Lake status update
Canyon Lake closes to the public September 8, 2026
Salt River Project and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are lowering Canyon Lake about 54 feet for scheduled dam safety inspections and maintenance at Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams. Tonto National Forest will close the lake, including all boat ramps and access points. Work begins September 16 and runs about 16 weeks, so the lake is expected to stay closed into late 2026 or early 2027.
Labor Day weekend, September 4 through 7, is the last weekend to ride Canyon Lake before it closes.
We are still renting. Saguaro Lake is not part of the closure, and the Bulldog Canyon trails do not need a lake at all. Pickup is from Apache Junction and all safety gear is included.
Ride Saguaro Lake Hit the desert trails
Closure dates come from Salt River Project and Tonto National Forest. Updated August 22, 2026.
Lake Conditions
Canyon Lake Closes Sept 8 for the Rest of 2026
Tonto National Forest closes the lake and every boat ramp on September 8, 2026; SRP starts lowering it about 54 feet for dam safety work on September 16. Here's the real timeline — and exactly where to ride instead this fall.
Canyon Lake closes to the public on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and stays closed for the rest of the year. Salt River Project begins drawing the lake down roughly 54 feet on September 16 so crews can inspect and maintain the normally submerged portions of Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams, and Tonto National Forest is closing the lake — including all boat ramps and access points — for the duration. If you had a fall trip in mind, Saguaro Lake is the move.
Is Canyon Lake closed in August 2026?
No. Canyon Lake is open right now and stays open through the rest of August. The closure begins Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when Tonto National Forest closes the lake along with every boat ramp and access point. If you want a Canyon Lake day this year, your window is now through Monday, September 7.
One detail worth circling: September 7, 2026 is Labor Day. Labor Day weekend is the last weekend Canyon Lake is open in 2026. Holiday weekends carry a 20% surcharge on our rates, and it will be the busiest ramp day of the fall — so if that weekend is your plan, book it early and arrive at the shop an hour before your start time.
Are the Canyon Lake boat ramps open?
Yes, through September 7, 2026. From September 8 onward Tonto National Forest closes the lake including all boat ramps and access points — that means no launching at Laguna, no launching at Palo Verde, and no shoreline access. This is a full closure, not reduced hours and not a low-water advisory. Saguaro Lake and its ramps are not part of this project and stay open.
When does Canyon Lake refill?
Refilling is the last stage of the project, not the first. SRP's schedule runs approximately four weeks to lower the lake 54 feet, approximately eight weeks of inspection and maintenance, then approximately four weeks to refill it to normal level using water from upstream reservoirs. That 16-week clock starts September 16, 2026, which points to early January 2027 — but SRP has not published a firm reopening date, so confirm with SRP or Tonto National Forest before you plan a Canyon trip in that window.
Dates confirmed against SRP's public reminder issued August 5, 2026, "Canyon Lake Will Close Sept. 8; Safety Inspections and Maintenance Begin Sept. 16." Earlier coverage of this project — including the first version of this page — cited September 16 as the closure date. September 16 is when the drawdown work starts; the public closure starts eight days earlier.
What's actually happening at Canyon Lake
This isn't a water-shortage story or an unplanned closure. SRP and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation perform this drawdown-and-inspection cycle roughly once every 20 years to check the parts of a dam that sit underwater the rest of the time. The last one at Canyon Lake was in 2007, and before that, 1987.
To do the work, the lake level has to come down about 54 feet. The focus is the submerged sections of Mormon Flat Dam (the dam that forms Canyon Lake) and Horse Mesa Dam upstream, plus the river channel below Horse Mesa. Water that would normally sit in Canyon Lake gets stored in other reservoirs in the system, so nothing is wasted and water deliveries continue as normal.
The part that matters for anyone planning a lake day: Tonto National Forest is closing the lake including all boat ramps and access points during the project. That means no launching at Laguna, no launching at Palo Verde, and no shoreline access — not reduced hours, not a low-water advisory. Closed.
The 16-week timeline, phase by phase
SRP has broken the project into three stages. The durations are approximate, but they add up to the 16-week figure you'll see quoted everywhere.
| Phase | Approx. length | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| Lake closes to the public — Sept 8, 2026 | — | Tonto National Forest closes the lake, all boat ramps, and all access points to prepare for the drawdown. |
| Drawdown begins Sept 16, 2026 | ~4 weeks | SRP lowers the lake roughly 54 feet. |
| Inspection & maintenance | ~8 weeks | Crews work on the normally submerged portions of Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams and the river channel downstream of Horse Mesa. |
| Refill | ~4 weeks | The lake is brought back to normal level using water from upstream reservoirs. |
| Total public closure | ~17 weeks | Sept 8, 2026 through the end of the project — estimated early January 2027. Lake, boat ramps, and access points closed throughout. |
Timeline per SRP's Canyon Lake Drawdown Project announcement and its August 5, 2026 public reminder. Note the two dates: the public closure starts September 8, while the 16-week project clock starts September 16. Sixteen weeks from September 16 lands in early January 2027, but SRP has not published a firm reopening date — confirm with SRP or Tonto National Forest before planning a Canyon Lake trip in that window.
⚠️ Watch out for wrong dates online. Some third-party rental and travel sites are publishing a much longer window — "August 2026 into spring 2027" and similar. That does not match SRP's own announcement, and Canyon Lake is not closed in August 2026. Per SRP: the lake closes to the public September 8, 2026, and the drawdown work runs approximately 16 weeks starting September 16.
Your rental isn't tied to a lake. You pick it up in Apache Junction and choose where to tow it — so a Canyon closure changes your drive, not your day.
Wave & RidgeWhere to ride instead: Saguaro Lake
Saguaro Lake is a separate reservoir, formed by Stewart Mountain Dam further down the Salt River chain, and it is not part of this drawdown project. It's also the easiest swap to make from our shop: Saguaro Lake Marina is about 30 minutes from 724 E Scenic St in Apache Junction, versus about 26 minutes to Canyon.
Practically speaking, Saguaro is the better fall lake anyway. It's wider and more open than Canyon's narrow canyon corridor, which makes it friendlier for jet ski runs, tubing behind a pontoon, and wakesurfing. The main launch is Saguaro del Norte, and you'll want a Tonto Pass on the dashboard just like you would at Canyon.
One planning note that works in your favor: fall weekday traffic at Saguaro is light. The lake hits boating capacity on peak summer weekends, but by late September through the holidays you're mostly dealing with cool mornings and glassy water, not crowds.
Not a boat person? Bulldog Canyon is the land answer
The other fall option is to trade the water for dirt. Bulldog Canyon sits in the Goldfield Mountains just north of Apache Junction, and it's genuinely at its best from October through December, when the temperatures finally cooperate.
Our Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo DS side-by-side goes out with four helmets and goggles, the Bulldog Canyon access permit, and iPad trail maps already included — the permit is the piece most people don't realize they need. Riders must be 25 or older to rent.
What it costs this fall
Flat, published rates. No captain requirement, no add-on fees for the tubes, tow ropes, or Bluetooth speaker — all your gear is included.
| Rental | 4 Hours | Full Day (8 hrs) | Refundable deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet ski (Sea-Doo Spark 3UP, fits 2–3) | $219 | $319 | $500 per ski |
| Pontoon (Sea-Doo Switch, up to 10) | $449 | $699 | $500 |
| Wakeboat (Centurion Ri 245, up to 16) | $999 | $1,499 | $1,500 |
| UTV (Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo DS) | $349 | $449 | $1,500 |
| Jet ski — 2-hour entry rate | $199 | — | $500 per ski |
Base rates; holiday weekends carry a 20% surcharge. Deposits are refundable and returned the same day. Paddleboards are $45 for 4 hours or $65 for the full day with a $150 deposit.
💡 Ride midweek and save 10%. Code MIDWEEK takes 10% off Monday through Thursday rentals — which is exactly when a fall day at Saguaro is quietest. Excludes Fridays, weekends, and holidays.
How a rental day works during the closure
Wave & Ridge is the closest jet ski rental shop to Saguaro Lake. You pick your rental up at our Apache Junction shop, tow it to the lake, and launch it yourself — which is the reason a Canyon Lake closure doesn't cancel your plans. You're not booking a lake. You're booking the boat.
- Book your jet ski, pontoon, wakeboat, or side-by-side and pick it up at 724 E Scenic St, Apache Junction. Arrive one hour before your start time for hookup, life-jacket fitting, and your walk-through.
- No ball mount? We rent a hitch for $20 if your vehicle already has a receiver. Renting a U-Haul truck to tow with? We'll comp $20 of it on 4-hour and 8-hour rentals (mileage not covered).
- Grab a Tonto Pass on the way out and tow about 30 minutes to Saguaro del Norte.
- Launch, ride, and return by your scheduled time — there's a one-hour grace period after that. Every rental goes out with a full tank; return it full, or pay the cost of fuel plus a $20 refueling fee.
Fall planning checklist
Four things worth sorting before a September–December lake day.
- Skip Canyon Lake from September 8 through roughly early January — the ramps are closed, so plan on Saguaro. Labor Day weekend is the last Canyon weekend of 2026.
- Buy your Tonto Pass before you reach the ramp; every parked vehicle needs one, and each motorized watercraft needs its own watercraft sticker.
- Book midweek if you can — quieter water, and code MIDWEEK saves you 10%.
- Cancel 7 or more days ahead and you are refunded, less the $49 booking fee. Inside 7 days there is no refund, though a one-time reschedule credit is available up to 48 hours before your start. If a storm is forecast before you launch, contact us and we'll reschedule at no charge under our Weather Protection policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canyon Lake closed in 2026?
Not yet — but it will be for the last four months of the year. Canyon Lake closes to the public on September 8, 2026, when Tonto National Forest closes the lake including all boat ramps and access points. SRP then lowers the lake about 54 feet starting September 16 for roughly 16 weeks of dam safety inspections and maintenance. Canyon Lake is open normally through September 7.
When does Canyon Lake reopen after the drawdown?
SRP has not published a firm reopening date. The project is described as approximately 16 weeks from September 16, 2026, which points to early January 2027 — roughly four weeks to lower the lake, eight weeks of inspection and maintenance, and four weeks to refill. Because the lake closes to the public on September 8, the full public closure runs about 17 weeks. Confirm with SRP or Tonto National Forest before planning a trip in that window.
Why is Canyon Lake being drained?
SRP and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation inspect and maintain the normally submerged portions of their dams about once every 20 years. This project covers Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams and the river channel downstream of Horse Mesa. The previous drawdowns were in 2007 and 1987.
Is Saguaro Lake affected by the Canyon Lake closure?
The closure SRP announced covers Canyon Lake. Saguaro Lake is a separate reservoir formed by Stewart Mountain Dam and is not part of this drawdown project. As always, check current Tonto National Forest conditions before you head out.
Can you still rent a jet ski or boat near Phoenix during the closure?
Yes. Wave & Ridge rentals are picked up at our Apache Junction shop and towed to the lake by you, so the closure changes your destination, not your booking. Saguaro Lake Marina is about 30 minutes from the shop. Jet skis start at $199 for two hours, and pontoons seat up to 10.
What if I already planned a Canyon Lake rental for this fall?
Your rental is for the watercraft, not for a specific lake — you pick it up in Apache Junction and choose where to tow it, so the simplest fix is to head to Saguaro Lake instead. If you want to talk through dates or options, call us at us.
Closest Jet Ski Shop to Saguaro Lake
Canyon is down from September 8, but Saguaro is a 30-minute tow from our Apache Junction shop. Pick up a Sea-Doo, a 10-passenger pontoon, or a wakeboat with all your gear included — jet skis start at $199.
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