fbpx
Skip to content

10 Tips Before You Paddle Board Saguaro Lake

Quick Start Guide To Paddle Board Saguaro Lake

Are Paddle Boards Allowed On Saguaro Lake?

Yes, you can paddle board on the lake, and the paddle board remains one of the most popular vessels on the lake.

Visitors, locals, and students can easily rent a paddle board from rental businesses in town.  However, most of the locals will often bring their own paddle boards tied to the top of their SUVs to the lake for exercise and fun. 

Yes, you can paddle board on Saguaro Lake. This gorgeous lake is located in the Tonto National Forest and was the last lake to be built on the Salt River. Saguaro Lake is halfway between Phoenix and Sunflower. Mesa is also nearby and is where the Stewart Mountain Dam was completed in 1930. 

The lake is surrounded by canyon walls that may make you feel like you are at an off-Earth location somewhere. Giant Saguaro cactus plants make their home on the lake’s shoreline.

This 90-foot-deep lake is not only good for paddle boarding. It is also a great place for swimming, camping, picnicking, and fishing. 

Many large bass live in the lake, waiting to be caught. The best fishing is between the middle of February to the middle of April or from October to December.

Best Times of the Day to Paddle Board Saguaro Lake

Paddle boarding Saguaro Lake, many paddlers prefer to be on the water in the early morning, preferably before 7 AM. Seeing a variety of wildlife is more likely at this time. Many birds are on their early morning flights including bald eagles. You may also see a mountain lion, mountain goat, deer, or even a coatimundi on the shore as you paddle by.

The park opens at 5 AM and closes at 9 PM daily between May 1 and October 31, which makes early morning paddle boarding easy to do. Once campers are awake and workers have arrived at the park, more human activity makes it less likely to see wild animals.

Furthermore, if you paddle boarding on a Saturday or Sunday the lake can get very busy and windy, so most paddle boarders will either go out in the morning, or stick close to shore during the day to avoid all the boating traffic. 

Best Time of Year to Paddle Board Saguaro Lake

Most paddle boarders agree that the best time for paddle boarding on Saguaro Lake is in the Spring or Fall. The temperatures are warm, yet not overpowering.   May and June plus September and October are popular months because of lower daytime temperatures.

The summer months in Arizona are extremely hot, making it uncomfortable under the summer sun with an average temperature of 98+ degrees or above in the daytime. The hottest weather begins at the end of May and lasts through September. July is the hottest month of the year with temperatures averaging 106 degrees!

Saguaro Lake Paddle Board Launch Sites

There are two launch sites where you can launch your paddle board. They are the Butcher Jones Recreation Site and the Saguaro Lake Marina. A Tonto Daily Pass and Watercraft Sticker or a Tonto Discovery Pass are required at both sites. Butcher Jones Recreation area is complete with a trail and shoreline that is great for fishing and launching your paddle board. The Butcher Jones area also has a clean beach and water that is clear. Wild horses often stop by at this location, so you may be lucky enough to see them.

The Saguaro Lake Marina is another popular site for paddle board launching. It has two paved boat ramps for paddlers to use.

Best Places to Paddle Board on Saguaro Lake

wikicommons - Sean Foster

Some paddle boarders have enjoyed camping at the Bagley Flat Recreation Area. It can be accessed by boat or paddle boardonly. This area is perfect for visitors who wish to camp and paddle board at the lake. The location has ten camping sites with picnic tables and grills. 

The Butcher Jones Recreation Area is another beautiful location to paddle board on Saguaro Lake. You can take a break and swim in the pristine water at this location.

Where to Rent a Paddle Board Nearby

Saguaro Lake is located in the outer city of Mesa so there are paddle board rental businesses in this city. Not all boat rental locations rent paddle boards.

Paddle board rentals can also be rented from Riverbound Sports in Tempe and be brought to Saguaro Lake.  Saguaro Lake Marina does not currently rent paddle boards. 

Can I Bring My Own Paddle Board to Saguaro Lake?

Yes, you can bring your own paddle board to Saguaro Lake. In fact, this may be easier than traveling to the nearby city of Mesa to find a paddle board rental. 

How Much Does It Cost to Get Into Saguaro Lake?

A daily pass to park in Saguaro Lake costs $8.00. Visitors may choose to buy an Annual Pass for $80. There is also a $4 daily watercraft sticker pass per watercraft.

What Do I Need To Bring To Paddle Board on Saguaro Lake?

Paddle boarders will want to bring some gear with them that will help them have a comfortable, safe time on the lake. You will probably want to pack these things for your paddling adventure:

Planning ahead of what to bring on your trip to Saguaro Lake will make your adventure much more fun when you have the basics that you need. The Shiprock Restaurant offers carry-out and eat-in food at the Saguaro Lake Marina. Other restaurants are nearby in Mesa.

Other Things to Know about Saguaro Lake Paddle Boarding

Besides paddle boarding, Saguaro Lake visitors can enjoy many other activities, such as fishing at Saguaro Lake, swimming, outdoor cooking, camping, and hiking. 

In fact, Saguaro Lake has ranked in the Top 12 Fishing Lakes in Arizona

Water testing on Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake is routinely done. Results show that the water is safe for swimming. The shore length of the lake is 22.06 miles so there are many areas for recreation. 

Saguaro Lake is open from April through October. Paddle boarders and others may be turned away at the entrance of the lake if it becomes overly crowded. This may happen when the parking lot is full.

Lake levels change daily, and motorboats may be at risk from rocks and other objects rising out of the water. Motorboats may not have motors with more than 82 decibels. 

Some activities at Saguaro Lake require permits in addition to the watercraft sticker. You may want to gather some firewood to build a fire. A firewood permit is required for this. Group activities also require a permit. 

It is also possible to get a Christmas tree from the Saguaro Lake area with a permit. It is recommended that you buy your permits before your visit to the lake. There are locations where you can purchase permits along the road leading to the lake.

Watercraft on the lake should travel in a counter-clockwise manner. 

Saguaro Lake does not offer a trash service. Visitors must take any trash along with them to dispose of it. No glass bottles are allowed in the Tonto National Park.

My name is George and I'm been fishing my entire life and love all things outdoors. My passion is helping anyone catch more fish. The newest things I've been doing lately is learning how to break down and clean all my reels, teaching my boy how to kayak fish, and bushcraft wilderness survival.