Saguaro Lake

When someone says “Phoenix, Arizona,” most people don’t automatically think “lakes.” They might think “desert, cactus and heat,” but not lakes. And yet, the area has quite a few beautiful lakes. Four of them are reservoirs created by dams built on the Salt River. The last of these, Saguaro Lake, was completed in 1930 and is one of my very favorite places near Cave Creek. It is fun all year long, but it is especially appreciated during the hot summers. When my car turns onto the access road and I see all that refreshing lake water in front of me, I immediately feel cooler.

Saguaro (pronounced suh-wah-row) Lake is named for the saguaro cactus. You will see lots of them around the lake, including a rare crowned saguaro. If you visit in May or early June, saguaros all around the Phoenix area will be in bloom. The beautiful white flowers don’t last very long, but when they are in bloom, it appears like the arms of the cactus are holding bouquets of flowers. The saguaro blossom is the state flower of Arizona. It is followed by a beautiful red fruit which is an important food and moisture source for native birds and reptiles during the hot summer.

The lake is located off State Route 87. It was formed by Stewart Mountain Dam and covers about 1200 acres. It is roughly ten miles long and has 22 miles of shoreline. The average depth is 90 feet. At an elevation of 1506 feet above sea level, it is much cooler than Phoenix and with much clearer skies.

Most of the year, people come to fish, waterski, or jet ski. The lake is stocked with three types of bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and yellow) as well as rainbow trout and catfish. In the summer, it is a wonderful place to swim, either from the beach at Butcher Jones Recreation area or from a boat. The marina rents a variety of small outboards and pontoon boats if you don’t have your own.

Butcher Jones has not only a swimming beach, but a picnic area, restrooms, and a hiking trail which allows you to walk 2 miles along the shore of the lake (4 miles round trip). The picnic area often has visits from the local herd of wild horses which is always a treat.

Saguaro Lake is also home of the Desert Belle, a two-decker paddle-wheel boat that travels around the lake. A narrated tour of the lake is offered at noon almost every day and twice during high season. Additionally, they often offer music tours once a week at 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. and an occasional wine tasting tour one evening a week.  Check out their website calendar to find out what’s happening on a specific date and to book reservations: https://www.DesertBelle.com

A snack bar is on board which serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and freshly made popcorn. The captain and the crew are always available to answer questions and will also happily sell you a CD which includes fantastic drone footage of the animals and vegetation of the area. Proceeds from the sale of the CD go to charity.

From the Desert Belle, you can marvel at the steep, craggy volcanic formations and admire Four Peaks, the tallest mountain around the lake and famous for its amethyst mine and the brewery with the same name. You can also watch for American bald eagles which sometimes nest along the route or enjoy the variety of ducks and other water birds. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a Big Horn sheep or two peering over the side of the cliff to check out the visitors.

In the spring and fall, the evening cruises return to the dock at sunset which makes the lake even more magical. Once you disembark, you can either catch a bite to eat at the marina lakeside restaurant or head down the hill to one of the great restaurants in Scottsdale. At dinner time, one of my favorites is Jade Palace, right on Shea Boulevard and on my way home. But that’s a story for another day!