Canyon Lake is close to Gold Canyon Arizona, and only 45 miles east of Phoenix. Canyon Lake lies approximately 15 miles up the Apache Trail from Apache Junction, Arizona and 51 miles east of Phoenix.
Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona.
The lake was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction. Canyon Lake, with a surface area of 950 acres is the third and smallest of four lakes created along the Salt River. Two others, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake are upstream. The fourth, Saguaro Lake, is downstream.
Canyon Lake is a very popular spot for swimming, boating, water skiing and other water sports. There is a designated swimming site and a pair of boating ramps.
Acacia Picnic Site, the Palo Verde Recreation Site and the Boulder Creek Recreation Site are three separate recreation sites at the lake.
The facilities are open year round and available to the public at no charge.
The marina also offers tours on the Dolly Steamboat . Riding on the Dolly offers some fabulous views of the canyon walls of the lake and often times those on board can spot big horn sheep and other Arizona desert wildlife.
For more information about Canyon Lake visit their website. Need a map of the Canyon Lake areas itself? Here is a link with printable map.