Trailblazers are ready to go on a kayaking adventure. [photo by Yanis]

Chuck, Lidiette, Randall, Norma, and Yanis.

On a beautiful and sunny Tuesday morning in late July, five Arizona Trailblazers get ready for a day of kayaking adventures on Woods Canyon Lake. According to our vast trip reports archives, we’ve only kayaked this lake once before, in June, 2021, but we have hiked around the lake three or more times on the scenic Woods Canyon Lake Loop Trail, the last time in May, 2021. I’m not sure why we missed kayaking the lake in 2022 and 2023. On our June, 2021 kayaking trip we also had exactly five kayakers. Seems a bit strange for such a low turnout on both trips since this is one of the most scenic lakes in Arizona and, at 7,500 feet in elevation, the perfect opportunity to escape the blazing summer heat of the desert. But it is a fairly long drive for most people.

Lidiette, Randall, Chuck, and Norma taking a rest break on the lake. [photo by Yanis]

Yanis, Chuck, and Norma paddle by a group of people on the shore. [photo by Lidiette]

We arrive at the lake to the loud and sometimes deafening noise of busy construction activity, as work crews continue clearing large rocks and boulders and grading uneven ground near the General Store to expand the main parking lot to accommodate 50 to 100 more vehicles. We’re lucky to get the last few remaining parking spots in the lower lot below the General Store. For 8:30 on a weekday morning, this place is already pretty crowded today. If I didn’t know any better, I would swear today is Saturday, rather than Tuesday. After finally moving our kayaks and gear onto the shore adjacent to the main launch ramp, we do a quick round of introductions and pose for a group picture, before pushing off from shore at 9:20 a.m. The temperature is a perfect 76 degrees.

Norma and Yanis enjoying the day. [photo by Lidiette]

Chuck hugs the shoreline. [photo by Lidiette]

Likewise, with Norma. [photo by Lidiette]

We begin paddling east toward Spillway Dam first and then explore both arms at the far east end of the lake. It’s not too long before we spot several ospreys circling overhead in search of lake trout, their primary food source on this lake. And at one point we spot an osprey flying low above the water with a wriggling trout in its talons. Then we decide to take a shade break at the far north end of the longest arm at the lake’s eastern end before paddling back toward the Marina. The Woods Canyon Lake Loop Trail, which we can see from time to time through the trees, along with several scattered groups of hikers, is an easy five-mile loop trail that runs parallel with the shoreline for its entire length as it circles all the way around the lake.

Kids fishing and playing along the shore—actually more playing than fishing. [photo by Eva]

We find the perfect lunch stop location. [photo by Lidiette]

Woods Canyon Lake is one of seven Rim Lakes located on the Mogollon Rim (along with Willow Springs Lake, Black Canyon Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Chevelon Canyon Lake, Knoll Lake, and Blue Ridge Reservoir—now officially called C.C. Cragin Reservoir) and usually the most crowded because of its easy accessibility via FR 300 off SR 260. Woods Canyon is a beautiful canyon-bound lake, surrounded by a dense forest of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, oak, and aspen, advancing right down to the shoreline and providing plentiful shade around much of the lake’s perimeter. Willow Springs Lake, which we kayaked just last month, is only a mile further east on 260 and nearly three times the size of Woods Canyon Lake in surface acres, yet is never as crowded.

A great place to beach a kayak. [photo by Lidiette]

Lidiette and Randall enjoy a rest break. [photo by Lidiette]

We then start paddling to the northwest, past the Marina and General Store, and enter the longest and most scenic part of the lake. Occasionally and as a matter of common courtesy, we have to paddle away from the shoreline to skirt around groups of people fishing from the shore. There seems to be more people fishing today than boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding. By 11:15 we start looking for a good place to beach our kayaks and get out for a snack and rest break and a chance to work cramped leg muscles. We finally locate a good spot with easy shore access, plenty of shade, and large rocks for seating. This turns out to be a great location, worth remembering for the next trip to Woods Canyon Lake, with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding forest.

Norma, Lidiette, Randall, and Chuck taking a lunch break. [photo by Yanis]

Rest break over, we push off once again for more time on the water. So far, we’ve spotted at least three juvenile bald eagles and two adults today, either perched in trees high above the lake or flying overhead. We’ve also seen more ospreys than we have on any of the other lakes we kayak, including four circling overhead at one point, although it’s impossible to determine if some are the same ones that we see more than once. In addition to that are a couple of Great Blue Herons stalking the shoreline in search of a meal and a female mallard with four tiny ducklings in tow. At one point we’re surprised to see an osprey fly overhead and drop its slippery catch into the water with a loud splash. That’s one lucky trout and something you don’t see very often.

This Great Blue Heron takes flight in search of a better fishing spot. [photo by Lidiette]

A pair of Bald Eagles high atop a dead tree overlooking the lake. [photo by Lidiette]

After paddling back to the Marina and launch ramp, three in our group decide to call it a day, while Norma and I chose to keep paddling and travel back up the long northwest arm of the lake once again for additional mileage and time on the lake. Why hurry back to the blistering heat of the valley, when we have all of this cool water and terrific scenery right at our fingertips to enjoy for a while longer? Meanwhile, back at the launch ramp we all watch in anticipation as a Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery truck backs up to the lake and opens first one large valve and then a second one at the back of the truck, releasing hundreds of trashing trout into the water. Curiously enough, we saw this same procedure on our 2021 kayaking trip. What are the odds of that?

Lidiette and Randall smile for a quick selfie. [photo by Lidiette]

Norma and I paddle all the way back up the northwest arm of the lake for the second time today, as typical early afternoon monsoon weather makes its appearance, and the cloud cover increases significantly from earlier in the day. Can we make it back before the rain starts? We’ll certainly give it our best shot. Cool breezes help push us along, as we steadily make our way back to the Marina and launch ramp. As we round one last bend in the lake, construction noise hits us once again and we realize we’re getting closer. We finally make it to the ramp by 1:40 p.m. and start hauling our gear and kayaks back uphill to our vehicles. Just as we’re loading up and strapping kayaks down, a light shower hits us and dark, ominous clouds appear directly overhead. We make it just in time.

We start paddling up a narrow channel in the lake. [photo by Lidiette]

Trout are gushing into the lake from the hatchery truck. Run back and get the net, Ethel. Hurry! [photo by Lidiette]