Permits & Passes
Do You Need a Tonto Pass at Saguaro & Canyon Lake?
The short answer is yes — here's exactly which pass you need, what it costs in 2026, and how to have it scratched off and on your dashboard before you ever back down the ramp.
Both Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake sit inside Tonto National Forest, which means every vehicle parked at a boat launch or shoreline needs a valid Tonto Pass on the dashboard. To launch a jet ski or boat you actually need two things: a Tonto Daily Pass ($8) and a Watercraft Use Sticker ($4) — $12 total for the day — or a single annual Tonto Discovery Pass ($80) that already includes watercraft access.
What a Tonto Pass actually is
A Tonto Pass is the Forest Service's day-use recreation fee for parking at picnic sites, shorelines, and boat launches across Tonto National Forest. Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Bartlett, Apache, and Roosevelt all fall under it, so the same pass system covers most of the popular lakes east of Phoenix.
The Daily Pass is a scratch-off hangtag — you scratch the month, day, and year you're using it, then display it face-up on your dashboard. It's good for 24 hours from the time you validate it. There's no per-person charge; the pass covers the vehicle and everyone in it.
Tonto Pass prices for 2026
Here's the full breakdown of what you'll pay. For most people towing a jet ski or boat for the day, the number that matters is the $12 combination — a Daily Pass plus one Watercraft Use Sticker.
| Pass | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Tonto Daily Pass | $8 | Day-use parking at picnic sites, shorelines, and boat launches (with a watercraft sticker). Valid 24 hours. |
| Watercraft Use Sticker | $4 | Required for each motorized watercraft you launch. Affix it permanently to a Daily Pass. |
| Daily Pass + Watercraft Sticker | $12 | What most jet ski and boat renters need for a single day on the water. |
| Tonto Discovery Pass (annual) | $80 | Good for one year and already includes watercraft access — no separate sticker needed. |
Prices reflect the current Tonto National Forest fee schedule. A separate Watercraft Use Sticker is required for each motorized watercraft you put in the water.
⚠️ The federal “America the Beautiful” pass does NOT cover the boat launch. The interagency and senior federal passes only cover picnic sites at Tonto — they do not cover shorelines or boat launches at Saguaro or Canyon Lake. If you're towing a watercraft, you still need a Tonto Daily Pass plus a Watercraft Use Sticker, or an annual Discovery Pass. (The Discovery Pass does include watercraft access.)
Do you need one at Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake?
Yes — both lakes are managed by Tonto National Forest, so a displayed pass is required at every developed parking area. At Saguaro Lake that includes the Saguaro del Norte boat launch; at Canyon Lake it includes the Laguna and Palo Verde boating sites.
The rule is simple: every parked vehicle needs a valid Tonto Pass, and every motorized watercraft you launch needs its own Watercraft Use Sticker. Tow two jet skis and you'll want two stickers on your Daily Pass. Rangers do check, and citations cost far more than the $12 you'd have spent up front.
Where to buy your Tonto Pass — before the ramp
Tonto Passes are sold at retail vendors across the East Valley — gas stations, convenience stores, and some sporting-goods shops — as well as at Tonto National Forest ranger offices. Buy yours before you get to the lake so you're not scrambling at the ramp. The annual Discovery Pass is sold in person at Forest Service offices, not online.
Your Tonto Pass day-of checklist
Five seconds of prep in the parking lot keeps your whole day smooth.
- Buy your Daily Pass ($8) plus one Watercraft Use Sticker ($4) per watercraft — or bring your annual Discovery Pass.
- Scratch off the month, day, and year you're using it.
- Stick the Watercraft Use Sticker onto the Daily Pass.
- Set the pass face-up on your dashboard where a ranger can read it.
- Keep your watercraft registration handy — separate from the pass, but required to be on the water.
💡 Insider tip: if you hit the lake more than a handful of times a year, the $80 annual Discovery Pass pays for itself fast — and it skips the sticker step entirely, since watercraft access is already built in.
How your Tonto Pass fits a Wave & Ridge rental day
Wave & Ridge is the closest rental shop to both Saguaro and Canyon Lake for jet skis. You pick up your Sea-Doo, pontoon, or wakeboat at our Apache Junction shop, tow it a short 26 minutes to Canyon Lake or about 30 minutes to Saguaro Lake, and launch it yourself. The Tonto Pass is the one permit that's on you — grab it on the way, and everything else is handled.
- Book your jet ski, pontoon, or wakeboat 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.
- On the drive out, buy a Tonto Daily Pass ($8) plus a Watercraft Use Sticker ($4) — or show your annual Discovery Pass.
- Scratch the date, stick the watercraft sticker on the pass, and set it on your dashboard.
- Launch at Saguaro del Norte, Laguna, or Palo Verde and enjoy the water. Every rental goes out with a full tank — return it full (fuel isn't included).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Tonto Pass at Saguaro or Canyon Lake in 2026?
A Tonto Daily Pass is $8, and a Watercraft Use Sticker is another $4, so it's $12 to launch a jet ski or boat for the day. An annual Tonto Discovery Pass is $80 and already includes watercraft access.
Do I need a Tonto Pass to launch a jet ski at Saguaro Lake?
Yes. Saguaro Lake is inside Tonto National Forest, so you need a Tonto Daily Pass plus a Watercraft Use Sticker (or an annual Discovery Pass) to park and launch. You need one sticker for each motorized watercraft you put in the water.
Does the America the Beautiful pass work at Canyon Lake?
Only partly. The federal America the Beautiful / interagency pass covers picnic sites at Tonto, but not the shorelines or boat launches. To launch at Canyon Lake you still need a Tonto Daily Pass and a Watercraft Use Sticker, or an annual Discovery Pass.
Where can I buy a Tonto Pass?
Daily Passes and Watercraft Use Stickers are sold at retail vendors across the East Valley — gas stations, convenience stores, and some marinas — and at Tonto National Forest ranger offices. Buy yours before you reach the ramp. The annual Discovery Pass is sold in person at Forest Service offices, not online.
How long is a Tonto Daily Pass good for?
A Daily Pass is valid for 24 hours from the date and time you scratch off. It's a hangtag you display face-up on your dashboard, and it covers your vehicle and everyone in it.
Do I still need a Tonto Pass if I rent from Wave & Ridge?
Yes. The Tonto Pass is a Forest Service parking permit tied to your vehicle at the lake, and it's separate from your rental. You pick up your watercraft at our Apache Junction shop, tow it to Saguaro or Canyon Lake, and display your own Tonto Pass at the launch.
Closest Rental Shop to Saguaro & Canyon Lake
Pick up a Sea-Doo jet ski, a 10-passenger pontoon, or a wakeboat at our Apache Junction shop, tow it a short 26–30 minutes to the ramp, and make a day of it. Jet skis start at $199. We'll have your gear ready — you just grab your Tonto Pass on the way.
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