Bartlett Lake

Outdoor enthusiasts frequent Bartlett Lake for a variety of recreational opportunities, including shoreline camping in Arizona's natural desert terrain. While in this part of the Tonto National Forest, visitors may see mule deer, bald eagles, javelina, coyotes, and many indigenous desert plants, including the majestic saguaro, mesquite trees and blooming ocotillo.

Bartlett Lake is located only 48 miles from downtown Phoenix and 20 miles east of Carefree. The newly engineered, fully paved, scenic Bartlett Lake Road combined with the expanding Phoenix freeway system offers easy access from the entire Valley of the Sun. Tonto National Forest campground improvements, handicap accessibility, and safety features provide for safe, enjoyable recreation including hiking, boating, water skiing and fishing. Boat rentals are available on the lake for those who don't have their own boats.

Come to Bartlett Lake for a great vacation or weekend full of fun and relaxation! Boating, water skiing and jet skiing are popular at Bartlett Lake. It offers the best of both worlds: gently sloping beaches on the west side and mountains that break the wind on the east.

The lake has 33 miles of shoreline and is 12 miles long.

Boating fees are $6.00 per vehicle and $4.00 per watercraft per day. Contact Cave Creek Ranger Station about permits.

Take note that the northern end of the lake is closed to water-skiing and Rattlesnake Cove is closed to all motorized watercraft. Any part of the Verde River that is free-flowing is also closed to motorized watercraft. Motors with a greater noise level than 82 decibels may not be used on the lake. Keep boat traffic counter-clockwise.

Lake can be crowded on summer weekends and boat accesses difficult to reach. Local radio stations often carry advisories on Bartlett crowd conditions.

4 ramadas with picnic tables and grills are available at Yellow Cliffs. There is also a picnic area at Barlett Flat.

For information about the water level of Barlett Lake, call Salt River Project at 602-236-5929.

To reach the lake:

From Carefree
• Take the Cave Creek Road/Forest Road 24 to Bartlett Road/Forest Road 19 junction.
• Take a right onto FR 19 and continue for 13 miles to the reservoir.

To reach Barlett Flat boating site

From Carefree
• Take Cave Creek Road for 7 miles.
• Turn right onto Bartlett Road and drive for 13 miles.
• Turn left onto FR 459. You'll go for 1.5 miles paved, and then 1.5 miles unpaved. The boat launch is at the end.

To reach Yellow Cliffs boating site

From Carefree
• Take Cave Creek Road to Bartlett Dam Road.
• Turn right onto Bartlett Dam Road, go 13 miles until you reach FR 459.
• Turn left and go 3 miles. You'll be at the site.