Don’t let the arid terrain fool you. The Southwestern U.S. offers more than 10 million acres of fishable reservoirs, lakes and ponds and 220,000 miles of rivers and streams.
The Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona, for example, is in the middle of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Yet from its desert floor to its pine-covered mountaintops, the Coronado includes 16 “sky island” mountain ranges sporting six fishable lakes, some open to boating.
Finding your way
Start your day among saguaros and mesquites of Sonoran Desert scrub or oaks and yuccas of Chihuahuan Desert grassland. In short order, you can travel through multiple vegetation zones to find yourself surrounded by pine, fir and aspen and mixed conifer forests, even spruce-fir forest on Mount Graham. The variety of plants you’ll see might be like what you would find on a journey from Mexico to Canada, and all in one day.
The Coronado’s six fishing lakes are scattered between the low and high elevations where a variety of fish can be found. The species vary, but you can find both cold and warm water fish, including stocked rainbow trout and resident bass, sunfish, and catfish. Some lakes have nearby campgrounds and picnic areas.
In the lowlands, Arivaca Lake, Frye Mesa Reservoir, Parker Canyon Lake and Pena Blanca Lake range in elevation from 3,750 feet to 5,375 feet, in mostly oak and grassland settings. Boating is allowed at all, except for Frye Mesa due to its more remote location and small size. Boat ramps are available at Parker Canyon and Pena Blanca, as are nearby campgrounds. All are open year-round. Fees apply in some areas for some activities.
Venturing higher up into the mountains, Riggs Flat Lake and Rose Canyon Lake provide respite from the summer heat. Riggs Flat allows boats and is home to both warm and cold-water fish. Boats are not permitted at Rose Canyon. However, fishing is a very popular activity. Both lakes have nearby campgrounds and are open during the summer months. Fees apply for some activities.
Like all national forests and grasslands, the Coronado National Forest is a land of many uses. Fishing and boating are among many recreational opportunities found throughout the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona.
Visit the forest online for more information about recreational opportunities, directions, fees, fish species, boating guidelines, and a closer look at our Sky Islands. Plan your trip wisely. Other resources include Recreation.gov for pass and campground information; wildfire updates on the Coronado website or the Incident Information System; and more spots to consider through our Interactive Visitor Map.
