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10 Tips To Paddle Board Lake Roosevelt, Arizona

Quick Start Guide To Paddle Board On Lake Roosevelt

Are Paddle Boards Allowed On Lake Roosevelt?

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 board tied to the top of their SUVs to the lake for exercise and fun. 

This gorgeous lake is located in the Tonto National Forest and is one of several lakes created the damming of the Salt River is several places and is the first lake in the chain of lakes. 

Phoenix is the largest metropolitan area and Mesa is a smaller city within the greater Phoenix area.

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 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 Lake Roosevelt

Paddle boarding Lake Roosevelt, 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 Lake Roosevelt

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Most paddle boarders agree that the best time for paddle board on Lake Roosevelt 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!

Best Places to Paddle Board on Lake Roosevelt

wikicommons - Nicholas Hartmann

Some paddle boarders have enjoyed camping at the Roosevelt Lake Marina & Recreation Area.

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. 

Paddle boarding and away from the Roosevelt Marina you can paddle to the beautiful Lake Roosevelt Bridge. When you’re done grab a bite to eat at the restaurant at the docks.

Lastly, if you launch from Porter Spring Recreation Site on the east end of the lake you can check out Windy Hill and take in all the views, canyons, mountains, wildlife, or do some fishing.

Lake Roosevelt Paddle Board Launch Sites

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The primary place to launch a paddle board is from Roosevelt Lake Marina & Boat Ramp. This area has the greatest number of amenities.

However, you can also launch from the other boat ramps and recreational sites sush as Cholla Campground, Indian Point Campground, Windy Hill Campground, Grapevine Campground, and Schoolhouse Campground

Where to Rent a Paddle Board Nearby

Roosevelt Lake is located about 1 hour north of Mesa and 1 hour south of Payson. 

Paddle board rentals can also be rented from Riverbound Sports in Tempe and be brought to Lake Roosevelt. 

Lake Roosevelt Marina also rents paddle boards. 

Can I Bring My Own Paddle Board to Lake Roosevelt?

Yes, you can bring your own paddle board to Lake Roosevelt. 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 Roosevelt Lake?

A daily pass to park in Lake Roosevelt 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 Lake Roosevelt?

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 Roosevelt 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 Lake Roosevelt Marina. Other restaurants are nearby in Mesa.

Other Things to Know about Lake Roosevelt Paddle Boarding

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

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

Water testing on Lake Roosevelt is routinely done. Results show that the water is safe for swimming. 

Lake Roosevelt 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.

The lake may also closed due to nearby wildfires.

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 Roosevelt 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 Roosevelt 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. 

Lake Roosevelt 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.