Lake Pleasant, Arizona

[azlakes]

Well the temps hit the 90's breifly, got the PM done to the boat and had three days to kill. The winds have been a bit of a pain here in the desert churning up the lake some but chop did not stop the first run. Boat ran great! (thanks for the tips frank). I'll post a few pics of 5 so excuse what seems to be a double post. Camp grounds are close to the water and were very spacious, no crowds. Wife picked up the new Energy series tent that has the 12 volt power harness w/3 12 volt outlets within the tent. Its 10 x 12 so plenty o'room!. The lake was nice and full, again no crowds. The beer was cold plus kicking back and chilling well priceless. The fishing sucked but fishing it still was

Thanks for looking.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona (cont)

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona (cont)

... it runs only 15 bucks to camp. the launches are top shelf. this was the camp grounds located at the Lake Pleasant Regional entrance. The lake has two access points (maybe three) and clean facilities. I'd encourage travelers to at least have a look see at this desert lake if ever on your way to Flagstaff from Phoenix. Desert lake is such a contradiction of terms

Cheers

 

[a2theb]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Looks like a nice campground. I have family out in Glendale near Sun City. I guess we have a reason to go visit them now! Do they allow you to anchor in front of your campsite?

I spent last weekend out in Park Moabi, north of Lake Havasu, for $15/night also. Nice campground and full access to the river.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

... yes. you can camp next to your boat if you do shore camping, that only runs 10 bucks a night. but the campsites that are in the photos you can beach your boat below many of them and be within a 15/30 second jaunt and always within eye shot. we camped from Mon - Wed. I hear it fills up on the weekends so keep that in mind.

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

AZlakes,have you been to Lake Powell, lately? I'm in Kingman and want to go this summer,any suggestions? Dave

 

[Locke]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Dave

I've been to Powell atleast a dozen times, it's great. Now I've always been on a houseboat so the living is easy but lots of people take smaller boats and tent camp. You just need to have good equipment and keep an eye on the weather, nasty afternoon storms can kick up suddenly.

I recommend it 100%!

Locke

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

... yes. you can camp next to your boat if you do shore camping

Camping next to your boat will only work about 50% of the year. The water levels at Lake Pleasant fluctuate a lot throughout the year. Spring time is usually when the water is at its highest, and camping next to the boat is possible. I took a bunch of Boy Scouts to the same campground last October and the water level was so low that you had to walk a 1/2 mile before finding water. The next day I had the Scouts out on skis, tubes and wakeboards.

Lake Pleasant is my primary boating lake and one of my favorites. I am out at Lake Pleasant almost every Saturday. The best part about Lake Pleasant is the 10 lane boat ramp. The scary thing is that during the summer months all 10 lanes are busy, and you still have to wait a while to get turn to launch/retrieve. It is odd to find such good boating in AZ, but there is plenty water and sunshine.

Below is a pic of a boat I found sunk tied to the doc at Lake Pleasant. I have know idea who the boat belongs to, but the pic also shows how big the 10 lane ramp is. You can see that the ramp is about the size of the deck of an aircraft carrier. The pic was taken in the early fall when traffic at the ramp dies down. I am also tossing in a pic of my boat on the water at Lake Pleasant taken along the Aguafria arm of the lake about 6 weeks ago.

 

[a2theb]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Wow that ramp is huge! I guess someone forgot the plug and went to go park their tow rig. I can't imagine launching solo on a busy weekend and getting stuck on a middle lane. I definitely want to check out this lake sometime. If not this season, next season.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

I don't go to Pleasant too often and I never use that ramp, but I bet it's fun watching all the action when all 10 lanes are flowing. Pretty intimidating I bet, especially for newbies.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

AZlakes,have you been to Lake Powell, lately? I'm in Kingman and want to go this summer,any suggestions? Dave

bigdave... its been a grip of years since i've been on Powell. but when there last we did the run in a 19 foot seaswirl bow rider. ran the gamut from launching at wahweap, past gunsight, up thru dangling rope and on to bullfrog. it took about a week just cruising and camping along the way. we checked out the main attractions since most were still close to the water back then. floating stores midst of nowhere were the darndest thing. need fuel, ice and ice cream ya know! Locke is dead on. the lake can turn and churn on a dime. make a run for a cove! if you venture far into this lake your boat has to be in optimum condition, no trials here. hope you get to go, you'll never forget it.

http://www.riverlakes.com/powlmaps.htm

 

[azlakes]

Re: Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Camping next to your boat will only work about 50% of the year. The water levels at Lake Pleasant fluctuate a lot throughout the year. Spring time is usually when the water is at its highest, and camping next to the boat is possible. I took a bunch of Boy Scouts to the same campground last October and the water level was so low that you had to walk a 1/2 mile before finding water. The next day I had the Scouts out on skis, tubes and wakeboards.

.. thanks for the tip Aqua! ya it was very low in October to put in the ramps and structures for the new marina Scorpion Bay I heard. we saw a lot of blasting back then and now 6 mo later the lake is back up to full and the Marina almost finished. the werd is that this will now be the only public marina. the Pleasant Harbor Marina will go private and membership to use the docks, pumps and store will cost 800 a year. shame, ouch!