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Roosevelt Lake is located in the Tonto Basin between the rugged
Mazatzal Mountains and the Sierra Ancha Mountains east of Phoenix.
You can get to Roosevelt Lake and the small town of Roosevelt next
to it from the north by taking AZ-87 south from Payson for 17 miles,
then turn east on AZ-188 and follow it south through Jakes Corner
and Punkin Center to the lake. From the south, take AZ-88 north from
US-60, which goes through Miami and Globe. A more scenic route,
though definately not for anyone with a weak heart, is to go east
from Apache Junction on AZ-88 over what is known as the
Apache
Trail. This road goes up past
Canyon Lake and
Apache Lake on the
way, through the old stage stop of Tortilla Flat. It is paved up to
Canyon Lake but becomes a graded dirt and gravel road after that up
to Roosevelt Dam. In places, it literally hangs on the side of a
sheer cliff that drops straight down hundreds of feet.
Roosevelt Dam holds back Theodore
Roosevelt Lake on the Salt River east of Phoenix, Arizona.
Photo by
Gay Holcomb
Theodore Roosevelt Dam was built on the
Salt River where it starts down into Apache Canyon. The Salt River
flows into the reservoir from the east and Tonto Creek flows into it
from the north. Tonto National Forest surrounds the lake on all
sides and there are eight Forest Service campgrounds and six boat
launches at various locations around the lake. There is a marina
with boat and houseboat rentals near the dam and several resorts and
RV camps along the highway.
For more information, contact:
 TONTO NATIONAL FOREST
Hwy 88 HC 02, Box 4800
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
928-467-3200
ROOSEVELT LAKE MARINA
Box 458, Hwy 88
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
928-467-2245
602-977-7171
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