Days
<1
Motors Allowed?
Yes
Difficulty
Easy / Class A
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Canyon Lake Marina is a wonderful place to take the family for a day at the lake! Motorboats, kayaks, or paddleboards can all be rented right at the marina. Dolly Steamboat can also take you on a cruise around the lake with three different tour options: Scenic Nature Cruise, Twilight Dinner Cruise, or the Astronomy Dinner Cruise.

The most popular cruise is the Scenic Nature Cruise. It costs between $21 and $23, is about an hour and a half long, and travels 6 miles visiting various coves and geologically significant areas along the lake. Most days you'll be able to see bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and other various wildlife.

If you have the option to stay overnight, check out the Canyon Lake Campground. Sites cost $20. There are 28 RV sites with water and electric and new pull-through sites with 50-amp hookups. In addition there are 18 tent sites with a picnic table, grill, and fire ring at each site. Pets are allowed, there's a large grass area to play in, and showers are on-site. It's quite the desert oasis! Call 480.288.9233 for reservations.

Also at the marina is a small restaurant called Lakeside Restaurant and Cantina. They serve lunch seven days a week, dinner on Fridays, and breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays just in case you're not in the mood for cooking.

Boat rentals range from $15 to $90 per hour for single kayaks up to 24-foot pontoons. They offer half-day, full-day, and multi-day rates as well. Precision Marine is the rental company, and they can be rented on-site or reserved in advance.

This lake is known as one of Arizona's best kept secrets, so check it out!

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

General Day Use Fee

Pros

Swimming. Wildflowers. Steamboat rides. Kayaking and paddleboarding.

Cons

None.

Features

Campgrounds + Campsites
Lodging
Fishing
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Bird watching
Wildlife

Site characteristics: Water

Lake

Portage required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Superstition Mountains Area, Mesa, Arizona
Superstition Mountains Area, Mesa, Arizona

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