Places to Visit in Lake Pleasant

Lake pleasant is located 30 miles north of metropolitan phoenix. This has become one of the most popular outdoor recreation spot in Arizona. It was constructed between 1926 and 1928 and was named as Waddell Dam, a 250 foot long structure which impounded water from the Agua Fria river system. The name lake was named after Carl Pleasant, the engineer who designed the dam. Waddell Dam was finished in November, 1992. Lake Pleasant got water from river and by Coles Creek, Castle Creek, Humbug Creek and other drainages.

The new dam has tripled the size of Lake Pleasant, making it the second largest body of water in Central Arizona. It has become critically important for both recreation and irrigation. Lake comprises of three zones of water. Lake water is extremely clear and highly oxygenated. Lake pleasant is located 15 miles west of 1-17 on carefree Highway 30 miles north of Phoenix, within the city limits of Peoria. With 10,000 acres of clear water, visitors can enjoy water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, or fishing.

The entrance to the park is located 2 miles north of State Route 75 Off castle Hot Springs Road. The following facilities that are available through main entrance are Desert Tortoise campground, group campground, RV Dump station, 10-lane boat ramp, roadrunner campground, picnic area and Visitor center. The second entrance to the park is located 3 miles north on castle hot springs road, past the main entrance. The north entrance provides access to four lane boat ramp, two restrooms, and shoreline camping and cottonwood day use picnic area.

Various group activities at lake pleasant are fishing tournaments, company picnics, water course races, etc. water temperature of the lake ranges from 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Various aquatic life creatures include white bass, striped bass, large mouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, bigmouth, buffalo fish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, green sunfish, redear sunfish and tilapia. Lake pleasant regional Park offers 148 sites for RV and tent camping. Each developed site has water, electricity, dump station, covered Ramada, picnic table, barbecue grill and fire ring. Semi developed site has Ramada, picnic table, barbecue grill and fire ring. Both the campsites provide restroom and shower facilities.

Another place that can be visited is Pleasant Harbor located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant. It is also a five star RV resort. This also offers 254 full hook up sites and 40 partial hook up sites as well as a club house, heated pool or spa, access to the lake for your boat and other amenities. If you love boating, fishing, wake boarding, parasailing, scuba diving, and kayaking then this place is for you.

Another place to visit in lake pleasant is the scorpion Bay Marina & Yacht Club which is located on the western shores. The marina offers various facilities like lunch ramp, tram service, restaurant, store and deli. Nearby cities that can be visited are Sun City, Peoria, Sun City West, Surprise, Glendale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Wickenburg, Phoenix and Scottsdale.