Lyman Lake in Springerville, Arizona

Location & Description. With over 1,500 acres of water surface, Lyman Lake is the largest lake in the Arizona White Mountains area. If you're a boating enthusuiast and enjoy fishing, this is an ideal lake environment. Located just 17 miles north of Springerville AZ within Lyman Lake State Park, there is no power restriction on boats, so leisure boating, speed boating and water-skiing is permitted at Lyman. But the west end of the lake is buoyed-off as a "no wake area" creating a safer swimming and convenient shore fishing area. The lake is open all year, but the convenience store is only open from early April to the end of September. The lake's elevation is about 6,000 feet. The best time to visit is in the spring, summer and early fall. Summer temperatures are in the comfortable high 80's to low 90's. Winters can become quite cold. See the Springerville Weather Chart.

Lake Size. As the largest lake in the White Mountains region, Lyman Lake has about 1,500 acres of water surface. When full the average depth is 22 feet with a maximum depth of about 57 feet.

Fish Variety. Fish species at the lake include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, Carp and a limited Walleye population.

Fishing. This is a great lake for fishing novices and children. Fishing for catfish is best at the upper end of the lake using nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Bass and walleye are most active along rocky and weedy areas of the lake. A state fishing license is required for anglers over 13 years of age. There is a daily bag limit of 6 bass, 6 walleye and 25 catfish.

Boating. There are no boat motor restrictions at Lyman Lake. Water-skiing, speed boating and personal watercraft are permitted.

Camping & Amenities. The lake's amenities include 23 tent camping sites and 38 RV campground sites with water, sewer and electric hookups. There is also four cabins for rent. Beach camping is permitted. Other conveniences include a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, picnic tables, grills, volleyball courts, horse shoe pits, hiking trails, handicap accessible restrooms, showers, drinking water, picnic tables, shade ramadas, large group ramadas and a dump station. A well-stocked convenience store is open from early April to the end of September and sells bait, tackle, ice and firewood. The state features interpretive tours of nearby ancient Indian petroglyphs. As of 2008, the fees are $12 per night for tent camping, $15 per night for RV sites with hookups and $5 per vehicle for day use. Cabins are $50 per night. Fees are subject to change without notice.

Hiking Trails. There are three hiking trails into ancient Indian grounds where evidence of the prehistoric existence are openly visible. The Rattlesnake Pointe Pueblo Trail leads to an ancient village ruins that was home to about 15 families between 1325 and 1390 AD. The pueblo ruins were built by ancestors of the Hopi Indians. Ranger guided tours are available on a seasonal basis. Petroglyphs and rock art left by ancient peoples are accessible on the 1/4 mile self-guided Peninsula Petroglyph Trail from the campground and is open during daylight hours all year. The Ultimate Petroglyph Trail is a 1/2 mile steeper trail on the east side of the lake that can only be accessed by boat. Ranger led tours of this trail are also available on a seasonal basis.

Directions. Lake is 17 miles north of Springerville AZ and 11 miles south of St. Johns AZ adjacent to Highway 180/191.

Nearby Attractions. The Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert are about 55 miles to the north near Holbrook AZ. The Casa Malapis archaeological ruins are located about 20 miles to the south of the lake.