canyon lake

When my visiting family said they wanted to an authentic Arizona experience, we saddled up our SUV and headed out to Canyon Lake. I have lived here for years, and although I had heard about the place I had never been. Box Ticked. The switchback drive through some pretty amazing mountains made me wish I wasn't driving so I could better enjoy the view, but what are you going to do?! We purchased tickets in advance for the Canyon Lake paddle boat cruise, which was a good thing because it was sold out when we go there. Jaw dropping, animal spotting, lake beauty surrounded us for the duration of the cruise and the staff circulated with show and tell samples of geodes and antlers and other cool AZ stuff. Afterwards we drove the extra few miles to Tortilla Flats for lunch, which included a live country band with dancing and some pretty darn good food for a ghost town. The walls are covered with dollar bills which had been decorated by the guests. Judging by the number of them, this tradition has been going on for a while. Be sure to check out the dance hall girls painted on the restroom stall doors for some old fashioned selfies. After lunch we moseyed on down the boardwalk for some prickly pear gellatto before heading down the hill full of great AZ memories

One need a National Forest permit to spend any length of time there and these may be purchased at a number of sites.

Took a motorcycle ride to Tortilla Flats. The road is quite rough which takes away from the enjoyment of the twisties on the motorcycles. If you go, the scenery is great and the destination is not far from Apache Junction. After Tortilla Flats the road is gravel, so we skipped going on farther. There is a restaurant at Tortilla Flats - skip that. The food is overpriced and not very good. There are way better choices along the way.

We have taken many out-of-town visitors to Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat, and without exception they have all enjoyed it immensely. It is an easy drive from Tempe, typically no more than an hour to hour and a half. The views are amazing, and we always have to stop for picture taking. The rock formations, the lichens on the rocks as you move deeper into the Superstition Mountains, the approach to the lake and then the lake itself. All are just beautiful.On our last trip we packed a light picnic lunch and picnicked in the designated area right on the lake itself. It was mid-February so the weather was lovely, the views are lovely and we had a blast. Highly recommend this as a day trip.

We rented a pontoon boat and took it for a ride down the river - it was beautiful! The boat was clean and well maintained. We really enjoyed our trip there. :)

We drove out to Canyon Lake on a whim and I'm glad we did! Every time we went around a corner on the way there was another beautiful view of amazing scenery. I thought the lake and surrounding areas were gorgeous so it was definitely worth the drive. Next time I'm in Arizona I will definitely come back out this way!

I have been here many times with friends and family. I am always impressed with the view from the lookout. The lake surrounded by mountains and cliff faces is always breathtaking!

Arizona is a beautiful state and this is one of the beautiful areas to enjoy. The lake was something to behold. The senes of the contrast of the lake and mountains makes this a wonderful photo opportunity.It is so peaceful here that you can just sit back and enjoy nature. There are a number of hiking trails in the area.This is a place I will return to many times.

This is a beautiful spot in the midst of the mountains in the middle of the Sonoran desert. Taking a short drive out to Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake was a nice surprise along the way. This is a spot that will need a second visit... in the summer time.

We went to the canyon lake from Mesa; especially beyond Apache junction, the drive was very scenic through the mountains. The lake looks very pretty.We went jet-skiing; I was sitting at the back. The sun rays were soothing and there was cool breeze from the lake. On both the sides the cliffs were rising to great heights. As we went close to the cliffs and looked up, what struck us was the grandeur of nature and the smallness of man. I thought that was the end of the expanse of the lake; but as we moved on, I realized the river was taking a turn and flowing through a narrow passage between the cliffs; the ride continued; this happened repeatedly some seven to eight times. Breathtaking experience. From the bank, we could never experience this. It was about 4 pm on a sunny day. The sun rays were highlighting certain features. During our return, there were times when the sunlight was literally blinding and the rider had a tough time. Also it was getting colder.Suddenly the engine stalled; the ski wouldn't move at all. A gentleman from a boat guided us; he felt the jet must have picked up something from the lake which was clogging. After repeated throttle, the ski picked up speed. We reached the dock; don't know what happened. Both of us were in water. This was my first experience on a jet-ski and I do not know to swim; the rider knew; of course two others from our party were standing on the deck to receive us. Slowly it occurred to me that I was not sinking, thanks to the life jacket. Never before had I realized the great usefulness of this small accessory!The other two went skiing as both of us were waiting. Almost all the boats had returned and our anxiety grew. At last the jet-ski came back, toughed by a boat. In the middle of the lake they had run out of fuel! It was really an adventurous trip. What a memorable day!!

If only I had my sports car instead of a Kia SOUL on this road. What a trip! And in the middle of nowhere, a small outpost where the Dutchman used to live, was a great lunch spot. If the weather was warmer, we surely would have gone swimming in the lake, but since it was overcast, we drove out to explore. Lots to see in the area, and I will be back again when we are in Arizona next!

I went to Arizona to visit friends, we were on our way to a restaurant and we stopped here at Canyon Lake. Temps were chilly and rain off and on but this lake is so pretty and peaceful. The cactus were everywhere and the mountains were awesome looking. Just beautiful and will def come back hopefully when the sun is shining : )

The ride to the lake is fabulous with breathtaking views, the boat cruise is well worth the time and money really scenic area a not to be missed

our friends and we decided to go on the paddle boat cruise and then enjoy the mining town. It was a great day! the lake and guide were perfect and the mining town was cute. We weren't expecting it to be such a long drive from our home in VERY N. Phoenix, but it was a great trip and we tell everyone to try it!

Canyon Lake is about an hour east of Phoenix, Arizona. The final approach is via AZ Hwy. 88 from Apache Junction. The scenery along the way is breathtaking. Views of the Superstition Mountains, Weaver's Needle, and the upper Sonoran-zone desert is fantastic. The road is a narrow, two-lane twisty adventure. We saw deer along the way, so keep an eye out for wildlife. Finally, you arrive at Canyon Lake, with deep blue water surrounded by cliffs that rise hundreds of feet straight up. The shape of the lake is like a tadpole . . . so you see just the wide part of the lake. The best parts of the lake are accessible only by boat, which can be rented at the marina (highly recommended). We rented a pontoon boat and motored up the the narrow part of the lake that goes on for many miles. We spotted a desert bighorn sheep and lots of birdlife. The narrow channel follows the ancient canyon carved by the Salt River, which is now filled with the lake water. This would be an excellent adventure for anyone wishing to get off the grid and experience what the desert of central Arizona is really like. If you go in the summer, be prepared for desert temperatures with relief just a jump in the water away.