I recently went for a 90 minute cruise on Canyon Lake aboard the stern-wheeler Dolly. Canyon Lake is located east of Phoenix on the Salt River, between Saguaro Lake and Apache Lake. The landscape is dominated by eroded volcanic tuff from a giagantic caldera eruption that occurred about twenty-nine million years ago. It is reached by way of the Apache Trail. In a bit of presidential hyperbole, Theodore Roosevelt asserted “the Apache Trail and surrounding area combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have.”

Dolly

While we waited to leave the dock, the quiet was broken by the drone of four radial engines and a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress appeared overhead. Sentimental Journey was making a revenue flight from Falcon Field.

Large canopies provide shade for the boats of the Marina. Motor boats are available for rental.

Canyon Lake is impounded by the Mormon Flat Dam. The dam is 380 feet long, 224 feet high and was built from 1923 to 1925.

Mormon Flat Dam

Once again Sentimental Journey passed overhead.

Sentimental Journey disapeared behind the rim of the canyon.

The location of a perennial spring is revealed by a black manganese oxide stain.

Day use and camping facilities on the shore are accessible only by boat.

- advertisement -

Wide Open Spaces of Arizona

2012 Calendar

Deluxe Edition

You can buy a 2012 Calendar featuring my very wide angle photographs of Arizona landmarks.

A dozen very wide angle 9-1/2" x 13-1/2" photographs of Arizona landmarks.

Roosevelt Dam
Superstition Mountains
Sunset Crater
Saguaro National Park
Four Peaks
Bulldog Canyon
Salt River
Casa Grande
Montezuma's Castle
Montezuma's Well
Grand Falls
Grand Canyon

- advertisement -

Send a message to Brian.