Our members set sail on Saguaro Lake on a beautiful day in May—just a magical setting set in the Tonto National Forest with the backdrop of the Superstition Mountains!
We set sail on the Desert Belle, a double-decker boat that took us around the 22-mile lakeshore. We saw the rich vegetation around the lake, especially the plentiful Saguaro cacti surrounding the lake—hence the name, the huge rock formations, and even a beach for those looking for a refreshing swim. We saw quite a few boats out on the lake, including a sailboat and a speed boat pulling a water skier on a boogie board! There were some fishermen out there also looking for a catch of the day. The lake offers a plentiful stock of fish such as trout, bass, walleye, and other species.
Our group was able to sit downstairs in the air-conditioned lower section of the boat and others chose to sit on the covered upper deck. As we sailed, we were entertained by the captain who provided great historical and trivia facts about the lake and the surrounding area.
Saguaro Lake is a reservoir and is a result of the first dam built west of the Mississippi by the new Theodore Roosevelt administration in the early 20th century. It is fed from the Salt River, along with Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Apache Lake, and Canyon Lake. The main purpose of the Salt River Project is to provide municipal water to the Phoenix area.
Most members finished off the day with a wonderful meal at Chompie’s restaurant in Scottsdale. It was a great day-trip outing!