Tonto Basin Ranger District
Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake makes a popular boating and fishing spot in central Arizona. Formed by the Roosevelt Dam, built in 1911, the lake and the dam both lie in the Tonto National Forest. You’ll find several national forest campgrounds offering campsites for both RVs and tents. As you enjoy your camping experience, keep an eye out for the area’s wildlife, including deer, javelinas and the occasional black bear. Fishing is a common recreational activity at Roosevelt Lake. The lake is home to a variety of game fish including crappie, carp, sunfish, flathead, channel catfish, small and largemouth bass. There is no slot (size) limit for bass and you can keep six.
Mesa Ranger District
Superstition Wilderness
Superstition Wilderness has a well-developed system of 34 trails, tracking a total of 180 miles. A place of legend, this wilderness was first designated in 1939. It now contains approximately 160,200 acres. The western end of the wilderness receives heavy use during the cooler times of the year. The area is starkly beautiful, often rugged, almost always tough, especially for the ill-prepared. Searing heat and a shortage of water are typical in the summer. Bitter cold, torrential rains, and even snowstorms are typical in the winter. To those hardy enough to meet the challenges, this wilderness offers scenic beauty, and a chance to study the many plants and animals indigenous to the area.
Four Peaks Wilderness
Four Peaks Wilderness was established in 1984 and contains approximately 60,740 acres with a major mountain rising up in its center from the desert foothills. The Four Peaks themselves are visible for many miles, and the rapid change in elevation produces interesting plant combinations. The Peaks are located in the southern end of the Mazatzal Mountain range in eastern Maricopa County and western Gila County. Eleven trails transverse 40 miles within Four Peaks.
The vista where U.S. 60 crosses the Salt River Canyon has been described by many as the most dramatic in Arizona. It is here the highway descends 2,000 feet through steep switchbacks, crosses a bridge, and ascends the opposite side of the canyon. About 20 miles below the bridge, the spectacular steep-walled canyon bisects Salt River Canyon Wilderness. Within this area, elevations range from 2,200 feet at the canyon’s lower end to 4,200 feet on White Ledge Mountain. There have been more than 200 species of wildlife identified along the river. Access to this area is extremely difficult, and there are no maintained trails. More than half of the area’s human visitors are skilled white-water navigators, venturing down the Salt River during the short and dangerous river-running season from March 1 to May 15. A visitor permit is required from March 1 to May 15, and group size is limited to 15 people.
For more information please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto/.
