town Lake, then graduate to a beach day at Saguaro Lake’s Butcher Jones area or Lake Pleasant, with life jackets for every child and shade you bring yourself. A rented pontoon with a bimini top is the easiest way to give small children shade, a swim and a boat ride in one outing.
Groups. A big pontoon or tritoon from Saguaro Lake Marina, split among six or eight people, is often the best-value lake day for a group; ask the marina about capacity and book well ahead for spring weekends.
Anglers. Buy the license and the pass, go at dawn in the cool months, and try the quieter lakes, Bartlett in particular, on a weekday.
Visitors without a car. Tempe Town Lake is the one lake you can reach easily without driving: it’s in downtown Tempe, a short walk from Mill Avenue and the light rail. The desert lakes all need a car, a tour or a long rideshare.
Why the lake levels change
The lakes near Phoenix are working reservoirs, not natural lakes, and their levels rise and fall with water needs, snowmelt and dam operations. The Salt and Verde river lakes are part of the Salt River Project’s water system, which stores water for more than 2.5 million Valley residents, according to SRP (checked September 2026). Their shorelines change with the seasons, and in dry years beaches and boat ramps can shift or close as the water drops. Lake Pleasant, fed by both the Agua Fria River and water delivered through the Central Arizona Project canal, also fluctuates through the year.
The 2026 Canyon Lake drawdown is the extreme case: a planned, temporary lowering of about 54 feet for dam inspections, with the water stored in other reservoirs rather than wasted, and no effect on water deliveries, according to SRP. For visitors, the practical point is simple: before a lake day, check the operator’s or the Forest’s current status for ramp closures and water levels, especially after long dry spells.
A two-lake weekend
If you have a weekend and a car, you can see both sides of the Valley’s water. On Saturday, start at dawn on the Lower Salt River at a wild-horse site, then continue to Saguaro Lake for a mid-morning paddle or the Desert Belle cruise and lunch at the marina; you’ll be back in Mesa or Scottsdale by early afternoon, ahead of the heat and any storms. On Sunday, drive to Lake Pleasant in the northwest Valley, pay the $10 county fee, and spend the late afternoon on the water, then watch the sunset before driving home (checked September 2026). Buy your Tonto Pass and any Watercraft Use Stickers in town on Friday, and you’ll have covered two lake systems, two agencies and two very different kinds of desert water.
Photographing the lakes
The lakes are at their most photogenic in the first and last hour of daylight, when the canyon walls glow and the water turns still. Saguaro Lake’s cliffs catch early light from the east shore; Lake Pleasant’s open water and islands suit sunsets; and Apache and Canyon lakes, with their towering red walls, are the most dramatic of all, although Canyon Lake is closed until about January 2027. Winter light is clearer and the air drier; summer light is harsher and hazier, and monsoon clouds can produce spectacular skies, but they also bring lightning, so shoot from the shore, not the water, when storms are near. Drones are restricted in many public areas, so check the rules for the specific site before you fly.
Paddling: kayaks, paddleboards and where to launch
Paddling is the cheapest and quietest way to see the lakes near Phoenix, and the calm early mornings suit it perfectly. Saguaro Lake is the best all-round paddling lake: its narrow upper reaches, away from the main basin, are sheltered by canyon walls, and a dawn start beats both the heat and the powerboats. Lake Pleasant is bigger and more exposed, with open water that can turn choppy when the afternoon wind rises, so it suits experienced paddlers and sailors better than beginners. Tempe Town Lake is the easy in-town option, with rentals at Tempe Beach Park and no long drive.
If you bring your own kayak or board to a Tonto lake, it needs a $4 Watercraft Use Sticker on top of your vehicle’s Daily Pass, or you can cover both with an $80 Tonto Discovery Pass; at Lake Pleasant, a non-motorized craft costs $3 on top of the $10 vehicle fee (checked September 2026). Wear a life jacket, however calm the water looks; winter water is cold enough to take your breath away if you fall in, and summer wind can come up fast. Plan your paddle for the first two or three hours after sunrise, and head back to shore when whitecaps appear or thunder sounds.
The Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake is a different kind of paddle: moving water through a desert valley, best in a kayak built for rivers and with some experience. Flows depend on releases from the dams upstream and can change, so check conditions before you go, and never paddle it alone if you’re new to moving water.
Camping by the water
Several lakes near Phoenix have campgrounds, and a night on the shore is how many locals do the lakes in the cool months. Lake Pleasant’s county campgrounds are the simplest to plan: in 2026 the county charges $20 a night for primitive sites, $25 for semi-developed, $40 for developed and $65 for shaded RV sites, on top of the day-use fee structure (checked September 2026). The Tonto National Forest runs campgrounds and camping areas around Roosevelt, Apache and Bartlett lakes and along the Salt River chain; their fees and seasons vary, so check the Forest’s recreation pages for the specific site. Canyon Lake’s shoreline and its access points are closed during the drawdown, so plan on camping elsewhere until the lake reopens.
From October to April, lakeside camping is comfortable, with warm days and cool nights; bring layers, because desert nights can drop sharply. From June to September, camping is a test of endurance, with overnight lows that often stay high, and it only makes sense at the higher, cooler lakes like Roosevelt or with serious shade and water.
Seasons on the lakes
Each season changes what the lakes near Phoenix are good for. Winter, December to February, brings quiet water, clear air, cold water and the best wildlife watching on the Lower Salt River; it’s a season for fishing, paddling in the sun and camping, not swimming. Spring, March to May, is the best all-round season, with warm days and comfortable water by May; it’s also when the lakes are busiest on weekends and when boat rentals book out. Summer, June to September, is peak season for boating, tubing and swimming, but only in the early morning and evening, with normal highs of 104.2 to 106.5°F from June through August and monsoon storms from June 15 to September 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Fall, October and November, has warm water, falling temperatures and far fewer boats; in 2026 it’s also the season when Canyon Lake is closed.
Getting there: roads and timing
The Salt River lakes are reached from the East Valley: Saguaro Lake and the Lower Salt River by the Bush Highway, a scenic two-lane road that climbs from Mesa past the river’s recreation sites, and Canyon Lake by State Route 88 from Apache Junction, a winding mountain road that’s slow even without traffic. Lake Pleasant is reached from the northwest Valley. Bartlett Lake is reached through Cave Creek on a long, winding road. All of them are drives where you’ll want a full tank and water in the car.
Timing matters more than the route. On spring and summer weekends, the roads to the Salt River lakes fill in the morning and again on Sunday afternoon, when everyone heads home at once; leave early and return early or late. On summer afternoons, monsoon storms can bring dust, heavy rain and flooded dips across these roads, so check the forecast before you set out and turn back rather than drive into moving water.
Renting a boat: what to ask before you book
Marina rentals are the easiest way onto the water, and a few questions avoid surprises. Ask what the rental includes: fuel, life jackets in the right sizes for your group, and any water toys like tubes. Ask about the deposit and the damage policy, and whether the marina requires a minimum age for the driver. Ask how the marina handles wind and monsoon cancellations, because summer afternoon storms can end a rental early. And ask what you need for parking and lake access at that marina, so you know whether to buy a Tonto Pass or pay a marina fee. Then book early for spring and summer weekends, when the fleets rent out, and consider a weekday, when the lakes are quieter and rentals easier to get.
What it costs to get on the water
Lake days in the Valley are cheap to start and add up with rentals. These are the fixed costs (checked September 2026); boat and paddle rentals vary by season and day, so ask the marina.
| Cost (checked Sep 2026) | Price | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Tonto Daily Pass | $8 bought ahead; $12 at the lake | Saguaro, Canyon and Bartlett lakes; Lower Salt River |
| Watercraft Use Sticker | $4 per craft | Tonto lakes and river, with a Daily or annual pass |
| Lake Pleasant vehicle entry | $10 | Maricopa County park |
| Lake Pleasant watercraft | $5 motorized; $3 non-motorized | Maricopa County park |
| Salt River Tubing | $28 tube and shuttle; $22 shuttle only (2026) | Lower Salt River, April to September |
| Dolly Steamboat | From $35 (paused until about January 2027) | Canyon Lake |
| Lost Dutchman State Park | $10 per vehicle with 1 person; $20 with 2 to 4 | On the way to Canyon Lake |
| Boat rentals | Call the marina | Saguaro Lake, Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt and Apache marinas |
Add it up for a typical outing. Two adults driving to Saguaro Lake with a paddleboard pay $12 in passes and stickers bought in town, and the rest of the day is whatever they spend on gas, lunch and a rental. Four people on the Desert Belle pay the cruise fare plus whatever parking or pass the marina requires, so confirm that when you book. Four people at Lake Pleasant in one car with a kayak pay $13 in county fees (checked September 2026).
Fishing the lakes near Phoenix
Fishing is one of the main reasons locals head to these lakes, and the rules are simple: anglers need an Arizona fishing license (the Arizona Game and Fish Department sets the age rule), sold online and at many retailers by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, which also publishes stocking schedules and fishing reports. The Salt River lakes and Lake Pleasant are warm-water fisheries known for bass, and the department’s Community Fishing Program stocks lakes in city parks around the Valley, which are the easiest places to take children fishing without a long drive. Check the department’s current regulations for limits and species rules before you cast.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Phoenix-area fishing page lists the city lakes in the program. Anglers get the best of the lakes in the cool months and the early morning. From June to September, fish at dawn and dusk and stay off the water in the middle of the day; the fish go deep and so should you, into the shade. And at Canyon Lake this season, there’s no fishing at all while the drawdown closure is in place.
Heat, monsoon and water safety
The lakes are the Valley’s summer escape, but the desert still sets the rules. From June through August the normal high at Sky Harbor is 104.2 to 106.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), and a boat deck or a beach adds reflected heat and sun. Get on the water early, bring more water than you think you’ll drink, and plan your shade: a bimini-topped rental boat, a canopy where allowed, or a midday break indoors.
Monsoon season, from June 15 to September 30, brings sudden storms, lightning and strong winds that can whip up waves on open water. When you see a storm building or hear thunder, get off the lake. On the drive, don’t cross flooded dips or washes, which can carry fast water across the roads to the Salt River lakes after a storm. Arizona’s so-called Stupid Motorist Law can make drivers who go around barricades into flooded washes pay for their own rescue, and the water is more dangerous than it looks.
There are no lifeguards at these lakes. Keep children in life jackets, both on boats and near the shore; Salt River Tubing requires them for riders 12 and under, and they’re sensible for every small child on or near the water. Don’t mix alcohol with boating. And watch for posted health advisories, which occasionally warn about algae in warm, still water in late summer.
Bringing a dog
Dogs are a common sight at the lakes, but the desert makes them vulnerable. Sand, rock and boat decks get hot enough to burn paws by mid-morning in summer, and dogs overheat faster than people. Keep your dog leashed, especially near the Lower Salt River, where the wild horse monitors ask visitors to keep dogs on a leash, bring a bowl and plenty of water, and give your dog shade and a life jacket on a boat. From June to September, a dawn walk by the water is fine; a midday lake day is not. Check each site’s pet rules before you go, because they differ between the county park, the Forest’s day-use areas and the marinas.
A lake day, planned
An East Valley morning on Saguaro Lake. Buy a Tonto Pass and a Watercraft Use Sticker in town the day before. Leave Scottsdale by 6:30 a.m. in summer or 8 a.m. in spring, reach the lake in about 45 minutes, and paddle the calm morning water before the boats arrive. Take the Desert Belle’s 80-minute cruise late in the morning, have lunch at the marina, and head home before the afternoon heat or a monsoon storm builds (drive times checked September 2026).
A West Valley afternoon at Lake Pleasant. Pay the $10 vehicle fee at the county park, 47 minutes from Westgate, and spend the late afternoon sailing, paddling or swimming, then watch the sunset over the desert hills around the lake. In winter, it’s a full-day outing; in summer, go after 4 p.m. (checked September 2026).
A dawn on the Lower Salt River. Drive to the Phon D. Sutton or Raccoon Bluff recreation site at sunrise, with a Tonto Pass on the dashboard, and walk the riverbank looking for wild horses from at least 50 feet away. Finish with breakfast back in Mesa, 34 minutes away. It’s the best wildlife experience near Phoenix for the price of an $8 pass (checked September 2026).
What to skip
Skip Canyon Lake until the drawdown ends. The lake, its ramps and its access points are closed from September 2026, and the Dolly Steamboat is paused until about January 2027. Go to Saguaro Lake instead.
Skip paying $12 at the lake. A Tonto Daily Pass costs $8 from a Valley retailer or Forest office, and you’ll need a $4 sticker for each boat or board anyway (checked September 2026). Buy both the day before.
Skip Apache Lake as a day trip. With SR 88 closed to through traffic beyond Fish Creek Hill (only high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and UTVs on part of it since 2024), it’s about 3 hours each way from Phoenix by the long way around. Make it an overnight trip or save it for another visit.
Skip the midday boat ride from June to September. Normal highs run 104 to 106.5°F; be on the water by 7 a.m. and off by 11, or go back out after 5 p.m.
Skip driving across the Valley for a lake. From the West Valley, Lake Pleasant is closer; from Scottsdale and the East Valley, Saguaro Lake is. Neither is worth a two-hour round trip if the other is on your side of town.
Skip the dry lakebed at Canyon Lake. It’s closed by boat, vehicle and on foot during the drawdown, because of hazards exposed by the lower water.
Skip the lake in a monsoon storm. Lightning and wind on open water are dangerous, and storms build fast on summer afternoons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest lake to Phoenix?
Tempe Town Lake is 17 minutes from downtown Phoenix, but it’s an urban lake for paddling and walking. For a real desert lake, Saguaro Lake is closest to the East Valley, 55 minutes from downtown Phoenix and 43 from Old Town Scottsdale, and Lake Pleasant is closest to the West Valley, 54 minutes from downtown to Pleasant Harbor Marina (checked September 2026).
Is Canyon Lake open?
Not until about January 2027. The Tonto National Forest closed Canyon Lake, including all boat ramps and access points, in September 2026 while the Salt River Project lowers the lake about 54 feet for dam inspections and maintenance. The project runs roughly 16 weeks from September 16, 2026, and the Dolly Steamboat is paused until about January 2027.
Do I need a Tonto Pass for Saguaro Lake?
Yes, for picnic sites, shorelines and public boat launches. A Tonto Daily Pass costs $8 per vehicle per day from Forest offices or Valley retailers, or $12 at the lake’s fee machines, and each boat, kayak or paddleboard needs a $4 Watercraft Use Sticker (checked September 2026). The $80 Tonto Discovery Pass includes watercraft access.
How much does it cost to go to Lake Pleasant?
Maricopa County charges $10 per vehicle for day use at Lake Pleasant Regional Park, plus $5 per motorized watercraft or $3 per non-motorized craft; hikers, cyclists and riders pay $5 (checked September 2026). Camping runs $20 to $65 a night, and the annual pass is $120, rising to $140 in 2027.
Can you swim in the lakes near Phoenix?
Yes, at designated areas, such as the Butcher Jones area on Saguaro Lake, and at Lake Pleasant. There are no lifeguards at any of the lakes, so swim close to shore, keep children in life jackets and avoid swimming near boat launches. In summer, swim early in the day, and get out of the water when a monsoon storm builds.
Where can you rent a boat near Phoenix?
Saguaro Lake Marina rents pontoons, a deck boat, a tritoon and a double-decker pontoon with a water slide; call (480) 986-5546 for rates. Lake Pleasant has two marinas, Scorpion Bay and Pleasant Harbor, and Roosevelt and Apache lakes have marinas with rentals. At Tempe Town Lake, Boat Rentals of America rents boats and paddleboards at Tempe Beach Park.
When is Salt River tubing season?
Salt River Tubing runs in the warm months: its 2026 season opened April 25 and ended in late September, with weekend-only operation from September 8 (checked September 2026). A tube with the shuttle cost $28, riders had to be at least 4 feet tall, and children 12 and under wore life jackets. Check its site for the 2027 opening date.
Where can I see the Salt River wild horses?
Along the Lower Salt River east of Mesa, especially at the Phon D. Sutton, Granite Reef and Raccoon Bluff recreation sites, within two or three hours of sunrise or sunset. Stay at least 50 feet away, never feed them and keep dogs leashed. The sites are Tonto National Forest fee areas, so display a Tonto Pass.
Related Phoenix Guides
- Things to Do in Phoenix With Kids: splash pads, water parks and family attractions, with a summer plan built around the heat.
Sources and verification
This guide is built from research, not hosted visits. Fees, closures and schedules were checked on September 24, 2026 against the agencies and operators listed below, and drive times were measured the same day with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (free-flow times, so add more at rush hour and on busy lake weekends).
- Salt River Project: Canyon Lake drawdown fact sheet (PDF), closure notice
- Tonto National Forest: passes, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Bartlett Reservoir
- Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Lake Pleasant Regional Park fees
- Operators: Dolly Steamboat, Desert Belle, Saguaro Lake Marina rentals, Salt River Tubing
- City of Tempe: Tempe Town Lake
- Arizona State Parks: Lost Dutchman State Park
- Arizona Game and Fish Department: Phoenix-area fishing waters
- Arizona Department of Transportation: SR 88 (Apache Trail) status
- Visit Phoenix: lakes overview
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: 1991–2020 monthly normals, Phoenix Sky Harbor
- OpenStreetMap and OSRM: routing for every drive time in this guide
Photo Credits
- Lake Pleasant: photo by Cathixx, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Canyon Lake: photo by dconvertini, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Roosevelt Lake: photo by ksblack99, Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
- Apache Lake: photo by Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Lower Salt River: photo by Z Glyph, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
- Kayakers on Saguaro Lake (featured image): photo by Taken by Rick Eastman from http://www.SierraAdventureSports.com, Wikimedia Commons (Copyrighted free use)