Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Kayaking Lake Pleasant Regional Park

when	Trip Report : April 13, 2022
	Trip Report : January 18, 2022
where	Lake Pleasant Regional Park
the kayak	This will be the Arizona Trailblazers second trip to Lake Pleasant Regional Park this year. This is a good sized lake, with 11.7 square miles of surface area and 116 miles of shoreline. The Agua Fria River and the CAP canal are the two main sources of water for Lake Pleasant.     On our January kayaking trip, the lake level was down about 25 feet due to large downstream releases for agriculture users over the summer months. Since then, with inflows from the CAP (Central Arizona Project) canal, the lake is almost up to full-pool level once again. Lake Pleasant is Arizona’s primary storage facility for Colorado River water.     This is an interesting part of the lake, with many things to explore, including Castle Creek and Goose Bay, with numerous small inlets, coves, and a number of small islands to check out.     Paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent at Pleasant Harbor Marina (call 623-235-6130) for additional information. Required: •  Life vest •  At least 1 liter of water •  Rain poncho •  Hat, sunblock, sunglasses Recommended: •  Lunch or snacks •  Camera
distance	4-5 miles RT
time	4 to 5 hours
EC	no elevation change
elevations	1,700 feet
type	round trip
starting at	Castle Creek Boat Ramp
rating	"C"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed	no
cost	$7 per vehicle Lake Pleasant Regional Park entrance fee + $2 for the kayak. The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member.
weather	Lake Pleasant Regional Park
meet	8:00 AM at Castle Creek Boat Ramp.
drive	•  From central Phoenix, take I-17 north to Carefree Highway (SR 74). • Exit onto Carefree Highway and travel west, past Lake Pleasant Bypass Road and N. Old Lake Pleasant Road, for 15 miles to Castle Hot Spring Road. • Turn right (north) onto Castle Hot Springs Road and continue driving north past the Lake Pleasant Access Road. • Keep driving north to a T intersection and turn right onto Castle Creek Drive. • Pay the $7/vehicle entry fee at the Lake Pleasant Entry Station and drive to the Castle Creek Boat Ramp. • We’ll drop our kayaks and gear off near the ramp and park in the nearby boat ramp parking lot. Restrooms are located here. • See Map.

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updated April 16, 2022	© Copyright 2022, Arizona Trailblazers.  All rights reserved.