Roosevelt Lake was formed by the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which is 280 feet high and 723 feet long. The dam was the first major structure constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation on the Salt River Project. It is a masonry dam built in 1911, making Roosevelt Lake the oldest artificial reservoir in Arizona.

The Theodore Roosevelt Lake is located about 80 miles east from Phoenix, with the shortest route to the lake is over the unpaved Apache Trail. Roosevelt Lake is a spectacular site for boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, camping, and all other forms of outdoor recreation. Roosevelt Lake has clear water and excellent fishing. A Google Earth Map search marks the center of the Theodore Roosevelt Lake Dam at 33^o 40' 18.23" N 111^o 09' 40.32" W. It is Gila County, Arizona.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake boasts of a steel arch, suspended deck, road bridge called; the Roosevelt Lake Bridge, which was completed in 1990. It is owned by the Arizona Department of Transportation. It was designed by Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff. Its main contractor was Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. The main span is 1080.71 feet in length. The Roosevelt Lake Bridge actually carries state route 188 over Roosevelt Lake, near the dam.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake is a large lake, 25 miles long, with 112 miles of shoreline, and it has a maximum depth of 349 feet. At one time it was the largest man-made lake in the world. But now, Roosevelt Lake is simply the largest of the six Salt River Project ( SRP) lakes, and it offers the most recreation opportunities of any lake in Arizona. When full, the lake covers more than 17,000 acres near the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River. Theodore Roosevelt Lake contains a wildlife area and since it is a wildlife refuge, it is posted to permit hunting only at certain times of the year. The Tonto Creek arm of Roosevelt Lake is closed from November 5 - February 15 to protect wildlife. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery since it is within the Tonto National Forest, home to abundant wildlife. Visitors to the area could see; eagle, javelina, big horn sheep, mule deer, snakes, lizards, chuckwalla, and many desert plants, including the saguaro, mesquite, and ocotillo.

There is very little access to the northeast side of the lake since the terrain there is more mountainous. Most of the access to the northeast side requires 4WD.

However, the southwest shoreline is easily reached from AZ 188, which runs near the lake for most of its 18 mile length, passing various marinas and campsites. There is one rough road (FR 60), which winds through the hills from AZ 288 in the south to AZ 188 north of the lake, but this is several miles away from the shore and few long 4WD trails lead towards the water. One interesting place on the way is Salome Creek, which is best approached from the north end. It contains a short section of a granite narrows called the 'The Jug'. It has smooth, sheer, pink - white walls, deep pools, and waterfalls.

The main fish caught in Roosevelt Lake are: Crappie, bass, small mouth bass, large mouth bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, and channel catfish.

Its temperatures range from lows of about 25 degrees F. during the months of December and January; to highs that may exceed 115 degrees F. from July through September. The annual precipitation usually ranges from about 2 to 8 inches.

Boat lanching ramps are available at Indian Point Recreation Site, Roosevelt Marina, Cholla Recreation Site, Windy Hill Recreation Site, Grapevine Groupsite, and the Schoolhouse Recreation Site.

The Cholla Boating Site and Indian Point Recreation Site are both handicap accessible. Picnic areas can be found at Indian Point Recreation Site, Windy Hill, and Grapevine Group Campground.

GETTING THERE:

To reach the Cholla Boating Site:
From Mesa:
Take State Highway 87 north for 60 miles, until you reach State Highway 188. Then turn right onto Highway 199 and continue for 28 miles until you reach Cholla.

From Claypool:
Take State Highway 188 northwest for 29 miles, until you reach State Highway 88. Then stay on Highway 188 for 4 more miles until you reach Cholla. To access Windy Hill Boating Site

To reach the Windy Hill Boating Site:
From Claypool:
Take State Highway 188 northwest for 25 miles. Then turn right onto FR 82 and continue until you reach Windy Hill.

From Mesa:
Take State Highway 87 north for about 60 miles until you reach State Highway 188. Then turn right onto State Highway 188 and remain on it for 33 miles, after which you'll reach a junction with State Route 88. Continue on 188 for 4 more miles. Then turn left onto FR 82 and continue to Windy Hill.

To reach the Indian Point Recreation Site:
From Mesa:
Take State Highway 87 north for about 60 miles. Then turn right onto State Highway 188 and continue for 23 miles. Then turn left onto FR 60 and continue across Tonto Creek for 2 miles. Then turn left onto FR 661 and continue to the site.

To reach the Grapevine Group Campground:
From Phoenix:
Go east on Shea Boulevard to Highway 88. Then turn left onto Highway 88 and head north. Then turn right onto Highway 188 and continue for 40.5 miles. Then turn left onto FR 84 and continue to the campground.

If you are coming to the dam from Globe:
Take Highway 88 northwest about 35 miles to Roosevelt Dam.

You will need a Tonto Pass. $6.00 per vehicle and $4.00 per watercraft. Any group events require a permit. Contact the Tonto Basin ranger station for both passes and permits.

Tonto Basin Ranger Station
HC02 Box 4800
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
Phone: 928-467-3200
Fax: 928-467-3239