If Canyon Lake is on your list for boating, fishing, swimming or a scenic drive this year, you’ll want to go soon: the lake will close to the public beginning Sept. 8, 2026, for a major dam inspection and maintenance project.
The closure is part of a planned drawdown of Canyon Lake by Salt River Project and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake level will be made to drop about 54 feet so crews can inspect and maintain normally submerged portions of Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams. The work is part of a roughly 20-year inspection and maintenance cycle.
What recreationists need to know
Tonto National Forest will close Canyon Lake, including all boat ramps and access points, on Sept. 8. The actual drawdown is scheduled to begin Sept. 16 and is expected to take about 16 weeks.
Boaters and anglers should expect Canyon Lake to be unavailable through the fall and into the winter. A firm reopening date has not been announced.
And don’t plan on exploring the exposed lakebed once the water drops. Officials say access by boat, motor vehicle or on foot will be prohibited because the drawdown will expose hazards including unstable shorelines, deep mud and sudden drop-offs.
State Route 88 (Apache Trail) will remain open along the southern shore of the lake, although travelers should check current road conditions before heading out.
Affected hiking trails
These trails will be closed from the Canyon Lake Trailhead:
Why is Canyon Lake being drained?
Some of the dam infrastructure that needs to be inspected is normally underwater, making a substantial drawdown necessary. SRP says similar work was performed at 20-year intervals in 1987 and 2007.
The project is intended to help maintain the dams for water storage and flood control and support long-term water reliability for the Valley. The water removed from Canyon Lake will not be lost; SRP says it will be used to meet normal water deliveries and stored in other reservoirs as appropriate.
For recreationists, though, the takeaway is simple: if you want one more Canyon Lake outing before the closure, Sept. 7 is the last planned day before the closure begins.
Check the Tonto National Forest Canyon Lake page and SRP’s Canyon Lake Drawdown Project page for updates before making plans.
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