Located on the Colorado River about 205 miles north of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made reservoir in the United States. It covers a total capacity of 26,214,900 acre-feet and a total surface area of 161,390 acres. It also reaches up into southern Utah. The Glen Canyon Dam flooded Glen Canyon, resulting in the development of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a well-liked summer vacation destination. The lake has approximately 2,000 miles of shoreline with depths up to 532 feet, and it is surrounded by an incredible scenery of red rocks and other rock formations. Thanks to its more than 2,000 miles of beachfront, endless sunshine, warm water, great climate, and some of the most stunning vistas in the west, Powell is the perfect playground. A few activities include boating, kayaking, wakeboarding, fishing, and water skiing. On-site equipment rentals are also an option.

The Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world's greatest natural bridges at 290 feet tall and 275 feet wide, is also accessible on horseback. The tour includes a 50-mile sail along Lake Powell and a little over a mile of hiking to get to the bridge. It leaves from Wahweap Marina. Additionally, the fact that Rainbow Bridge is a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary will appeal to astronomers. There are a large number of houseboats available for hire, some of which are up to 75 feet long, making them a popular choice for lodging. RV camping or lakeside camping are both options. Book a stay near the south end of the lake's Lake Powell Resort if you prefer the conveniences of a hotel. Two restaurants, a marina, lake access, two swimming pools, fire pits, a fitness facility, and more are all included on the site.

Location: Northern Arizona

Area: 161,390 acres

Directions

Lake Mead is the largest lake in Nevada, the largest man-made lake in the United States by volume, and the second-largest lake in Arizona. It has a surface area of 158,100 acres. The iconic Hoover Dam, which dammed the Colorado River, created Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border. The reservoir was constructed in 1936 to offer water, hydroelectric electricity, recreational opportunities, and a habitat for wildlife.

The shoreline of Lake Mead is a tangle of dwindling valleys that open up to breath-taking views, secluded beaches, and secret fishing holes. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in the state and the nation, but it is also one of the most snake-infested. The recreation area is home to four different species of rattlesnakes, all of which are regarded as dangerous.

You can swim, boat, hike, cycle, camp, and fish at America's first and largest national recreation area. 1.5 million acres of mountains, gorges, valleys, and two gigantic lakes with beautiful landscapes and clear blue waters make up this all-year-round playground. Observe the Hoover Dam from the water of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave, or find solitude in one of the park's nine wilderness areas. A national park featuring Joshua trees, slot canyons, and starry nights is only a short distance from Las Vegas. There is a national park where the rocks are as red as fire and the mountains are a gorgeous purple.

Location: Nevada

Area: 158,100 acres

Directions

The border between Nevada and Arizona is marked by the Lake Mohave reservoir, which is located downstream of the Hoover Dam. Despite being less well-known than Lake Mead, the lake is still spectacular due to its 26,500 acres of surface area (10,700 ha). It is 75 feet (23 meters) deep and has a volume of 246.1 million cubic meters (199,500 acre-ft). The razorback sucker and the bonytail chub are two endangered native fish species that can be found in the lake. Rainbow trout, striped bass, largemouth, smallmouth, channel catfish, crappie, common carp, and sunfish are the main freshwater species.

You'll learn that Lake Mohave is the perfect location to combine water activity with the thrill of casino resort gaming, Las Vegas-style entertainment, fantastic golf courses, and top-notch dining just down the road at Laughlin. For those who enjoy the water, there are countless beaches around the lake's shoreline that are only accessible by boat. So pick your own beach for your base camp. The southern end of the lake has a large population of largemouth and striped bass. The best striper fishing is found right above Davis Dam. At the lake's upper end, rainbow trout are particularly active around the Colorado River's Willow Beach region. Arizona or Nevada fishing licenses are necessary.

Location: Mohave County
Area: 26,500 acres

Directions

Roosevelt Lake, with around 21,500 surface acres of water, is the largest lake in Central Arizona and one of the biggest lakes in Arizona. The location is stunning, with miles of shoreline, a crystal-clear ocean, and red rocks from Arizona all around. This lake, which was created in 1911 when the Theodore Roosevelt Dam was finished, was also a part of the Salt River Project. The marina offers pontoon or ski boat daily or package rentals, as well as lakeside recreation equipment such as water skis, kneeboards, tubes, and wakeboards. When it's time to unwind, the marina offers an outdoor bar that serves comfort food and cold drinks and occasionally has live music or karaoke on the weekends.

Fishing enthusiasts who are looking for prize largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie frequently visit Roosevelt Lake. Bass boats with high horsepower may travel many miles across the lake thanks to the lake's size. There are miles and miles of beach land for camping around the lake's margins, depending on the lake's capacity, which varies with the release of water through the dam. Lake Roosevelt is a well-liked water recreation location because it offers good fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, and other boating activities. The lake has a number of marinas, paid camping areas, and a wildlife refuge area. There's a general store at the lake.

Location: Phoenix metropolis

Area: 21,500 acres

Directions

About 195 miles northwest of Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, also referred to as "Arizona's West Coast," is located on a portion of the western and northern boundaries of the Sonoran Desert. It is 90 feet deep and covers an area of 19,300 acres. With 300 days of sunshine a year, 400 miles of shoreline, 60 miles of canals, and white sand beaches, Lake Havasu is a popular tourist destination all year long.

According to Bassmaster magazine, Lake Havasu has been named one of the "Top 10 Best Bass Lakes in the Western U.S." for four years running (2016–2019). Fish are large and quick to bite in this all-year fishing haven. While catching largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, crappies, and flathead catfish, anglers take in the lake's picturesque natural splendor. The lake's remarkable ecological stability supports a large population of healthy fish. Connect with a guide or cast a line from a dock to find out for yourself why Lake Havasu is one of the best fishing spots in the Southwest.

The storied London Bridge is another must-see destination. Robert McCulloch Sr., the city's founder, bought the bridge from the city of London in 1968. In Lake Havasu City, it provided access to an island where The Nautical Beachfront Resort, the only building on the beach, was placed after three years of reconstruction. Additionally, you can reserve a cabin in Lake Havasu State Park, rent a houseboat, or set up camp at a campsite.

Location: Western Arizona

Area: 19,300 acres

Directions

Lake Pleasant Regional Park, one of the best recreational locations in the state and one of the biggest lakes in Arizona, is located in Peoria. The park lies 43 miles north of Phoenix, which contributes to its popularity, but it is also a stunning oasis with 7,500 arces of water surface. Scuba diving, stargazing, and moonlight scorpion hunting are all options for visitors to Lake Pleasant, in addition to the typical lake activities that leave from Pleasant Harbor Marina or Scorpion Bay Marina, such as boating, fishing, kayaking, Jet Skiing and camping, fishing, picnicking, boating, dining at water-side restaurants for youngsters.

Betty's Trail Rides offers guided one-, two-, and three-hour and half-day horseback rides in the desert as another land-based activity. You'll get stunning views of the Hells Canyon Wilderness Area on the two-hour ride, and on longer trips, you can search for local species including foxes, coyotes, javelina, and possibly a bobcat. There are a number of RV and tent camping areas with restrooms and showers where you can enjoy starry nights and the famously flaming Arizona sunsets. After a stressful work week, the peace of being on the boat in the late nights or perhaps all night helps you unwind. Enjoy the spectacular evening sunset before dropping anchor as it gets dark. Go swimming under the full moon. Cast a line and catch a large catfish. after which you can fall asleep under the stars on the yacht itself.

Location: Peoria

Area: 7,500 arces

Directions

Having a surface area of 2,815 acres, Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest provides outdoor enthusiasts with opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. You can choose to visit Phoenix for a day or arrange an extended holiday while in the city because it is so nearby, about a 60-mile journey north of downtown. On the Verde River, this was the first reservoir constructed. Bartlett Lake, renowned for its clear waters, is mentioned in Native American tribes from the valley's tales as having "sweet water." Watch for coyotes, bald eagles, mule deer, javelina (boar-like animals), and javelina. Wildlife viewing is a part of the lake experience. There is also a plethora of desert vegetation, including mesquite trees, saguaro cacti, and ocotillo blossoms. If you go in the spring, keep an eye out for the voluminous displays of wildflowers that emerge following the region's wet winters.

Like all the lakes in the Phoenix area, Bartlett Lake is renowned for its breathtaking vistas of the desert highlands and saguaro-covered hillsides that surround it. Bartlett Lake is breathtaking in the spring, when the cacti are in bloom and wildflowers cover the landscape. These clear waters, created by Bartlett Dam and fed by the Verde River, are highly popular with fans of water sports. Speed boats can get wild due to their length and enormous surface area. Put the water skis on, go on the jet skis, and hold onto your tubes tightly. Bartlett Marina offers jet ski rentals, making it simple and practical. Or, you can launch on your own using accessible, paved launch ramps.

Location: Phoenix metropolis

Area: 2,815 acres

Directions

The second-largest reservoir in Central Arizona after Lake Roosevelt is Apache Lake, one of the four built along the Salt River as well as one of the biggest lakes in Arizona. It is 17 miles long and has a 2,568 acre surface area. It is situated about 5 miles downstream from Lake Roosevelt and upstream from the Canyon and Saguaro lakes, about 65 miles northeast of Phoenix.

The sole access to this outlying location is by an 11-mile dirt road from the Roosevelt Dam, which is surrounded by the Three Bar Wildlife Enclosure and Superstition Wilderness Area. Boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, and camping are all permitted at this magnificent location. Javelina, big horn sheep, deer, and a wide variety of other desert species can be found in the lake's hidden coves and painted canyon walls.

The Apache Lake Marina and Resort provides comforts and conveniences such as a motel, petrol station, coffee shop, a boat ramp, picnic supplies, pier, and 12 trailer park units whether you're simply spending the day at the lake or a weekend there. Seven miles to the northeast of Apache Lake Resort and Marina lies the Burnt Corral Recreation Site, which has 17 sites for trailers that are under 17 feet long. The location provides boat launching facilities and is open all year long.

Location: Phoenix metropolian

Area: 2,568 acres

Directions