Cave Creek Recreation Area
 
Toll Free (877) 942-6700
Telephone (623) 742-6700
 
Cave Creek Recreation Area is located on 32nd Street North off the Carefree Highway mid-way between Interstate 17 and Scottsdale Road. Cave Creek Recreation Area offers great views of the Sonoran Desert, as well as opportunities to step back in history 150 years when mining and ranching were a way of life here at Cave Creek. (map)

Bartlett Lake
 
Telephone (602) 316-3378
 
Bartlett Lake is located only 17 miles northeast of Carefree. The scenic Bartlett Lake Road offers easy access from the entire Valley of the Sun. Tonto National Forest campground is great for hiking, boating, water skiing and fishing.  Bartlett Lake has a boatable surface area of 2,815 acres - more than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined. Fed by the pristine waters of the Verde River, Indians of this valley spoke descriptively in their legends of the river's "sweet waters".  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.  Take a trip 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. (map)
 

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Telephone (602) 372-7460

Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers 23,662 acres of ideal boating and camping opportunities. With 10,000 acres of crystal clear-water visitors can enjoy water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, or fishing. Lake Pleasant offers over 140 developed sites for RV and tent camping. (map)

Horseshoe Lake

Telephone 602-225-5200

Horseshoe Dam and reservoir are located 10 miles North of Bartlett Lake Road on FR 205, and are features of the Salt River Project (SRP). The recreation site is available year-round for camping (14 units), camp trailers, picnicking, fishing and boating. Boating and fishing at Horseshoe Lake depends on the regular fluctuations in water elevations. It is routine for SRP to nearly drain the reservoir in the summer to provide water for the metropolitan area. The Ocotillo Boating Site provides a launch ramp for smaller boats. (map)