5 Great Arizona Lakes for PWCs
With summer in full swing, its time to hit the water with your PWC (personal watercraft)! Don’t have a PWC? Don’t fret, RideNow Powersports has you covered. So grab some friends and beverage of your choice, and start making memories.
5. Apache Lake
About 67 miles from Phoenix, this unspoiled oasis is ripe for fun. If you want a break from the crowed lakes near the city, then this is your spot. Be warned though, once to pavement ends, you have to access the boat launch by way of the Apache Trail (State Route 88) which only fits one car. Get there early to avoid lines at the ramp or having to back out to let people pass. Once there, enjoy the 17-mile-long lake surrounded by the Superstitious Forest and the Three Bar Wildlife area. When you get hungry, head over to the marina and enjoy food at Jack’s Landing and finish off at “Big Horny Sheep Saloon, one of the few bars in Arizona near a large body of water”.
4. Saguaro Lake
Named after its surrounding stands of Saguaro cactus, this lake is about 40 min northwest of Phoenix. At its deepest point, Saguaro lake reaches the depth of 118 feet. It boasts 22 miles of shorelines and is split into two parts. The lower main section, has more water surface, making it easier if your pulling a tube, and the east end has boat access camping. Get there early, as this beach fills up quick thanks to its limited parking, abundance of beach, and proximity to Phoenix.
3. Lake Pleasant
With a name like “Pleasant”, what’s not to love? Just 35 miles from downtown Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is the largest lake in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. There is over 10,000 acres of water surface, 116-miles of shorelines and reaches depths of 260 ft. at the dam. Also, pretty cool is a hidden sandbar in the back, where about 10 boats can pull up and play games like horseshoes and bags on the lake. This popular lake, is a great place to BBQ and listen to music with friends. Better yet, if your lucky you will find a quiet cove and witness a bald eagle in flight.
2. Roosevelt Lake
Named after our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. The lake was created in 1911 with the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River. It is the oldest of six constructed during the Salt River Project, and when in flood control the damn can hold close to 3 million acres-feet of water. On the lake you will find over 21,000 acres of water surface, and 128 miles of shoreline. It’s a little further than others on the list, about 2.5 hours from Phoenix, but the drive is well worth it. They are less crowded, and its picturesque scenery is stuff of Hollywood. When you need a break from the water, hit the serene Apache trail or head over to the marina where you can sit out under a covered deck, enjoying live music, food, and beverages.
Lake Powell
The last one on the list, is for those who are up for a road trip. Located almost 5 hours away, Lake Powell stretches from Northern Arizona into Southern Utah. It is the second largest reservoir in the U.S. (Lake Mead is first) and can hold over 23 million acre-feet of water. It is a main tourist attraction, with millions of people visiting it each year. This is not a day trip, it is a vacation. There is plenty of lodging in the nearby AZ town of Page, or if you want to get the true experience, rent one of their airstream trailers or 75-foot luxury house boats. The lake is broken down into two sections. The South section sits in Arizona, and the larger North section in Utah. Here you will find magazine cover worthy landscape, featuring giant canyon walls, tunnels through rocks, and swim holes for sun bathing. This lake is well worth the trip.