Saguaro Lake

It’s super pretty, but warning: their website is misleading. They don’t actually rent out canoes or kayaks here. We came all the way out and weren’t able to do much more than sit and look out at the water.

Beautiful Lake, and what seems to be an unlimited amount of 4-​wheel drive trails along the northern outback, and I need to stress 4-​WHEEL DRIVE!
A buddy visiting from So Cal, and I ventured out yesterday to the Butcher Jones trail head and thankfully found the gate open on the north side of the parking area. The USFS Ranger was just arriving and taking his daily tour into the back country as we were airing-​down the Wayngler’s beefy 35’s and dis-​connecting the swaybar. We encountered another 4X enthusiast, which I find are the coolest, as they are experienced and respect the wild unpaved roads.
The trails start off rather tame, and very sandy and soft until you climb up the many ridges that take you north and east to several small ravines and washes that run southward to the lake. Getting down into these washes offer some very technical opportunities, if you are not prepared with meaty tyres, articulating suspensions, or lockers, you may find yourself stuck, or worse, roll over… not a pretty sight.
Key here: Know your limits.
Several situations found me saying, «aah, maybe not», while other situations found me saying, «OH YA, BRING IT ON!!!»
We saw several vehicles that had no business out there, and two that were stuck… one abandoned, and another dumb ars saying, «oh no, we’re fine»…yea right, whatever, we offered.
We found several small coves along the northern shore that were perfect for pulling your chair into the waters edge and literally, «chill». Water was not what I was used to from colder high mountain lakes, but not too warm either, and very refreshing! Several shady spots, too, to keep the Jeep covered worked out great and because of the difficulty in getting down to the lake, the weekend crowds were non existent… let me know if ya wanna go!

We come to this lake often because it is the closest body of water to home. It’s a mellow place especially during the week. There are plenty of grills so bring dinner and enjoy a lovely sunset. The S/​O fishes off the dock but I cant say he has been successful. You can look down and see the fish so that is a tad frustrating.
There is something for everyone here. The boat rentals are fun but it is a smallish lake so a half day is plenty to explore the whole thing. The saguaros jutting into the blue, blue sky is quintessential Arizona.
A few hours at the Lake releases all that urban angst and reminds you why you live here.

We drove from Tucson to fish at this lake and it was very active. I caught two yellow bass, one Sunfish, and a Bluegill in a few hours. You need a day pass ($ 6) to fishing during the day. They have a nice boat marine and there is plenty of parking and fishing docks. Give Saguaro lake a try. They have Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Catfish, Walleye, and carp.