Acacia Day Use Area Swim Beach, Canyon Lake
Apache Junction, Arizona
| GPS: |
33°32'12.7"N 111°25'54.1"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, and Swim
Canyon Lake is the second of the four Salt River reservoirs stacked up the Apache Trail east of Phoenix, and Acacia is the Forest Service day-use site where most people swim. The site sits on a cove on the west shore, about 14 miles from Apache Junction on AZ 88, with 40 picnic sites under steel ramadas, tables and grills, vault toilets and a beach that slopes gently into the water. There is no potable water, so bring your own. The Palo Verde boat launch shares the entrance road, and the view across the lake is straight into the canyon walls that give the reservoir its name, red volcanic rock rising several hundred feet out of the water.
Access is on a Tonto National Forest daily pass: $8 from a vendor in the valley or $12 from the pay machine on site, or $80 for the annual Tonto pass. The fee is a federal recreation fee, not a private charge. Day use is open year-round, and in the desert that means the swimming season runs from April into October. Summer water temperatures climb into the 80s and the air is often over 105, so shade under a ramada matters. Boat wakes reach into the cove on weekends; the roped area in front of the beach is small and there is no lifeguard.
A closure worth knowing about: the Salt River Project and the Forest Service closed Canyon Lake to all access starting September 8, 2026, and began drawing the lake down on September 16 for a roughly 16-week dam safety inspection of Mormon Flat Dam. Acacia, Palo Verde and the marina are all shut during that window. Check the Tonto National Forest recreation page for the reopening date before driving up the trail.
Paddling is the other reason to come. Canyon Lake is ten miles long and narrow, and once you round the first bend upstream of Acacia the road noise is gone and the walls close in; kayakers day-trip to the side canyons or push all the way toward the base of Horse Mesa Dam. The lake was formed in 1925 by Mormon Flat Dam and is only 950 surface acres, small enough that the wind stays manageable in the morning. Hikers use the Boulder Canyon Trail, which leaves the Apache Trail across from the marina and climbs into the Superstition Wilderness with views back over the lake, and the drive itself, the historic Apache Trail stage road built to haul supplies for Roosevelt Dam, is a destination. The paved section ends at Tortilla Flat a few miles past the lake.
More Information
Apache Trail - Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_TrailCanyon Lake (Arizona) - Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyon_Lake_(Arizona)Tonto National Forest - Wikipedia
The Tonto National Forest, encompassing 2,873,200 acres (1,162,700 ha; 11,627 km2), is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States.[1][2] The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in the Sonoran Desert to 7,400 feet (2,256 m) in the ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim (pronounced MOH-gee-on, or MUH-gee-own). The Tonto National Forest is also one of the most visited “urban” forests in the United States.[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonto_National_ForestTonto National Forest : Recreation Site - Canyon Lake
Public Reminder: Canyon Lake Will Close Sept. 8; Safety Inspections and Maintenance Begin Sept. 16Canyon Lake Arizona drawdown projectThe water level of Canyon Lake Arizona will be lowered for approximately 16 weeks starting Sept. 16, 2026, for critical dam safety inspections and maintenance. Tonto National Forest will close the lake, including all boat ramps and access points, during this time. For more information please visit SRP’s websiteCanyon Lake is known for wonderful shorelines along the red rock cliffs. Boaters wanting scenery and seclusion should try the east end of the lake, where it winds through steep canyon walls. There are occasional sightings of Big Horn sheep throughout the desert canyons, as well as other wildlife. For a relaxing lake tour boat trips, contact the Dolly Steamboat Tour at (480) 827-9144 or by visiting their website. Other Marina and Campground services and facilities are also available at Canyon Lake Marina. Canyon Lake offers several day-use recreation sites along the shorelines, and boat-access camping at The Point Recreation Site a few miles up channel. November through March Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks the lake monthly with rainbow trout. A floating fishing pier can be found at Boulder Recreation Site and is a popular destination for fishing. A 15 lb. state-record Largemouth Bass was taken from the shoreline of Canyon Lake, and in 1985 a world record Yellow Bass of 1 lb., 11 oz. was caught at Canyon Lake.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/recreation/canyon-lakeTonto National Forest : Recreation Site - Palo Verde Boating Site
Palo Verde is a boat launching site near the beautiful Canyon Lake. Palo Verde allows users to picnic, fish, and enjoy general boating activities in one of Arizona’s most scenic reservoirs. Recreationalists can enjoy the day around the water during a hot summer to cool off, photograph the gorgeous surrounding mountains, or try to catch some of our native Arizona fish at the water’s edge.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/recreation/palo-verde-boating-siteBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Apache Junction, Arizona
- Head west on W Apache Trail/
Historic U.S. 80 toward N Plaza Dr Pass by Burger King (on the right)(0.3 mi) - Turn right onto N Rennick Dr (0.5 mi)
- Turn right onto W Superstition Blvd (0.8 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto AZ-88 E/
N Apache Trail (13.5 mi) - Turn leftRestricted usage road(112 ft)
- Turn leftPartial restricted usage roadDestination will be on the right(292 ft)
Canyon Lake from the Canyon Lake Vista on the Apache Trail courtesy of Beyond My Ken↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Canyon Lake shoreline near the day-use areas courtesy of dconvertini↗ (CC BY-SA 2.0↗)
Canyon walls above the west shore of Canyon Lake courtesy of dconvertini↗ (CC BY-SA 2.0↗)
A cove on Canyon Lake courtesy of Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States↗ (CC BY-SA 2.0↗)
Paddling on Canyon Lake courtesy of cogdogblog↗ (CC BY 2.0↗)
Canyon Lake and the canyon walls courtesy of w:User:2candle↗ (CC BY-SA 3.0↗)
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