Overview
Apache Lake is a roughly 2,570-acre reservoir on the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix, formed when the Salt River Project completed Horse Mesa Dam in 1927. It sits between Roosevelt Lake upstream and Canyon Lake downstream in SRP's Salt River chain and is operated for hydropower, irrigation storage, and recreation.
Long and canyon-bound, Apache is the deepest of the four Salt River Project lakes, reaching about 266 feet near the dam, with roughly 42 miles of shoreline and a length near 17 miles. Steep desert walls, limited development, and clear water give it a remote character compared with the more crowded lower Salt River reservoirs.
The lake is popular for boating, camping, and fishing for trout, bass, and other warmwater species, with fisheries managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Apache Lake Marina and Tonto National Forest recreation sites provide the main public access along the Apache Trail corridor.
Water levels on Apache Lake are managed by SRP as part of the Salt River Project system, with a normal full-pool elevation near 1,914 feet above mean sea level. Elevations respond to releases from Roosevelt, power generation at Horse Mesa Dam, and downstream irrigation demand, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and shoreline access.
Current Conditions
- Drought conditionsSevere Drought
- Active advisories2 active (Advisory)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Apache Lake is a 2,568-acre reservoir on the Salt River (releases from Theodore Roosevelt Lake) managed by Salt River Project (SRP).