Parker Canyon Lake

This medium-sized 132 acre lake is located in rolling hill country surrounded by distant mountains. For those who like to fish, Parker Canyon Lake offers both cold and warm water species, including stocked rainbow trout and resident bass, sunfish, and catfish. To make landing those wily lunkers a bit easier, there is a fishing pier and a paved boat ramp at the lake, as well as a lakeside paved area and a graveled path along some of the best catfishing shoreline. There is also a concessionaire-operated country store at the lakeshore where you can pick up some last minute supplies, buy a fishing license, or rent a boat.

Parker Canyon lake was created in 1966 by the Coronado national Forest and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Despite criticism, the government agencies smoothed the entire bottom of the lake to resemble a huge bowl, and as it turned out, the critics were right. For the first few years the fish didn't do too well from lack of suitable habitat. But the weeds and aquatic vegetation have finally taken hold, and the fishing is usually pretty good. -G.J. Sagi, from the essential travel handbook Fishing Arizona

GPS:

Latitude: 31° 25' 26.4"N Longitude: 110° 26' 56.41"W

Phone Numbers for more information::

Tucson Game and Fish (520) 628-5376 or the Safford Coronado National Forest Safford Ranger District (928) 428-4150 - Lake Store for fishing report (520) 455-5847

Restrictions/Season of Use:

Open year round

Road Conditions:

Mostly Paved

Land Ownership:

Coronado National Forest

Ranger Station/District:

Tucson Game and Fish (520) 628-5376

Entrance Fees/Permits:

There is usually a parking fee, plus a separate fee for the campgrounds

Elevation:

The elevation at Parker Canyon Lake is 5400 feet

Max Surface Acres:

125

Average Depth:

82 ft

Bag Limit:

As Posted

Boat/Engine Restrictions:

10 horse max

Boats to Rent:

Seasonally you can rent electric, 10 horse gas and paddle boats at Parker Canyon

Swimming:

Yes

Camping:

Yes plenty of campgrounds for tents and trailers

Barrier free Access:

Yes

Trailer Spaces:

Yes

Electricity:

Yes

Launching Area:

Yes

Water Skiing:

No

Cleaning Stations:

No

Just two hours southeast of Tucson, Parker Canyon lake offers some of the most varied fishing in the region. It is also home to one of Arizona's biggest controversies. There is an ongoing debate whether to poison or temporarily drain the lake to remedy illegally introduced northern pike-a species allegedly chronically killing stocked trout. Public hearings were held in September 2000, in both Tucson and Sierra Bista, though no decision was rendered at the tim.

Patagonia Lake may be more popular, but anyone striving to lose the crowd and fish alone should know about Parker Canyon Lake, only a few miles farther southeast.

25 miles southeast of Sonoita in the scenic Canelo Hills. From Tucson, travel east on Interstate 10 to State Route 83 (exit 281) and turn south 50 miles through Sonoita to Parker Canyon Lake.