My new favorite Phoenix-area getaway: Canyon Lake

This story was first published in The Copper Courier’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.

One of my goals this year is to spend more time outdoors, so on Saturday I set out to a site that’s new to me: Canyon Lake.

Here’s how my trip went.

The drive

I left my apartment in Phoenix around 7 a.m. and, after making a couple of stops to get gas, pick up friends in Mesa, buy ice, and I made it to the lake around 8:30 a.m. There was no traffic getting there, even on a holiday weekend.

If you’re doing a straight shot, it’s about an hour’s drive east of Phoenix.

Parking

I was worried that with Labor Day traffic, the Acacia Day Use Area might be full, but once I got to the lot where you can purchase a day pass, I found plenty of open spots.

Some people I went with purchased the Tonto Daily Pass at the lake, but I had purchased one in advance at a local hiking store for $8. It’s nice that both options are available!

Shade

I gathered up my gear and met up with my friends, and we set off for the shore. I saw that many picnic tables under the area’s large ramadas were still open, so we grabbed one to store all of our stuff. I had anticipated having very little shade during the day, so this was a nice surprise. Someone in our group had also brought a canopy, but we didn’t end up using it thanks to the ramada.

The lake

The temperature of the lake was perfect—not too cold, but definitely chilly against the heat. We spent a few hours swimming, playing catch in the water, paddleboarding, and eating our picnic lunches under the ramada.

I had a really wonderful time, and I appreciated that it was a low-stress experience, even on a holiday weekend. I can’t believe it took me this long to go there, and I’ll definitely plan to go again soon! Maybe next time, I’ll visit the Canyon Lake Marina and take a tour on the Dolly Steamboat.

MORE: Floating the Salt River for the first time? Here are some tips