Saguaro Lake
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Entry needs a reservation or permit. Entry fee: Tonto Daily Pass $8/vehicle (vendor) or $12 at fee machine. Saguaro Lake is a lake cove in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Water clarity | Gently sloping beach with gradual depth changes. |
- Butcher Jones Beach : No motorized boats in the swimming area (follow buoy markers).
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Parking | Butcher Jones Day Use Area parking lot via Bush Highway / FR 204 and FR 166. Overflow lots available. Fills rapidly in early spring and summer. |
| When it fills | Picnic and beach area fill rapidly in early spring and summer months; arrive early on weekends and holidays. |
| Fee | Tonto Daily Pass $8/vehicle (vendor) or $12 at fee machine; Tonto Discovery or America the Beautiful Pass accepted |
| Hours | Day use only |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Managed by | US Forest Service (Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | No |
| Shade | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Vault toilets; picnic units with mesquite shade; no potable water. Gently sloping beach adjacent to the picnic area. |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Not allowed |
| Glass | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Saguaro Lake open?
Hours: Day use only.
Can you swim at Saguaro Lake?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Saguaro Lake.
How do you get to Saguaro Lake?
The road in is paved. Parking: Butcher Jones Day Use Area parking lot via Bush Highway / FR 204 and FR 166. Overflow lots available. Fills rapidly in early spring and summer. Picnic and beach area fill rapidly in early spring and summer months; arrive early on weekends and holidays.
Do you need a reservation for Saguaro Lake?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Saguaro Lake?
The fee is Tonto Daily Pass $8/vehicle (vendor) or $12 at fee machine; Tonto Discovery or America the Beautiful Pass accepted.
What facilities are at Saguaro Lake?
Restrooms, shade structures, and picnic sites. No drinking water. Vault toilets; picnic units with mesquite shade; no potable water. Gently sloping beach adjacent to the picnic area.
What are the rules at Saguaro Lake?
Dogs are allowed, camping is not allowed, and glass containers are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Saguaro Lake is inside Tonto National Forest .
Sources
1
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/recreation/butcher-jones-day-use-area (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName, access.fee / permitRequired / hours / parking / parkingPattern, access.amenities, rules.camping / glass / dogs, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / waterType / entryType / waterClarityNote, beaches, access.roadSurface)
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