Arizona Lakes and Reservoirs

Description - Arizona's Lakes and Reservoirs provide a much needed escape from the heat of the Arizona deserts. The reservoirs are constructed for water storage, but provide excellent opportunities for water based recreation.

Attractions - The reservoirs along the Colorado River are some of the largest in the country. With the mild climate in this region, the reservoirs are appealing for recreationist throughout much of the year. The Imperial Dam, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Lake Mead, and The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which includes Lake Powell, all lie along the Colorado River between Arizona and Utah, Nevada and California. A number of other large reservoirs are found around Phoenix, including Apache Lake, Bartlett Lake, Horseshoe Reservoir, Lake Pleasant, and Roosevelt Lake. There are many other smaller lakes and reservoirs in Arizona. State Parks are found adjacent to some of the Lakes and Reservoirs, offering camping, picnicking and other recreational facilities.

Recreation - The reservoirs and lakes in Arizona provide excellent water based recreational opportunities in this otherwise arid state. The the smaller lakes offer fishing and often camping and picnicking. The larger reservoirs additionally offer boating, water skiing, swimming and more. Some of the large reservoirs offer highly developed recreation facilities.

Climate - The climate of Arizona is as diverse as it's landscape. Much of the southern half of the state and lower elevations have a desert climate. Winters in this area bring beautiful weather, with mild warm days (60- 70F) and cool nights (40's). Summers can be extremely hot with daytime temperatures of 100-115 degrees, and evening lows in the 70's to 80's. The higher elevations receive more precipitation, some in the form of snow during the winter months. The mountainous areas experience cooler temperatures with cold winter months. Dress in layers for your travels in this state of varying layers and be prepared for cool temperatures in high elevations.

Location - The largest reservoirs in Arizona are found along the Colorado River, in northern and western Arizona. Numerous other reservoirs are found near the Phoenix area. The smaller reservoirs and lakes are scattered throughout the state.