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Camping: None at location, dispersed sites nearby.
Convenience Store & Gas: Forest Lakes or Heber
Electric motors only — no gas engines
Toilets: Vault toilets available.
Water: No potable water; pack in your own supply.
Details
Spring
Mid February through Late April
Dry Summer
May and June
Wet Summer (Monsoon)
July through September
Fall
October through Mid December
Best Seasons
Nearest Convenience Store
Banner Payson Medical Center Emergency Room, South Ponderosa Street, Payson, AZ, USA
Nearest Hospital
Black Canyon Lake
Arizona
87HX+WM8 Forest Lakes
Navajo County
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Elevation: 7,060 ft
Directions
From Chandler, AZ: Take AZ-87 North to Payson, then Highway 260 east toward Heber. Watch for Forest Road 300 turnoff on the south side of Hwy 260 near milepost 291. Turn south on Forest Road 300 and drive 2.4 miles, then turn east (left) on Forest Road 86. Drive approximately 3 miles further to the lake turnoff. (~115 miles, ~2 hours) USDA Forest Service
From Heber: Head west on Highway 260 approximately 15 miles to FR 300. Turn south and follow directions above.
Wildlife
Boating
Exploring
Hiking
Fishing
Black Canyon Lake
Black Canyon Lake is a scenic 78-acre trout fishing lake on the Mogollon Rim in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — a quiet alternative to the more visited Rim Lakes, with forested shoreline, electric motor boating, and wild horses known to stop at the water's edge.
Black Canyon Lake sits quietly off Forest Road 86, tucked into the pines of the Mogollon Rim at 7,060 feet. The lake was built in 1964 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide water recreation opportunities for the public. At 78 surface acres with a maximum depth of 60 feet, it's one of the deeper Rim Lakes — and one of the least crowded.
A herd of wild horses is often seen running through the area and stopping at Black Canyon Lake for water. If you've watched our FR 124 Wild Horses video, these are the same horses that roam this stretch of the Apache-Sitgreaves. Seeing them come to the lake is something you don't forget.
Fishing Black Canyon Lake has been managed as a put-grow-and-take fishery. The lake is stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout, with some largemouth bass and green sunfish also present. Trout fishing is especially productive during spring and early summer stocking periods. Electric motors only — no gas engines on the water.
The Fire Impact The lake was affected by the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire, one of the largest wildfires in Arizona history. Because of the danger of falling trees damaged by the fire, the entire area around the lake is limited to day use — overnight camping is prohibited in the immediate area. Although the surrounding forest was adversely affected, a sizeable portion of the lake remains lushly forested and scenic.
Nearby Camping No camping at the lake itself, but Black Canyon Rim Campground is located approximately 2.5 miles southwest — set among towering ponderosa pines and a favorite stopping place for those traveling the General Crook National Recreation Trail. See the Black Canyon Rim bucket list page for full camping details.
A Note on Access Roads to the lake are generally closed from December to early April due to snow. Check road conditions before making the drive, especially in shoulder seasons.
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