Trailblazers are ready to start kayaking. [photo by Ron]

Ron, Lee, Chuck, Eva, Norma, Anna.

On a cool and sunny Monday morning in mid-January six Arizona Trailblazers converge on Barrtlett Lake SB Cove for a day of kayaking. Because of abnormally low water levels, this is our first kayaking trip to Bartlett Lake since December, 2023. But due to recent releases from upstream Horseshoe Lake, the water level has come up considerably, and the lake is now at 72% capacity. SRP is also planning additional water releases from Horseshoe over the next couple of months, which will bring the lake level up even higher. Although the latest weather forecasts had indicated only light winds in the 5 to 8 mph range throughout the day, by 9:30 a.m. we launch from the cove into fairly stiff winds of 12 to 15 mph, which will only increase as the day progresses. So much for accurate weather forecasting.

Paddling away from SB Cove. [photo by Eva]

Ron, Lee, Chuck, Anna, and Norma paddle against the wind. [photo by Eva]

Norma, Anna, and Chuck are watching a pair of bald eagles. [photo by Eva]

SB Cove is a popular area for RV campers, and today there are quite a few of them scattered all around the cove, enjoying the unusually warm January weather we have been experiencing so far this year. The cove is almost directly opposite the imposing Yellow Cliffs area of Bartlett Lake, dominating the lake’s east side. We start paddling southeast, with Rattlesnake Cove, a half-mile from the Bartlett Lake Marina, as our major goal for the day. We’ve paddled barely 100 yards before all eyes are concentrated on two magnificent bald eagles perched side by side on a rocky pinnacle right at water’s edge. We’ve all seen bald eagles before on many of the lakes we kayak, both in the desert and at higher elevations on the Mogollon Rim. But how often do you see a pair perched so close together?

This pair of bald eagles is as curious about us as we are about them. [photo by Eva]

Ron moves in closer for the perfect shot. [photo by Eva]

And he nails it. [photo by Ron]

Our two main photographers, Ron and Eva, try to maneuver in closer for a good picture but are having a difficult time with the wind and wave action bouncing their kayaks around. It’s hard enough taking pictures of birds from solid ground since they typically don’t stay in one place for very long. Thankfully, these two eagles are very cooperative and stay put on their lofty perch more than long enough for both Ron and Eva to capture a few good pictures under very difficult circumstances, before they both take flight and disappear from view. We all realize this rare sight will likely be the highlight of our day on Bartlett Lake. As we round a prominent point, we begin paddling southwest as the winds gradually begin to increase in intensity, causing more whitecaps to form across the wave tops.

Norma, Anna, Chuck, and Ron admire the scenery. [photo by Eva]

Eva and Lee are enjoying the day. [photo by Ron]

Anna is skimming over the lake in her Oru kayak. [photo by Ron]

After over an hour of steady paddling, as we get closer to Rattlesnake Cove and can clearly see the marina in the distance, I suggest paddling further toward Bartlett Lake Dam for a closer look at the dam and taking a few pictures. We also discuss a recent news story about future SRP plans to build a new and higher dam, one hundred feet higher than the old dam, to create more water storage space for the fast-growing Phoenix metro area. And we try to imagine what this lake would look like if it ever reached capacity with the new dam in place. Thousands of acres of surrounding desert, including countless giant saguaros, would be completely under water. Counting Roosevelt Dam and Wadell Dam on Lake Pleasant, this will be the third major dam to be raised or rebuilt in the Sonoran Desert.

Lee, Eva, Norma, Anna, and Chuck pose for a quick group shot. [photo by Ron]

A lone giant saguaro stands out against the sky. [photo by Ron]

The rugged beauty surrounding Bartlett Lake. [photo by Ron]

Unfortunately, we don’t make it too much further before increasing cross winds, with larger waves and more whitecaps, drive us back and make going ashore in Rattlesnake Cove for a lunch and rest break a much more appealing idea. Within fifteen minutes or so we beach our kayaks and walk across a wide expanse of sand and gravel, before climbing a long flight of stairs to the covered picnic ramadas at the top of the hill. We pick a table with a great view overlooking the cove and the lake and sit down for a well-deserved break. By about 12:30 we’re back in our kayaks and paddling out into the wind once again. At this point, it is hard to tell if the wind is better or worse, but we make the best of it. Then, after about thirty minutes of paddling, the winds suddenly subside and the paddling is much easier.

Norma cruises along in her sleek eddyline kayak. [photo by Ron]

Eva paddles close to shore in her Oru kayak. [photo by Ron]

Norma and Anna are taking a break from paddling. [photo by Ron]

As we slowly make our way back to SB Cove, we keep hoping that we’ll spot the two bald eagles again, perhaps even soaring high over the lake searching for fish, but we never do. Thankfully, the winds remain calm all the way back to SB Cove, and we are all back on the beach by about 2:15. After loading up our kayaks and gear, we hang around and talk for a while, and I mention future plans for kayaking Saguaro Lake in February and Lake Pleasant again in March. And we’ll probably kayak Canyon Lake once more in April since the lake will be closed to all activity, beginning in September and lasting until the end of the year, for equipment repairs and dam maintenance. With that in mind, we call it a day and head for home.

Lee is making good progress across the lake. [photo by Eva]

Now it is time to stretch out those leg muscles. [photo by Ron]

This ramada and walkway have both fallen on hard times. [photo by Ron]

Time for a little R & R on the upper ramadas overlooking Rattlesnake Cove. Fortunately, all the resident rattlesnakes are still in hibernation. [photo by Eva]

Chuck is moving along in his Swifty Perception kayak. [photo by Ron]

The ever-changing scenery around Bartlett Lake. [photo by Ron]

Hundreds of giant saguaros dominate the landscape here. [photo by Ron]

This reef buoy sits high and dry above the water line. When the lake is full, the buoy will float to the top of its anchor pole. [photo by Eva]

The iconic Yellow Cliffs of Bartlett Lake. [photo by Ron]

The Yellow Cliffs rise over a smooth and calm lake surface. [photo by Ron]

y early afternoon, SB Cove is much calmer than it was this morning. [photo by Eva]