Canyon Lake (Arizona)

Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona as part of the Salt River Project. It was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction. Canyon Lake, with a surface area of 950 acres (380 ha), is the third and smallest of the four lakes created along the river. Two others, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake, are upstream. The fourth, Saguaro Lake, is downstream.

Canyon Lake
View from the Boulder Canyon Trail
Canyon Lake Show map of Arizona Canyon Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Maricopa County, Arizona
Coordinates	33°32′37″N 111°26′12″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Salt River
Primary outflows	Salt River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	950 acres (380 ha)
Average depth	130 ft (40 m)
Surface elevation	1,660 ft (510 m)

Canyon Lake lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) up the Apache Trail from Apache Junction, Arizona and 51 miles (82 km) east of Phoenix. It is within the Superstition Wilderness of Tonto National Forest and is a popular recreation area for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Recreation amenities include hiking trails, camping, and boating, all managed by the United States Forest Service. Canyon Lake is a popular stop along the Apache Trail (Arizona State Route 88) from Apache Junction, Arizona, passing Tortilla Flat, Arizona, before reaching Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake behind Theodore Roosevelt Dam.

In 2022, a fish kill caused by golden algae affected 100,000 fish. [1]