Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is formed by Mormon Flat Dam which is feature of the Salt River Project. The lake is 51 miles east of Phoenix and a popular spot for swimming and boating.There are three recreation sites at the lake available at no charge. They are the Acacia Picnic Site, the Palo Verde Recreation Site and the Boulder Creek Recreation Site. Acacia, with 40 spaces, Palo Verde, with eight spaces, and Boulder Creek, with eight spaces, are open year around.Canyon Lake is the smallest of Salt River Projects lakes. It has a designated swimming site and a pair of boating ramps. The Canyon Lake Resort offers a variety of marina services, food and a beach area. Located nearby is a Maricopa County Sheriffs aid station.Across the highway from the resort is a hiking trail that borders La Barge Creek and a small finger channel of the lake. La Barge Creek originates in the Superstition Mountains to the east.Two miles from the resort is the Tortilla Campground with 77 spaces. Open October through April, the campground offers individual units with water and sewer hook-ups. A fee is charged for use.Across the highway from the campground is Tortilla Flat, which includes a coffee shop, store and post office.For fishermen, Canyon Lake offers walleye, largemouth bass, yellow bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish and crappie.Seclusion-seeking boaters can travel three miles up the lake, between steep cliffs, to The Point Campground. It is open all year at no charge, but has only three units.

There is only one way to Canyon Lake - the scenic Apache Trail (Highway 88) from Apache Junction. The 15 miles to the lake are fully paved and wind through some of the most colorful desert scenery in central Arizona. Drive with care - there are many sharp turns. The route used to be a construction road during the building of Roosevelt Dam.