Arizona’s lakes caught me completely off guard. Growing up, I thought this state was just endless desert, but then I found myself kayaking through towering red rock canyons at Lake Powell, watching the sunset paint the cliffs in shades of orange I didn’t even know existed. The contrast of deep blue waters against the Sonoran Desert landscape creates some of the most beautiful places in Arizona you could imagine.
Take Apache Lake, where I spent a morning watching wild horses drink at the shoreline while bass fishermen cast their lines into the glassy water, or Lake Havasu, where you can swim in water so clear you can see straight to the bottom. Ready to discover the unexpected side of the desert? Here are 12 incredible Arizona lakes that will completely change how you see the Southwest!
Best Lakes to Visit in Arizona in 2025
Looking for the coolest things to do in Arizona in 2025? Explore the stunning waters of Lake Powell, take in the breathtaking views at Lake Mead, relax by the shores of Lake Havasu, and enjoy outdoor adventures at Roosevelt Lake. Whether you’re interested in boating, fishing, or simply soaking up the scenic landscapes, these are the top attractions to visit in Arizona.
1. Lake Powell
- 📍 Location: Northern Arizona and southern Utah, straddling the border between the two states
- 🏆 Best For: Houseboaters 🚤, water sports enthusiasts 🏄♂️, photographers 📸
- 📸 Top Experiences: Exploring Rainbow Bridge, cruising through narrow canyons, stargazing from a houseboat
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Late spring and early fall for ideal temperatures and fewer crowds 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Wahweap Marina Houseboats – Sleep aboard a premium houseboat with panoramic views from your private upper deck
Lake Powell isn’t just scenic, it’s otherworldly. Think red slot canyons you can only reach by kayak, water glowing turquoise beneath sheer cliffs, and a houseboat as your hotel.
Start at Wahweap Marina. Rent a houseboat and use it as your launchpad. Kayak into Antelope Canyon or Labyrinth Canyon between 9 and 11am when sunlight beams straight down the slots and the water turns neon. Avoid afternoons when shadows flatten everything.
Plan a trip to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the biggest natural arches on the planet. It’s a 50-mile boat ride from Wahweap plus a 1.5-mile one-way hike. Arrive between 10am and noon for clean light across the bridge. Photographers, bring a wide lens.
At night, stargaze from your upper deck. No light pollution, just the Milky Way overhead. For wildlife, cruise by Forgotten Canyon near sunset. Desert bighorn sheep often show up on the cliffs.
Fishing? Head to Dangling Rope Marina or Warm Creek Bay in early fall. Cast deep for striped bass at first light when the water’s cool and the fish are active.
2. Lake Mead
- 📍 Location: Southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, just 30 minutes east of Las Vegas
- 🏆 Best For: Desert adventurers 🏜️, boaters 🛥️, history enthusiasts 🏛️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Touring Hoover Dam, swimming in hidden coves, hiking the dramatic landscape
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for pleasant temperatures, summer for the full lake experience 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Boulder Beach Campground – Secure a premium lakeside site with direct water access and mountain views from your tent flap
Lake Mead looks like a drowned canyon system. Dry desert peaks rise out of still water, and every turn hides a cove, a trail, or a piece of history.
Start with the Historic Railroad Trail, a 3.7-mile one-way gravel path that tunnels through five massive rock cuts. It’s flat and easy. Go early morning or after 4pm for soft light and long shadows across the lake. Bring a headlamp if you’re near dusk; the tunnels go pitch black fast.
The Hoover Dam tour is a must. Skip the viewpoint and head inside. The full tour gets you into the old turbine rooms and underground corridors. Arrive before 9am to avoid both the heat and the crowds.
For a quiet swim, paddle into Sandy Cove or Owl Canyon. These tucked-away spots are calm even in summer. Aim for weekdays in October or late April to avoid crowds and catch the water at its clearest.
Shoot at Boulder Beach near sunset. The iconic “bathtub ring” cliffs pop when shadows stretch long. It’s a goldmine for landscape photos.
3. Lake Havasu
- 📍 Location: Western Arizona along the California border, about 3 hours from Phoenix and Las Vegas
- 🏆 Best For: Party boaters 🎉, water sports enthusiasts 🏊♀️, spring breakers 🍹
- 📸 Top Experiences: Walking across London Bridge, boating through the channel, exploring hidden coves
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for perfect temperatures, summer for the full party atmosphere 🥂
- 🏨 Where to Stay: The Heat Hotel – Book a premium corner balcony room offering perfect views of London Bridge illuminated at night
Lake Havasu is equal parts desert oddity and non-stop boat party, and somehow, yes, the actual London Bridge spans this manmade lake.
If you’re in for the scene, The Channel is the hotspot. Boats raft up, speakers go loud, and it’s a floating spring break. Prefer peace? Paddle out from Mesquite Bay to Steamboat Cove. The water’s calm, there are cliff jumps, and the sunsets explode in color.
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Stretch your legs on the Shoreline Trail, a 2.2-mile out-and-back route that hugs the lake. Go before 10am or after 5pm. The trail is exposed, and the low-angle light hits the red rocks and water just right.
Check out the weird but awesome lighthouse trail. Over two dozen scaled replicas of real U.S. lighthouses dot the shoreline. Grab a map from the visitor center and turn it into a photo scavenger hunt. For quieter vibes, go midweek in fall. October brings 80-degree days, calm water, and space to breathe without the weekend chaos.
- Read Next: Epic Things to Do in Lake Havasu City
4. Roosevelt Lake
- 📍 Location: Central Arizona, about 2 hours northeast of Phoenix in the Tonto National Forest
- 🏆 Best For: Anglers 🎣, history buffs 🏛️, peaceful retreaters 🧘♀️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Bass fishing the submerged timber, exploring ancient cliff dwellings, driving the Apache Trail
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Spring for wildflowers, fall and winter for crowd-free fishing and hiking 🌸
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Roosevelt Lake Marina – Reserve a floating cabin with a private fishing deck directly above prime bass habitat
Roosevelt Lake is massive, mellow, and made for those who want bass, backroads, and a slice of ancient history without the crowds.
If you fish, head straight for the Windy Hill area. Early morning and dusk in spring or fall are your windows. Target submerged timber with jigs or crankbaits for bass stacked up near structure.
Don’t miss the hike to Tonto National Monument. It’s short, just 1.5 miles round trip, but climbs fast to reach cliff dwellings built 700 years ago. Go during golden hour, either sunrise or about 60 minutes before sunset, when the cliffs and ruins light up with warm tones and soft shadows.
Drive the Apache Trail (AZ-88) if you’re coming from the west. It’s partly unpaved and a bit rough after storms, but the payoff is huge. Winding desert roads, towering saguaros, and wide-open lake views stretch for miles.
Stay right on the water in a floating cabin at Roosevelt Lake Marina. You’ll have a fishing deck steps from your bed, views of bald eagles overhead, and campfire sunsets without another boat in sight.
5. Lake Pleasant
- 📍 Location: Central Arizona, just 45 minutes northwest of downtown Phoenix
- 🏆 Best For: Weekend escapees 🏖️, scuba divers 🤿, sunset chasers 🌅
- 📸 Top Experiences: Desert wildlife viewing, scuba diving to underwater oddities, sailing against mountain backdrops
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May for wildflowers, September-November for perfect temperatures and fewer crowds 🌵
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Pleasant Harbor RV Resort – Book a premium lakeside cabin with a private BBQ area and shoreline access for wildlife viewing
Lake Pleasant is the kind of place that doesn’t feel like it should exist this close to Phoenix. That’s exactly why it’s worth your time.
The lake stretches across 10,000 acres with shifting shorelines that reveal hidden coves depending on the season. Visit in spring (March to May) or fall (September to November) when temps are perfect and the light’s golden for photos, especially from Yavapai Point at sunset.
Bring your dive gear if you’re up for exploring below the surface. Visibility is best in spring and fall, and you can spot a sunken Cessna, old boats, and mining ruins from the Humbug townsite.
For something on land, hike the Pipeline Canyon Trail. It’s an easy 2-mile out-and-back with a floating bridge, sweeping water views, and peak wildflowers in March.
Book a cabin at Pleasant Harbor RV Resort. You’ll wake up steps from the water, with early-morning paddles and grilling under the stars. Go midweek to dodge the wakeboard crowd.
- Read next: Best Spa Resorts in Phoenix and Scottsdale
- You may also like: Top Places to Stay in Phoenix
6. Watson Lake
- 📍 Location: Northern Arizona, just 4 miles from downtown Prescott at the edge of the Granite Dells
- 🏆 Best For: Rock hoppers 🧗♂️, kayakers 🚣♀️, photographers 📸
- 📸 Top Experiences: Paddling through granite boulder mazes, hiking the Peavine Trail, capturing sunrise reflections
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April-June for perfect temperatures and higher water levels, October for stunning fall colors 🍁
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Prescott Pines Inn – Select the garden cottage with private patio access and fresh-baked breakfast delivered to your door
Watson Lake looks like it belongs on another planet. Massive granite boulders rise from still, mirror-like water just minutes from Prescott.
Get there at sunrise. The water’s glassy, the crowds are nonexistent, and the golden light bouncing off the Granite Dells is unbeatable for photos. Rent a kayak and paddle through the rock channels. Some are just wide enough to squeeze through.
On foot, start with the Peavine Trail, a flat 5.5-mile roundtrip along the old railroad bed with lake views and space to breathe. Want more rock scrambling? Switch to the North Shore Trail (1.5-mile loop) for cliffside paths and better lake access. Visit in April through June when water levels are higher and temps are still cool. Fall, especially October, brings cottonwood color and quieter trails.
Stay at Prescott Pines Inn. Ask for the garden cottage for privacy, patio space, and breakfast delivered to your door. If you’re in town late summer, the annual regatta features homemade boats that are hilariously questionable but fun to watch.
7. Mormon Lake
- 📍 Location: Northern Arizona, about 30 minutes southeast of Flagstaff in Coconino National Forest
- 🏆 Best For: Anglers 🎣, birdwatchers 🦅, wildlife enthusiasts 🦌
- 📸 Top Experiences: Fly fishing for northern pike, spotting elk and deer, photography at sunset
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall (May-October) when water levels are highest 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Mormon Lake Lodge – Historic cabins where you’ll fall asleep to the sounds of nature and wake to mountain views
Mormon Lake is unpredictable. Some years it’s a 5,000-acre lake. Other times it’s just a grassy meadow dotted with elk.
When full, usually May through October, it’s a solid spot for northern pike fishing. These toothy predators thrive in the lake’s shallow, weedy water. Birdwatchers will also find over 150 species here, including sandhill cranes, herons, and bald eagles.
Bring binoculars and be out at dawn or dusk. Elk and deer wander right to the shoreline when it’s quiet. For a better vantage, hike the Mormon Mountain Trail (4.5 miles roundtrip), which climbs to sweeping views of the forest and lake basin. It’s all about timing, so check recent rainfall before you go. Some seasons are wildlife goldmines. Others are bone dry.
Stay at Mormon Lake Lodge in a cabin surrounded by pines. Nights are cool and quiet. Mornings smell like firewood and mountain air.
8. Canyon Lake
- 📍 Location: East of Phoenix in the Superstition Mountains, about 45 minutes from Scottsdale via Apache Trail
- 🏆 Best For: Boaters ⛵, swimmers 🏊♀️, desert adventurers 🌵
- 📸 Top Experiences: Cruising through towering canyon walls, cliff jumping, exploring Tortilla Flat
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: October through April for comfortable temperatures, summer for water activities 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Canyon Lake Marina Resort – Lakefront accommodations with boat rentals and stunning desert views
Canyon Lake feels like Arizona’s version of a fjord. Narrow, deep water winds through red rock cliffs just off the Apache Trail.
Start early. Light cuts through the canyon walls best before 10 a.m., and the water stays calm. Ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding. If you’ve got a boat, explore side canyons and find hidden coves perfect for swimming or cliff jumping. Some cliffs range from 10 to 30 feet.
On the way in, stop at Tortilla Flat. It’s a tiny town with cold beer, prickly pear ice cream, and a wild west vibe. Don’t skip the gift shop. Take the Dolly Steamboat Tour for a narrated ride through the canyons. You’ll spot bighorn sheep and ancient cliff dwellings. Visit October through April for hiking weather, or summer if you’re planning to be in the water.
Stay at Canyon Lake Marina Resort for quick boat access and golden hour views from your porch. Weekdays are quieter. On weekends, the lake’s full of wakeboarders and party pontoons.
9. Saguaro Lake
- 📍 Location: Northeast of Phoenix in Tonto National Forest, about 1 hour from downtown Phoenix
- 🏆 Best For: Desert lake enthusiasts 🌵, water sports lovers 🚤, photographers 📸
- 📸 Top Experiences: Boating among saguaro cacti, water skiing, wildlife spotting from the water
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May and October-November for perfect weather, year-round for water activities ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Saguaro Lake Ranch Guest House – Desert retreat with panoramic lake and mountain views
Saguaro Lake looks like a desert mirage—except it’s real and just an hour from Phoenix. Framed by the Four Peaks Wilderness, this 1,200-acre reservoir offers flat, glassy water that’s perfect for wakeboarding, water skiing, or kayaking through saguaro-studded canyons.
Photographers should aim for early morning light—around 7–9 a.m.—when the water is calmest and the cacti cast long, surreal reflections. Wildlife tends to be most active then too: bighorn sheep sip at the shore while osprey dive for fish overhead.
The Desert Belle cruise (90 minutes, $25) is a great way to cover ground if you don’t have a boat. Want to hike? Check out the Butcher Jones Trail, a scenic 5-mile out-and-back that hugs the shoreline with frequent lake views and shady spots. Bush Highway gives you several lake access points for launching or picnicking. Day trip? Easy. But sunset here is so good, staying at Saguaro Lake Ranch might just happen.
10. Lake Mohave
- 📍 Location: Arizona-Nevada border, stretching 67 miles from Hoover Dam to Davis Dam
- 🏆 Best For: Houseboaters 🏠, fishing enthusiasts 🎣, water sports families 🏄♀️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Houseboat vacations, striped bass fishing, exploring hidden coves
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April-June and September-November for ideal temperatures, summer for extended water time 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Cottonwood Cove Resort – Full-service marina with houseboats and cabins right on the water
If you’re looking for pure water freedom, Lake Mohave delivers 67 miles of shoreline made for houseboating, fishing, and finding coves no one else knows about. Sandwiched between Hoover and Davis Dams, the lake slices through red rock canyons with water so clear you can see 30 feet down.
Striped bass rule here—best caught at dawn or dusk, especially near Telephone Cove and Cabin Site Point. Bring anchovies or topwater lures. For divers, the Black Canyon section is a popular drop-in with submerged rock formations and surprisingly good visibility.
Don’t skip hiking: the Lake View Trail near Katherine Landing is an easy 2.5-mile out-and-back with open desert views and a solid sunrise spot. Best time to come? April–June or mid-September through November—cool enough to explore, warm enough to swim. Base yourself at Cottonwood Cove Resort, rent a houseboat, and disappear into the landscape for a few days.
11. Apache Lake
- 📍 Location: East of Phoenix in Tonto National Forest, accessed via Apache Trail about 1.5 hours from Phoenix
- 🏆 Best For: Fishing enthusiasts 🎣, off-the-beaten-path adventurers 🗺️, nature lovers 🦎
- 📸 Top Experiences: Bass fishing in pristine waters, cliff diving, exploring desert wildlife
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March-May and October-December for comfortable weather, early mornings year-round for fishing 🌅
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Apache Lake Marina & Resort – Rustic accommodations where you’ll disconnect from crowds and reconnect with nature
Apache Lake isn’t for the casual road tripper—getting here means braving the unpaved, winding Apache Trail. But the payoff? One of Arizona’s most rugged and rewarding lake escapes, especially if you’re into fishing, wildlife, or cliff diving.
This 2,500-acre lake is stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, and flathead catfish. Hit the water early—sunrise over the Superstitions is peak golden hour—and target rocky drop-offs around Burnt Corral Campground.
Cliff jumping? The coves west of the marina have safe 15–25 foot ledges popular with locals. Bring water shoes. For hiking, try the Tule Trail—a steep, 1.5-mile ascent above the lake that rewards you with epic canyon views. Fall (October–December) is ideal for both hiking and fishing: cool mornings, fewer crowds, and softer light.
12. Lynx Lake
- 📍 Location: South of Prescott in Prescott National Forest, about 1.5 hours north of Phoenix
- 🏆 Best For: Family recreation 👨👩👧👦, peaceful fishing 🎣, mountain getaways 🏔️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Rental boat fishing, hiking the lake loop trail, picnicking in pine forests
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May-October for warm weather activities, year-round for fishing (ice fishing possible in winter) ❄️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Lynx Lake Store & Cabins – Cozy mountain cabins where you’ll enjoy cool pine forest air and lake views
Cool, quiet, and surrounded by pine forest, Lynx Lake is a low-key gem just 15 minutes from downtown Prescott. Sitting at 5,500 feet, it’s a legit mountain retreat without needing to drive into high country.
Fishing is big here—especially for stocked rainbow trout. Early morning is best, and you can rent pedal boats or motorized skiffs right at the lake. Not into fishing? Walk the Lynx Lake Loop Trail—a flat, 1-mile circuit with great shoreline views and shaded benches for chill breaks. Birdwatchers love it in spring; you’ll spot herons, woodpeckers, and maybe even bald eagles.
Come between May and October for warm weather, green forests, and blue skies. Photographers: sunrise lights up the east-facing bank beautifully; aim for around 6–7 a.m.
