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Lake Pleasant, Arizona, USA

Also known as:  New Lake Pleasant

One of the finest water recreation areas in Arizona, Lake Pleasant is true to its name – a pleasant oasis in a desert setting. Lake Pleasant’s 9,200 surface acres offer wonderful opportunities for outdoor activities including boating of all types, camping, hiking, and fishing. Although Lake Pleasant is only 20 miles or so outside the Greater Phoenix, Arizona confines, it has a decided aura of remoteness, with…
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    • All About Lake Pleasant, AZ

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Arizona - North Central Arizona -

    One of the finest water recreation areas in Arizona, Lake Pleasant is true to its name – a pleasant oasis in a desert setting. Lake Pleasant’s 9,200 surface acres offer wonderful opportunities for outdoor activities including boating of all types, camping, hiking, and fishing. Although Lake Pleasant is only 20 miles or so outside the Greater Phoenix, Arizona confines, it has a decided aura of remoteness, with the majestic saguaro much in evidence. A visitor has the ability to revel in this outdoor remoteness and still be able to enjoy all the activities found in the City of Phoenix. It’s the best of both worlds.

    As part of a private irrigation project, the Waddell Dam was built in the mid-1920s, creating the upper portion of Lake Pleasant. This was a 2150 foot long structure damming up the Agua Fria River. Lake Pleasant was named after the dam’s designer, Carl Pleasant. The purpose was to impound the River’s runoff, plus runoff from the Bradshaw Mountains, for irrigation. The original Lake Pleasant covered some 3000 acres.

    The New Waddell Dam was completed in 1992 under the auspices of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a foundation of the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The new dam tripled Lake Pleasant’s size, making it the second largest lake (following Lake Roosevelt) within Arizona. The primary purpose of the Dam is to store Colorado River water for CAP. The Dam also stores runoff from the Agua Fria River and provides flood control along the river. As part of CAP, Lake Pleasant is also fed through a canal from Lake Havasu.

    The New Waddell Dam is a pump-back system. When demand for water and electricity is high during the summer, water releases from Lake Pleasant produce hydroelectric power that is sold to help repay construction costs. When power rates are lower during the winter, Colorado River water is pumped uphill into Lake Pleasant through the Central Arizona Project aqueduct.

    Great boating is a major enjoyment on the gorgeous waters of Lake Pleasant. A fully stocked marina is on the lake, with two large paved public boat launching areas. Everything from ski boats to canoes and kayaks may be rented. Sailboating is the dominant water mode with plenty of scenic canyons and coves to explore. Watersports abound with the warm climate, and boating can be enjoyed over most of Lake Pleasant. Sections of the Lake are unavailable to boating due to the shallows created by fluctuating water levels. For those not having or wanting to rent a boat of their own, there are cruises and boat sightseeing tours offered around Lake Pleasant.

    Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers 148 sites for RV and tent camping. Developed sites have electricity, water, a covered picnic table, barbecue grill and fire ring. Semi developed sites have the same except for electricity and water. Restroom and shower facilities are available at both. There are four miles of hiking trails, ranging from .5 mile to 2 miles in length. And for those interested in geocaching, there are over 100 caches in a 10 mile area around the lake.

    Fishing is a favorite avocation for many visitors, from shore as well as from a variety of boats. Lake Pleasant is a fine fishing hole. Striped bass, white bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel cats, sunfish and talapia are found in the most likely spots. Fishing is open year round except for posted areas. An Arizona fishing license is required.

    Desert wildlife viewing and photography are other favorite activities for visitors. Some mammals possibly seen are: mule deer, coyotes, javelinas, kit foxes, and bobcats. In the insect/reptile area you might see scorpions, two or three types of rattlesnake, a gila monster or a tarantula. Roadrunners, gila woodpeckers, gambrel quail, and hummingbirds are just a few of the avaian possibilities.

    Lake Pleasant is a great destination for the outdoors person, and a weekend spent there will be long remembered.

    Things to Do at Lake Pleasant

    These are some activities in the Lake Pleasant, AZ area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Pleasant?

    Lake Pleasant has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • Sunfish
    • White Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Pleasant

    If you’re considering a Lake Pleasant lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Pleasant Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Pleasant lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Pleasant Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 9,222 acres

    Shoreline Length: 114 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,694 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,506 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,725 feet

    Maximum Depth: 126 feet

    Water Volume: 688,500 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1992

    Drainage Area: 1,459 sq. miles

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