I almost hate to leave this review because I don't want any other people going to Willow Springs Lake. Much less popular than the other forest lakes. It has a long shoreline, so it is not good for short hikes, but it is lovely for paddle boarding or kayaking or fishing. Only two pit toilets for the entire area. Parking gets gnarly if you aren't there first thing in the morning. Close to sinkhole campground. read more

Nice and peaceful lake and you get to watch the birds dive for fish. Lots of little micro trash around and from what I heard from my friends, the bathroom does not smell nice. read more

Another great trip to Willow Springs! Caught some beautiful 15-20 inch Rainbows this last weekend! Shout out to the awesome campground staff at Canyon Point!!! read more

Willow Springs Lake - 15-20 inch Rainbows - Fishing Near Me

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Just about everything you need to enjoy yourself deep in the mountains. A nice stocked lake with plenty of shoreline to enjoy fishing, hiking and other water associated activities. Plenty of parking but no bait shop but as a true fisherman, I bring what I need or I live without it. read more

Nice lake between Paulson and Heber that seems away from it all. The lake is in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. My Yelp friend Monica E. said it was one of her favorite so I had to check it out. Willow Springs Lake was actually created in 1966 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department as a trout fishing lake. They regularly stock the lake with trout spring through fall increasing your chance of catching a fish. Willow Springs is the second most visited lake so there will be competition for those fish. Willow Springs Lake has held the Arizona State record for largest trout caught so there are some big fish in the lake. There is a campground about a mile away. The lake website said it was in walking distance but it's more than I want to walk with chairs, cooler, etc. The campground has no services (water, electricity, sewer hookups) so you need to come prepared. Overall, it's a beautiful blue, clean lake in a pine forest that is a wonderful place to see and enjoy. read more

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Great place to get out and enjoy a nice relaxing Saturday for fishing, swimming and grilling.

It's settled -- this is one of my favorite lakes. Ever. Granted, that might change in peak holiday season when the lake and its campground are infested with other humans. But, for now, I enjoy Willow Springs in all of its grand serenity. What I love most is that you can get a decent walk in right along the bank without fear of falling into a foot of mud. And the water is so clean! Crystal clear. The entire area is a very scenic. Elevation is at about 7,500 feet. Situated on the edge of Mogollon Rim, you will find some dense forest areas full of Ponderosa Pine, Oak and Douglas Fir. It's not too-too dense (certainly not Blair Witch Project-style), but thick enough that you begin to wonder if an elk family has already spotted you. There is fishing and also boating allowed here. I was all eagle eyed, hoping to see Rainbow trout or bass. No such thing happened. The lake area also has a few spots for grilling, even a ramada. You'll have to lug your gear beyond the little paved walkway if you want to reach the better picnic site. Also, the bank has these large, smooth rock surfaces, which are perfect for sitting and sunbathing. Here, you will also find Sinkhole Campground (the larger Canyon Point Campground is up the highway). It does not have any lakeside sites -- it's about a mile or so away from the lake. It's a smaller campground with only about a couple dozen site. The trailer limit is 32', and there are no hookups here, but there are sites with electricity. Also, no dispersed camping within 1/2 mile of the lake. But you do have access to grills and fire rings. Yes! And bonus: If you don't want to come all the way into the campground, you will find a day use area right off State Route 260. read more

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Had a great time here, fishing and hiking around the lake. Still a little snow in late March but nothing that will prevent you from being able to walk/hike around. Even saw some kayaks out on the water, not many. Clean. No trash. Beautiful. Good parking options. read more

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This is a great day trip from Phoenix. It has primitive toilets, but does have a boat ramp and fishing for trout is good. There was a bit of trash around the grounds but it is stated that the grounds are maintained by volunteers. It is mostly sandstone and rock around the lake but a small amount of sandy beach does exist. There are also picnic tables and a Ramada with charcoal grills if you care to dine here. The weather was beautiful, much cooler than Phx the day we visited. It was not very busy and the drive there is a pleasant one through Payson and the mountains. read more

Great place to enjoy nature. Fishing is good,weather is beautiful and people are friendly.To the family of the teenagers that threatened to kill are English mastiff. Please keep a better eye on your youth. They also yelled at both myself and fiancée to keep our dog on a leash and get him under control. We had our dog leashed and under control at all times. Never unleashed him and was always next to us at all times. If we even see any other dogs we stay clear of them. Our English mastiff is known for being a gentle giant, loves all people and animals,and is always looking to make new friends. One of the kindest breeds known to man. For crying out loud he carries a stuffed animal everywhere as a baby. We were no where near your family. We were more worried about your chihuahua known for nipping biting and aggressive behavior that appeared unleashed that you were so scared and kept picking it up off the ground. If your going to the lake be aware that there's going to be more than your dog at the lake. There is no reason for your teenager to threaten to abuse another dog when nothing was happening. Shame. Had zero problems with anyone else most people asked if they could pet our dog and took pictures. If anything would have took place and our dog was harmed I would have called the cops. read more

Beautiful, relaxing, calming, tranquil... I can go on and on. It's just beautiful there. Today was our 1st time there and we will be back again. The fish we're biting read more

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Such a beautiful place to boat, swim, fish and cook out! I had a lot of fun here and took some beautiful pictures. Definitely recommend coming here for a tourist attraction. read more

Clean lake. fun place to watch eagles swoop down to catch fish! And great great fishing hole!!

Very pretty lake. Has ample parking. No fee to get in. Good for fishing or boating. Make sure to bring your own food and water as there seems to be nothing around for several miles read more

This is my all-time favorite rim lake! It's quiet & peaceful. We can usually get a good parking spot and a nice beachfront spot. We love swimming and fishing here. There's even a spot to the left side of the lake for cliff jumping! But it's a little hike to get there. read more

Willow Springs Lake - Paddle board willow springs - Fishing Near Me

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FUN, FUn, Fun, fun.. The lake was huge and water was very clear, it was actually refreshing. My fav spot when we go up to go camping, lots of trout. read more

Willow Springs Lake - Brought out the floaty... - Fishing Near Me

Beautiful spot, easy to get to with lots of parking. Could use some trash cans as there was lots of litter after the holiday weekend.

Beautiful beautiful lake located in Northern AZ. I love the woodsy types of lakes with the big tall trees. The air even feels better up here. Great spot for a family outing or even a getaway alone. It's quite far from where I live (2 1/2 hrs) so we've only gone about once a year. read more

Willow Springs Lake - Fishing Near Me

This lake has plenty of parking for boat trailers and room on the shoreline to fish, there is however only one boat on the ramp at a time. And you like me. Might have a good day fishing but when you go to get your boat out of the water, you run into a old man (I am 57) that as you are backing your trailer down the ramp says he was there first, and stands in front of your trailer. You ask where is his truck it's still up the hill in it's parking space.ya me to Good times fishing on this lake (ONE BAD APPLE) Plenty of wild life ospreys, eagles,elk deer Get out have fun read more

Not as friendly of a lake as advertised. Rangers are not pleasant and harass you as you prepare to leave the lake looking to give you tickets. The lake has no coverage as it is windy as can be. Fishing is avg at best. I'll take Woods Canyon over Willow Springs anyday. Less interruptions, more peaceful, smaller and easier to get around. read more

Willow Springs Lake is a nice lake with plenty of room for recreational water activities. I visited here to kayak and it was a pleasant experience. The weather was exceptional and the wind wasn't to fierce, so it made for a pretty easy paddle. There are lots of fisher's all around the lake, and from my paddling I could see plenty below the water. Enjoy! read more

I've been here numerous times, always my favorite spot to go to when I want to fish or hang out at a lake. I live in Phoenix and it's about maybe 2 hours depending on the route you take and traffic. The scenery is amazing just driving up to the lake, aside from the boring drive on the BeeLine HWY to get into Payson. The lake does have campgrounds, but they aren't close to the lake, some do have electricity. You will notice that there are other camping spots along the rim on the way up, some include showers, bathrooms, and water, as well as bins for your trash. There is another lake called Woods Canyon Lake that is nearby, but I would suggest Willow Springs because everytime I go, it isn't crowded, or polluted with trash. This will also very depending on what time of the year you go. I've caught a good amount of fish out of this lake, but I was in a boat, not fishing from the shore. All in all, this is a great place to visit if you want to relax or go fishing, kayaking, etc. If you prefer dispersed camping, you can head east a mile or two up from the lake and find Young Rd, which provides dispersed camping. Hope this helps for anyone wanting to visit. read more