We decided to drive over to check out the nearby Horseshoe Dam in hopes to catch the spillway release and the waterfall it creates into the Verde River and then head over to Bartlett Lake to see the start of the wildflower blooms. Totally worth seeing both when in the area. The drive was beautiful. Water levels are a bit low, but still amazing. The flowers are already in bloom, but will be even better by end of February into March if you'd love to see them. I love poppies but there are so many more flowers also in bloom, to see the best area I'd recommend the area just before Rattlesnake Cove . There is a small trail with roadside parking if lucky. Or can park in the cove parking and small hike back up to area. You do need to pay for a rec pass if parking and spending the day. You can purchase at stores nearby or roadside spots you'll see along the way. Traffic wasn't too bad today but as it warms up and flowers more in bloom be prepared. There is also a restaurant near the boat dock as well. read more

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When I am looking for a place to run my motorcycle to, Bartlett lake is always front of the list in my mind. With nicely maintained roads running out of Cave Creek to the lake it's always a pleasant ride. There is a cafe there if you want to have lunch, which overlooks the lake as well. Every time I am there it makes me want to get a houseboat and ditch city life. One of these days maybe. read more

Beautiful lake! Not too crowded, other than holiday's. Great for paddling, kayaking etc. bring water shoes to be comfy as it is rocky! read more

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We love the trail and all of the wildflowers. Be careful there's a lot of loose gravel and it is slippery. The view is amazing. Picnic areas, camping. I WOULD RECOMMEND read more

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Nice lake with good, long, wide boatramp. They also have a picnic area and camping area. Despite being relatively close to Phoenix/Easy Valley area, this lake isn't nearly as busy as other lakes close by. Went a couple times in early April and bass fishing was good - not huge, but consistent bite. read more

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It's a great place for a picnic, especially Rattlesnake Cove. Plenty of ramadas and toilets. And when you go in mid-March, there are usually lots of Mexican poppies and lupine blossoming closer to the lake. Also, in summer, it's swimmable so it's a good place to cool off. But it does get real busy on weekends. read more

Bartlett Lake - Mexican poppies - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Such an amazing spot! My friend took me hear after hearing that I needed a little day get away from all the hustle and bustle of normal day life. We drove around the lake, getting out and walking around and just enjoying nature around us. Very clean, pretty easy to get here. I can't wait to come back on a boat next time to enjoy the lake itself! read more

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Bartlett Lake is therapeutic. It's a great place for a BBQ and picnic or if you are feeling it, you can rent Pontoon boats and get out on the water. In 2022, my friends and I rented two Pontoon boats and had a fantastic experience! We each took turns being the captain of the boat. The Marina had even arranged a place for us to grill on a private beach. A few of our friends went cliff jumping in some unofficial spots. Our group did plenty of tubing and got a bunch of use out of the lilypad that the Marina provided. One of my favorite areas in Bartlett Lake is Vermillion Cliffs, which is like these yellow/green mossy cliffs. It's absolutely gorgeous! Swing by Bartlett Lake if you get the chance! read more

The drive to Bartlett lake is great. You almost feel like you are in a different states. The drive is windy and beautiful, perfect for a sports car. Tons of beautiful cars cruising there. The restaurant didn't look that good to be honest. Beautiful to see but plan on packing a lunch read more

Loved the hike! Started at Rattlesnake Cove and went out 1 mile, then came back 1 mild. You can park in the "day camp" area where there are bathrooms and a lot of picnic tables set up. Many people were spending the day there, eating, playing in the water, and fishing off the pier/dock. The online negative is that there was A LOT of trash, people just need to pick up after themselves to keep the place pretty and usable for all. read more

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Great Lake with many amenities! We would highly recommend to anyone! We really enjoyed exploring the different read more

Bartlett Lake - Lake and shore - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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What a diamond in the rough..... Literally it's in the back of my yard. Since living on stage pass coach the mountains are my friends but I did the water... To my surprise my husband and I kept hearing about a like that was 15 mins from us. So we decided to take a little trip... WOW!!!!! Gorgeously beautiful.... The water is so blue and the scenic view.... Make sure you take sunscreen and wear loose clothing or very little clothing depending on the weather!!! Don't forget the wine!!! read more

Bartlett Lake - Lake view.... - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

A beautiful area and lake that have many activities to offer! We went for a Sunday drive that ended up at Bartlett Lake! We weren't very well prepared- it has a small store and restaurant with some offerings. It would be fun to pack a picnic and come back and rent a pontoon boat for cruising! read more

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Been here once so far. I really enjoyed it. Seems chill. Beautiful scenery. Ladies at the Marina store were very friendly and offered up their family story & how the Marina area came to be which was really interesting. The water is very low and I assume it will look even more once the water goes up. Expecting to enjoy fishing, hikes and boondock camping here. They have no hook ups. Which is fine with me. We will def be back! Enjoying lake adventures in the desert is a welcome treat! Having a choice of 2 so close by is a luxury! read more

Such a beautiful hike halfway around the lake. Perfect for your dog as they can run around in the water to cool off on a hot day. I was sad to see how low the water level was since the last time I was there though. Pray for rain! read more

I grew up a mile away from the beach and I've only been in AZ for about 2 years with maybe 10 lake trips under my belt (mainly to Lake Las Vegas and Havasu during my college years with a couple Big Bear Lake trips for church camp in high school) so I am still getting used to not hoping on my bike to go body surfing whenever I get bored, but this place exceeded my expectations without a doubt. My friend just fixed up her jet skis and invited me to join her for a lake day. I was a bit confused at first because I had always rented a boat when going to the lake in the past and was wondering what you could possibly do on separate water vehicles. After all the lake is meant for finding someone who is naïve enough to be tricked into thinking that being a boat captain is the best opportunity ever so that rest of us can drink while we blast Lonely Island's I'm On A Boat. Am I right? We got on the skis from the docking point and found a nice area at Bartlett Flatts to get set up. We played some music, had lunch, enjoyed the sun, and went out for a couple ski rides. Her parents joined us later with their boat, but it wasn't a necessity to enjoy a day at the lake. Bartlett lake reminds me a lot of Strands Beach in Dana Point and I fell like you could even enjoy going without a watercraft by finding a nice place to park your car and setting up some chairs and a sun shade. It is a truly versatile area that I look forward to enjoying frequently. I'm right off where the 51 and 101 meet and it is about 45 minutes away from there so the drive isn't bad either. read more

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I definitely recommend this lake over Lake Pleasant. It is clear, doesn't stink and was not overly packed so there was plenty of space to go boating. The amenities are great and there is an upscale feel to it which we all enjoyed. Huge cat fish and lots to see and explore. The restrooms were clean and I was happy to see Clorox wipes to use in the bathroom. Also the general store has lots of goodies and is well stocked. We packed a lunch to take on the boat so did not experience the restaurant, but it looked good and had a nice patio! It was wonderful to see people out and enjoying life too! read more

Pros: Bartlett lake trail is incredibly scenic with many spectacular views. (It took about 4 hours to hike the whole thing and I would say is moderately challenging.) Cons: Trail is not always clearly marked and there are many fallen cacti in the path, making for a treacherous journey. In the future, if I were to come back I would only do half of the trail. Make sure to bring lots of water! read more

Bartlett Lake - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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WARNING! this lake is extremely low buoys are actually all over the lake in the middle of the lake as well as along shore. was told i can go inside buoys just don't go around or close to them. hit something and damaged prop slightly which could have probably been repaired and was charged for it. was on lake before when it was low but even worse now. read more

Bartlett Lake is a quick and easy drive from Phoenix, with the whole day to spend in or around the lake. Hiking, camping, boating, swimming. The lake is of course beautiful, but don't forget the vast desert surrounding the lake. So much to see and do! I took some video on my most recent trip - check it out: https://youtu.be/Q5s6_Jn-WIU read more

Beautiful Lake. Had the best time paddle boarding with my friend on a beautiful day. The lake was very clean and the amenities are excellent. I am sad I did not find this place sooner! read more

I have only been in the water once but I have been to the lake multiple times. The road from Care Free is full of loose gravel and tar snakes so if you are on a motorcycle be cautious. Tonto day pass is required if you park a vehicle at any lot. Great place to chill out and beat the harsh summer heat. read more

Been here a bazillion times over the last 35+ years. Winter fishing is always a crap shoot (super slow), but is always fun. Later spring/early summer is much better for fishing, but you really have to suck it up dealing with a lot of, well, you know, messed-up partier's (I'm being nice). There are several boat ramps, a marina, and party ramadas at various places. Can be an extreme mad house in summer! read more

Bartlett Lake - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Hey this is a nice Place. I always forget about it and then when I go ,I say, wow I always forget about this place. Anyway, nice big Desert fun! Great water for swimming. I do wish that people would keep it all clean though. One day a few years ago we went through with plastic trash bags and each of us filled 2 big bags. Just to clean it up a little. That was just one area as well. It cost a little to get in. It is right off the freeway. Nice little beaches and great water. Lots of folks boating here as well. So stay with in the area that is meant for swimming. As well as Jet skis that like to come into the swimming area,so they can kill someone. Looking for a nice place to go before it gets too hot. This is it! read more

Bartlett Lake is the less regulated, more beautiful Lake Pleasant. The 14-mile drive from the turnoff to the lake is magical - saguaros line the curvy road while plump roadrunners and quail scurry across the sand. When you pass over the final hill, the view of the long body of water is just spectacular. Once you're at the lake, you have a few options as to where to camp. We chose to take the main road all the way to the end (it's called the flats) and drove along a rough, 4x4 road til we found a vacant spot next to the lakeside. Once we settled in, we unpacked our tent and opened a few beers while relaxing in the cloudy water of Bartlett Lake. If we were to go again, we definitely would have brought a boat or rented one at the marina. It was a fun experience though and I can't wait to return in the less sweltering Fall months! read more

I'm so very glad I drove here to get out in my kayak! Please note that in the month of February when I came the park pass dispensers were not functioning and you should buy your park pass in town at carefree. At the Circle K. That was what I was told, but after driving 14 miles I was not going to turn around and go back! read more

We went to Rattlesnake Cove at Bartlett Lake. It's pretty nice and well kept. You can bbq there and they have a good amount of tables. Get there early because they do fill up. The bathrooms get dirty quick because everyone is wet from the water. When we went the drain kind of flooded in the smaller of the two stalls. Rangers do frequent the area on holidays so it's a good idea to get your Tonto Pass at Big 5 before you go. The last few times the road to the Ranger Station was closed off. Better safe than sorry. read more

Bartlett Lake is a wonderful escape to a large (for Arizona) body of water with semi-sandy beaches that lets you feel like you're practically at the beach. Boats going by cause small ripples that make a lovely wave-like sound. The area is very pretty. The downside is that it takes forever to get there (I live in Cave Creek and it was a good 40 minutes). The drive in is gorgeous, but time consuming. My husband & I came to check it out on a Saturday, with the intention of doing a hike around the lake. The ranger station was closed and the store where you purchase the $6 required parking pass did not have any trail maps. We started the Palo Verde trail (#512) which after a few minutes, mysteriously disappears. Just vanishes. We trekked around for a while trying to pick it back up, which was fun, but ended up having to return because there was so much cacti everywhere. The 5 minutes of the trail was very pretty, but I'd recommend getting to talk to a ranger/getting a map before going on it. Since the lake is very pretty, we just sat on the beach and read for a few hours. No real complaints, but it would have been nice to have been able to do the hike. read more

Bartlett Lake - Rattlesnake cove - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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My husband and I have been going to this lake to jetski for 20 years. It is beautiful, clean and not congested. We now go on Mondays and share the lake with about 10 people. I feel so safe out there with my kids. Last week my son and his girlfriend broke down and a fellow boater towed them in. I have been to other lakes in AZ but the feel is just different. I would recommend this lake to anyone. Its a wonderful experience every time. read more

Bartlett Lake - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Beautiful area, lots of native vegetation. We could not find the "trails" but enjoyed the drive through the park and the beach. Probably super crowed in April/May...very quiet and enjoyable in February. read more

Bartlett Lake - Entering Bartlett Lake Recreation area - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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The address shown here on this page is obviously not Bartlett lake. In fact it's like 30 miles off. We drove to Bartlett Lake and just hiked around the water for a bit. Gorgeous views. We didn't know where to start our hiking (looking for a trail) so we asked the bait shop and they had no idea. Told us to go around to the back by camping area. No thanks- just stick by the water. read more

Bartlett Lake - Bartlett Lake Reservoir - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

First of all, the wildflowers here in spring are amazing! The lake is a great spot to swim in the summer & hike during cooler months. We usually start at Rattlesnake Cove, appropriately named as there are rattlesnakes spotted on the trail there, then drive thru the park to take in the scenery down by the camping areas. read more

Very fun lake for the family. Camping spots are close together gets very busy during the summer lots of boat traffic. Overall a cool place to chill out during the summer with the fam. read more

Nice big reserve. Lake and flats. You can rent a boat or jet ski at the marina, go swimming, hiking, or even fishing. Not a bad place at all. read more

A nice hidden gem in Scottsdale. We were to supposed to hike but couldn't find the trail so we just decided to stay in the water. We had so much fun swimming. It was not too crowded on a Sunday mid morning. The water was cool enough to beat the 100 degree AZ temp. We had a great time and will definitely come back. read more

Bartlett Lake - As we were nearing the lake - Hiking Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Bees bees bees .. ahhhhh bees. Parked right by the dock to the left and there were so many bees. I got stung and so did a cousin. Other than that the water smelly but what lake isn't. Not packed by people like other lakes, I like it alone. Also the lake is big and nice scenery all around. I enjoyed it. Would go again not where the bees were. read more

We had a great time camping and kayaking this weekend. I want to thank all the people that helped find my dog. She got out of her harness and so many kind people helped me find her. read more

It was the first time my husband and I went to Bartlett Lake. We started off at Rattlesnake Cove, where they have restrooms and ramadas near parking lot. The beach is a little walk away but totally worth it. There was plenty of space and never over crowded, it had a steady pace of people coming and going. It is the perfect spot for the family and our favorite. After we left Rattlesnake Cove we went to Bartlett Flats. This area is more for camping and fishing. It does have some areas for swimming but there are big boulders in the water, so be careful. I'm definitely going to plan a camping trip here soon. At last our final venture was to Horseshoe Lake. It was a nice long drive until you get about 5 miles off the main road , it starts to get scary, driving up a winding narrow hill side. I got anxiety 20 minutes driving up the hill and asked my husband to turn back around . So we didn't make it all the way but we did find a small secluded spot, there weren't many people . The surroundings are nature at its finest with a backwoods kinda feel, it was beautiful but it was a little to outta my comfort zone for me. Although the last location wasn't ideal for me , I really enjoyed my trip to Bartlett Lake and I hope you do too. read more

This was our first visit to Rattlesnake cove and the views there are beautiful. I would recommend people to go there. We went on the 4th of July and surprisingly it was not too crowded at all! We paid $12 for a day pass at one of the meters located in a side parking lot before you arrive. (Honestly not sure if getting this pass is necessary, we did not see any patrol or workers but do so at your own risk) If you are not planning on being in the water the whole time- BRING A CANOPY TENT. We floated on tubes the whole time! This would receive 5 stars however THE BEES ARE HORRIBLE!! Be prepared to have 15+ of them swarming any open food and crawling on you. We wish we would have known so we could of brought some kind of repellent. We didn't eat while we were there because of it and tried to avoid being near people with open food but it didn't matter they still crawl all over you on the beach or in the water. read more

I have been going to Bartlett Lake for years. A couple years ago I would have called it a diamond in the rough but sadly the diamond is gone. If you like to party, trash nature, and don't mind music and fireworks all night it may be the place for you but be aware gunshots are likely to follow fireworks and if you ask someone to turn their music down you could later be at the end of a barrel as my 16 year old son was. MCSO is all over the lake in the day time but good luck finding them patrolling at night. I drove far enough to get service to call and was told it was likely no one could respond as it was mid week. I passed deputies after about an hour when I had packed up camp, loaded the boat, had guns pointed at my kid and left. And this was not isolated. I have had terrible experiences the last four times I have stayed there. Fireworks, music, yelling, gunshots, you name it, it's there. I hope MCSO and the forest service start doing something about this and let the people that are there to enjoy nature actually enjoy it. Until then I'm moving on to another lake. read more