Canyon lake

Located in the Superstition Mountains

Paddling Canyon Lake, Arizona

Take a scenic drive through the jagged, towering Superstition Mountain range on Route 88/Apache Trail to Canyon Lake. It’s less than an hour from downtown Phoenix! Part of the Salt River Chain, this lake is within the Tonto National Forest and has 28 miles of spectacular shoreline to discover.

Upon first glance, this lake has marvelous canyon walls that change colors from sunrise to sunset — it’s a stunning sight.

Where to paddle at Canyon Lake

There are many convenient drop-in points at Canyon Lake, including campgrounds and recreation sites. No matter which you choose, remember to display your Tonto Forest pass with every visit.

Consider arriving early in the day on summer weekends if temperatures are high, but should you go off-season, you will have serene enjoyment mostly to yourself, sharing the water with just a few scattered boats.

Many of the coves are no wake areas, which make for relaxing exploration on your standup paddleboard or other man-driven watercraft. You can spend part of your day beachfront at one of the recreation sites, lounging on a towel, enjoying little paddles throughout the day.

Canyon Lake recreation sites
There are three recreation sites to launch from: Acacia Picnic Site, the Palo Verde Recreation site, and Boulder Creek Recreation Site, which are open all year round.

Canyon Lake Marina Campground
There are many convenient drop-in points, one being the Canyon Lake Marina Campground with plenty of campsites if you are choosing to make a weekend trip here. You can launch right from your site off a comfortable grassy area. 

Boulder Canyon Recreation Site
A great place for beginner stand up paddlers would be at the Boulder Canyon recreation site where you have a view of the bridge by the marina, and it is also a protective, quiet cove. Go out further to explore some of the different arms in this lake, where there is always some diverse and aesthetically pleasing topography. There are plenty of trees at this particular lake for bonus relief from the sun, come summertime.

The Point Campground
If SUP endurance is your style, paddle north through the canyons toward The Point Campground. This campground has a dock and a few shaded ramadas.

Riverbound tip: Plan your next holiday or event at one of the many picnic areas with family or friends. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some unusual wildlife, like bighorn sheep, high on the cliffs. If wanting to stay till sundown, build yourself a pleasant fire and BBQ to soak in a glorious sunset. Always check fire restrictions prior to your outing.

SUP hiking and camping at Canyon Lake

If you are SUP camping for the night, get creative and rig a tent over an inflatable SUP, so you can use it as a sleeping pad. Deflate the board slightly, for added comfort.

Also, for fun exercise, paddle over to some of the cliffs, securely tie down your SUP, and climb straight up to some plateaued cliffs. This will give you an excellent total body workout and an unforgettable view of the lake from up high. And depending on which plateau you choose, you may be able to spot Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains. Please be aware of your physical limitations, should you adventure in this way.

And if you are not paddling on any particular day, jump on board their Dolly Steamboat cruise, to get an amazing perspective of the entire lake. You’ll gather some educational history on board, and better appreciate your paddle for the next time, with some new knowledge of this environment.

If you want to explorer a little further up the lake or spend the day boating with family and friends, Boat rentals Canyon Lake AZ offers motorized boats and are located at the Canyon Lake Marina.

Riverbound tip: About 3 miles east of the lake on the Apache Trail, you’ll find the Tortilla Flat General Store and Ice Cream Shop, with famous prickly pear gelato! How refreshing after a day on Canyon Lake paddle boarding or kayaking.

Kayak and SUP PaddleBoard Rentals

Pickup a kayak or paddle board rental at Riverbound Sports Tempe shop location and explore Canyon Lake kayaking or paddle boarding. A full day on the water with all equipment you need starting at $40 a day. Check out our pricing and options for Paddleboard Rentals in Arizona.

Riverbound Sports lake side kayak and stand up paddleboard rentals on select Saturdays at the Boulder Recreation Area. Be sure to check the Riverbound Sports Events Calendar for dates and information. Riverbound Sports is an outfitter under permit by the Tonto National Forest.

Directions from Riverbound Sports

This is a 56-minute drive from the shop. Simply get onto AZ-101 Loops S for 4 miles then take US060 E to AZ-88 E/S Idaho Rd in Apache Junction. Take Exit 196 from US-60 E. This is about 21.1 Miles. Then Follow AZ-88 toCanyon Lake about 16.4 miles. Click this link for Google Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/8Kw1NBobmay

Author: Suzi DeMaio-Parmentier