Aquatic Sports
Our Local Lakes Provide Hundreds of Acres of Water Surface for Your Kayak, Canoe, Paddle Board, or Other Craft
With more than 50 lakes, streams, and small rivers, Pinetop-Lakeside and the White Mountains of Arizona are a water enthusiast's daydream. Arizona’s White Mountains are peppered with bodies of water from the very large, to the small inner-city lakes, offering ideal locations for:
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Swimming
- Water skiing
White Mountain Lakes
Please check out our Listing of Area Lakes to learn more about the lakes and how you can enjoy them. You can also view our Map of Lakes in the Area (JPG).
Fishing, Boating & Paddling
If boating is your bliss, the White Mountains will be your new favorite vacation destination. With more than 50 lakes and dozens of streams and small rivers, the area is ideal for both motorized and non-motorized aquatic sports and activities, including:
- Boating
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Ice fishing
- Kayaking
- Knee-boarding
- Paddleboarding
- Picigin
- Rafting
- Rowing
- Sailboarding
- Sailing
- Stand-up paddle surfing
- Tubing
- Windsurfing
Temperatures in the Arizona White Mountains average 25 to 30 degrees lower than those found in the Phoenix and Tucson desert areas, making for a cool escape or a weekend getaway.
Coming to fish? You’re in the right place! Most lakes and streams have trout species including rainbow, brown, and brook, but there are other species as well. Many of the lake areas have campgrounds, well-maintained picnic facilities, hiking trails, small convenience stores, equipment rental, and docks or shorelines for launching kayaks, paddleboards, or canoes. Many White Mountain lakes impose a 10-horsepower limit for boats with gas-driven motors, and most prohibit swimming, though there are exceptions. Be sure to check the rules for a particular lake before launching a motorized boat, or diving in for a few laps around the perimeter.
More Information
For more information, visit the Arizona Game and Fish website.