Getting Away From It All - Fishing Retreats Near Tucson, AZ

Getting Away From It All - Fishing Retreats Near Tucson, AZ

Winding up the Mt. Lemmon highway, visitors often stop off to visit the quiet oasis that is Rose Canyon Lake.  We tried to go up on Mother's Day, but the park was over capacity and they turned us away at the gate.

Imagine a quiet lake surrounded by cool pine and spruce forests, temperate at 10,000 feet elevation.  Picnicking, hiking, and birdwatching are wondrous pastimes to enjoy while escaping the heat of Tucson Valley.  In Mid - June, the Arizona Game and Fish department stocked Rose Canyon Lake, as well as Riggs Flat Lake on Mt. Graham, hoping to attract area anglers. The fish are purchased from fish license revenue, and fishermen need to purchase a "trout stamp" in order to fish the waters.

Other lakes in the area offer a variety of fish - spots which include Parker Canyon Lake in Huachuca Mountains and Patagonia Lake, about 90 minutes south from Tucson, near Patagonia.

Parker Canyon Lake is a 130 acre lake about a 2 hour drive SE from Tucson, located in the rolling hills of Southern Arizona.  Services include a marina store/mercantile, restrooms, drinking water, boat ramp, fishing pier, trails and camping for 65 sites.  Picnic tables and grills are provided. Boats with trolling motors are allowed, as are kayaks, paddle boats, canoes, and rowboats.

Patagonia lake is near Nogales, and it takes about 90 minutes to get there, traveling south from Tucson. The lake is large, over 250 acres and is 2.5 miles long. Picnicking,fishing, and hiking are just some of the activities one can enjoy. Campgrounds are developed for 72 sites, 34 hook-ups, 12 boat access sites, as well as restrooms and showers. Park conveniences include picnic ramadas, a beach for swimming, a store/gift shop and a marina with boat rentals.
 
The lake is home to bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and is stocked with rainbow trout in winter. The east half of the lake is no wake, and perfect for fishing.

Tucson is a beautiful place to call home, surrounded by mountains on all sides, party to unbelievable sunsets and breathtaking desert vista.  Lakes offer fishing within an hour and a half drive, skiing is available on nearby Mt. Lemmon during winter, and residents can enjoy up to 350 days of sunshine a year.

If you think you might be interested in learning more about the area, and would like a relocation or visitor's packet, please don't hesitate to contact me!  As a new resident since 2000, I am always happy to show off what I find special about this unique and diverse corner of the world.