Part of Things To Do, our guides to parks, lakes, trails, camping, museums and clubs in the White Mountains.
Boat and fish a dozen-plus lakes within a day’s drive of Show Low, from 50-acre Woods Canyon Lake to 1,500-acre Lyman Lake. Fool Hollow Lake’s boat access and Lyman Lake’s ramp were both closed for low water as of October 23, 2026, so check the lake before you tow a boat.
Checked · Edited by Sam Ridley · Sources · How we check
1,500 acresLyman Lake, the largest here
450 acresBig Lake, about 9,000 ft up
150 acresWillow Springs Lake and (Forest Service) Fool Hollow Lake
2boat accesses closed as of October 23, 2026
Before You Launch
- Fool Hollow Lake: Arizona State Parks said on October 23, 2026: “Due to low lake levels, boat access is closed.” Only vessels that can be hand-launched are allowed.
- Lyman Lake: the State Parks page, read October 23, 2026, says the boat ramp is closed for low water (non-motorized craft launch from beach access points), harmful algal blooms were reported, and there is no drinking water at the park.
- Scott Reservoir: Forest Order 03-01-07-26-001 bans camping around it from February 28, 2026 to February 28, 2029 because of sanitation problems; it stays open for day use (Forest Service, read October 22, 2026). See our Scott Reservoir page.
- Woods Canyon Lake: no gas motors, only electric trolling motors or paddle craft.
- Bear Canyon Lake: the Forest Service page says both “foot trail only” and “dirt road”; ask the Black Mesa Ranger District, (928) 535-7300.
- Winter: the Rim Lakes area closes to wheeled motor vehicles with enough snow, and roads to Big Lake and Greer generally close to snow from December to early April (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations).
- Drinking water: Willow Springs Lake, Lyman Lake and Luna Lake day use have none listed. Bring your own.
- License: an Arizona fishing license is required on state and forest waters (Forest Service, Willow Springs page). See Streams and Fishing for how to check rules.
Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Nearby
| Lake | Size and elevation | Boating | Ramp | Fish | Fees and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fool Hollow Lake (Show Low, state park) | About 150 acres (Forest Service); about 6,300 ft (State Parks) | Motorized boating listed; only hand-launched vessels allowed as of October 23, 2026 | Two ramps listed; boat access closed for low water as of October 23, 2026 | Not confirmed | Entrance $10 per vehicle with 1 person, $20 with 2-4 people, $5 per person or bicycle. Gate 5 a.m.-8 p.m. April-October, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. November-March. Open year round. |
| Show Low Lake and Pintail Lake | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | See our pages for each lake. |
| Woodland Lake and Rainbow Lake (Pinetop-Lakeside) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | See our pages for each lake. |
| Scott Reservoir (Lakeside) | Acreage not confirmed; 6,800 ft | Motorized boating listed as an opportunity | Accessible boat ramp | Not confirmed | Day use only; overnight use prohibited by Forest Order. No fee. Portable toilets and dumpster June-September. Forest Service shows an active closure alert (page updated May 13, 2026). |
Rim Lakes and Nearby Canyon Lakes
These lakes sit on the Mogollon Rim, on the Heber-Overgaard side of the forest. Woods Canyon Lake is about 30 miles east of Payson. Our page on Rim Lakes covers the campgrounds. Chevelon Canyon Lake is reached from Winslow, 25 miles south on FR 34.
| Lake | Size and elevation | Boating | Ramp | Fish | Fees and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woods Canyon Lake (Black Mesa Ranger District) | 50 acres (another Forest Service page says about 52) | Small boats with electric trolling motors, or paddle craft. No gas motors. | Public ramp for small fishing boats | Rainbow and tiger trout, stocked regularly | No fee listed. Open May-November; the area closes to wheeled motor vehicles in winter with enough snow. Developed by Game and Fish in 1958. Black Mesa Ranger District (928) 535-7300. |
| Willow Springs Lake | 150 acres; about 7,600 ft | Motors up to 10 hp, and non-motorized | Not mentioned on the Forest Service page | Trout, stocked spring through fall; ice fishing listed | No fee for day use or to launch. One vault toilet, no drinking water. No dispersed camping within half a mile. Made by Game and Fish in 1966. |
| Bear Canyon Lake | 60 acres; 50 ft deep; 7,560 ft | Electric motors only | Not mentioned | Catchable rainbow trout, stocked about six times a year | Open daily May 1 through November; no fee to camp. Access is by foot trail only on one line of the page and by dirt road on another, so ask the ranger. |
| Black Canyon Lake | Not confirmed | Non-motorized | Not mentioned | Trout (spring, summer, fall) | No fee. Two vault toilets, no water. Forest Road 86. |
| Chevelon Canyon Lake | Not confirmed; 6,800 ft | Motors 8 hp or less | No vehicle access; steep three-quarter-mile trail | Not confirmed | No fee to camp. Generally open year round, but the access road is not cleared in winter. |
Round Valley, Greer, Alpine and the Big Lake Country
These lakes are east and south of Show Low. Most of the species, elevations and motor limits below come from one Arizona Game and Fish guide printed in 2021, so each is labelled. Our Alpine page covers the nearby campgrounds.
| Lake | Size and elevation | Boating | Ramp | Fish | Fees and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyman Lake (state park, near St. Johns) | 1,500-acre reservoir; 6,000 ft | West end buoyed no-wake (5 mph); rest open to water sports | Closed for low water as of October 23, 2026; non-motorized craft launch from beach access points | Walleye, channel catfish, largemouth bass | Entrance $10 / $20 / $5 as at Fool Hollow. Open 24 hours. No drinking water; harmful algal blooms reported as of October 23, 2026. Phone (928) 337-4441. |
| Becker Lake (Springerville) | Acreage not confirmed; 6,910 ft (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Single electric motor or 10 hp or less (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Not confirmed; floating fishing pier | Rainbow and tiger trout, green sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish | Trout catch-and-release year round, artificial fly or lure, single barbless hook, no bait (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). |
| Nelson Reservoir (between Eagar and Alpine) | Acreage not confirmed; 7,412 ft (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Single electric motor or 10 hp or less (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Not confirmed | Rainbow trout, black crappie, green sunfish | Four trout daily (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). |
| Greer Lakes: Bunch, Tunnel, River Reservoir | Acreage not confirmed; 8,260 ft | Single electric motors only on Bunch and Tunnel; electric or 10 hp or less on River Reservoir | Not confirmed | Rainbow and brown trout; River Reservoir also carp and yellow perch | Bunch and Tunnel: 4 trout daily. River Reservoir: trout catch-and-release, artificial fly and lure only, Oct. 1-April 30; statewide 4-trout limit May 1-Sept. 30 (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). River Reservoir South access has one vault toilet, no water. |
| Big Lake (Big Lake Recreation Area) | 450 acres (Forest Service); about 9,000 ft (Game and Fish guide) or 9,100 ft (Apache Trout Campground page) | Marina is non-motorized; Game and Fish guide: single electric motor or 10 hp or less (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Not confirmed | Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | 4 trout in any combination (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). Roads generally closed to snow December to early April (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). The Big Lake store sells licenses and rents boats; no prices given. |
| Crescent Lake (Big Lake area) | Not confirmed | Dam area is non-motorized; a south boating site is listed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Fees not confirmed. Dam area has a vault toilet and picnic tables. |
| Luna Lake (Alpine) | Acreage not confirmed; 7,890 ft (Game and Fish guide) or 7,960 ft (Forest Service campground page) | Motors over 10 hp prohibited (Forest Service); single electric or 10 hp or less (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Boat launch and fishing pier (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Rainbow and cutthroat trout (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations) | Day use area free, no overnight camping, closed 10 p.m. daily. Marina rents boats and sells bait; hours not listed. Campground $20 per single site from May 15, no hookups, no drinking water. 4 trout daily (per the 2021 Game and Fish guide; check current regulations). |
| Hulsey Lake (Alpine side) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Restored lake about 2 miles up FR 8056 off US 180/191. Vault toilet, no water. |
| Aker Lake (south of Alpine) | Not confirmed | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Apache trout and Arctic grayling | Catch and release only; artificial lures and flies only. About 25 miles south of Alpine off US 191 on FR 8312. No restrooms, no water. |
Tribal Lakes
The White Mountain Apache Tribe manages its own fishing lakes on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, with its own permits and rules. Waters named in the Tribe’s May 21, 2026 fishing report include Hawley, Horseshoe, Sunrise, Christmas Tree, Cyclone, Hurricane, Pacheta and Reservation lakes. Acreage and elevation are not confirmed. Rules, permits and prices are on Streams and Fishing, and our pages on tribal lakes, permits and Sunrise Park Resort go further.
Nearby White Mountain Lake and Silver Creek have their own pages: White Mountain Lake and Silver Creek.
Map of Lakes
What We Could Not Verify
- Fish species at Fool Hollow Lake, Show Low Lake, Woodland Lake, Rainbow Lake, Scott Reservoir, Black Canyon, Chevelon, Crescent, Hulsey and the Rim Lakes beyond what the Forest Service names.
- Acreage for Show Low Lake, Woodland Lake, Rainbow Lake, Scott Reservoir, Black Canyon, Chevelon, Becker, Nelson, each Greer Lake, Luna, Crescent, Hulsey and Aker.
- Current Arizona Game and Fish regulations, including every bag limit, motor rule and species marked 2021 above. The Game and Fish website blocked our reading.
- The Arizona fishing license prices.
- The stocking schedule. A Game and Fish news item from March 6, 2024 is said in a search result to shorten stocking at some high-country lakes (March to July) until at least 2026, but we could not read it.
- Whether Fool Hollow Lake’s boat access and Lyman Lake’s ramp have reopened since October 23, 2026.
- Current lake levels at Woodland Lake and Rainbow Lake, and the ramp at Willow Springs Lake.
- Whether the Bear Canyon Lake road or the trail is the real way in.
More Guides
Questions People Ask
Can I launch a boat at Fool Hollow Lake?
Not a trailered boat as of October 23, 2026. Arizona State Parks says boat access is closed for low water and only hand-launched vessels are allowed. Check the State Parks page for changes.
Are gas motors allowed at Woods Canyon Lake?
No. The Forest Service says only small boats with electric trolling motors or paddle craft are allowed there. Willow Springs Lake allows motors up to 10 hp.
Which lake is the biggest near Show Low?
Lyman Lake near St. Johns, a 1,500-acre reservoir. Big Lake is 450 acres. The ramp at Lyman was closed for low water as of October 23, 2026.
Is Lyman Lake safe for swimming?
The State Parks page said harmful algal blooms were reported as of October 23, 2026. We could not confirm current conditions, so read the page again before you go.
Sources
- Arizona State Parks: Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
- USDA Forest Service: Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area and Campground
- Arizona State Parks: Lyman Lake State Park
- USDA Forest Service: Scott Reservoir
- USDA Forest Service: Woods Canyon Lake
- USDA Forest Service: Woods Canyon Group Campground
- USDA Forest Service: Willow Springs Lake
- USDA Forest Service: Sardine Point Day Use Area
- USDA Forest Service: Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area
- USDA Forest Service: Apache-Sitgreaves fishing list
- USDA Forest Service: Black Canyon Lake
- USDA Forest Service: Chevelon Canyon Lake
- Arizona Game and Fish: Fishing guide for mountain lakes (2021 edition)
- USDA Forest Service: River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- USDA Forest Service: Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground
- USDA Forest Service: Apache Trout Campground
- USDA Forest Service: Big Lake Marina
- USDA Forest Service: Big Lake Dam Parking
- USDA Forest Service: Crescent Lake Dam Area
- USDA Forest Service: Crescent Lake Point Area
- USDA Forest Service: South Crescent Lake
- USDA Forest Service: Luna Lake Day Use Area
- USDA Forest Service: Luna Lake Marina
- USDA Forest Service: Luna Lake Campground
- USDA Forest Service: Hulsey Lake
- USDA Forest Service: Aker Lake
- White Mountain Apache Tribe, Game and Fish: Weekly fishing report (May 21, 2026)
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s Show Low. Cite this page: It’s Show Low (itsshowlow.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.