Alice Held's Seasonal Page - Pontoon Paradise!

Pontoon Paradise!
Chilling Out on our Close-By Lakes

So what is a pontoon boat and why would I want one?

A pontoon boat consists of flat platforms, usually 20 or more feet in length and about 8' wide, strapped atop 2 torpedo-like flotation units made of aluminum or heavy-duty plastic, filled with air, rigid foam or both.

You can't tip a pontoon over, they accommodate up to a dozen passengers, and have a roof that provides some relief from the sun. Almost anyone can drive one after a few practice sessions. Nearly all these boats are powered by a single outboard engine.

Given the pontoons' flotation plus bench placement, passengers ride about 4'-5' above the surface of the water, making for better viewing and little or no spray in the face.

All of Arizona's lakes, and particularly those on the narrower portions of the Salt River, offer spectacular scenery. Rocky, high-flung cliffs tower over shorelines in some areas, then give way to brushy hillsides and finally to sandy beaches.

A special treat for those who'll be out on the water for a half-day or more is finding a quiet, secluded cove close to the water's edge, take a dip, maybe cast a line, and let the breezes wander beneath the boat's shade canopy.

Lake Pleasant 26 miles northwest from Phoenix
(602) 697-8452
Hourly rate: $60-$70
Half-day rate: $150-170
All-day rate: $240-$275
Deposit: $500

The 4 Salt River lakes lie behind a quartet of dams northeast and east of the East Valley.

Roosevelt Lake
(928) 467-2246
Hourly rate: $60 (2-hour minimum)
Half-day rate: $180
All-day rate: $290
Deposit: $275
Apache Lake - Apache Lake is the least accessible, but possibly the most rewarding from an outback perspective.
(928) 467-2511
Hourly rate: $20 M-F, more on weekends
Half-day rate: $80
All-day rate: $150
Overnight rate: $200
Deposit: $250
Canyon Lake
(602) 944-6504
Hourly rate: $60-70
Half-day rate: $240-$280
All-day rate: $300-350
Deposit: $300
Saguaro Lake
Here's a great aerial photo
There's Horseback riding, too!
How about a steamboat ride?
(480) 986-0969
Hourly rate: $60-70
Half-day rate: $240-$280
All-day rate: $300-$350
Deposit: $300

A day at the lake on a pontoon boat, accessible within a relatively short drive from the city, offers an uncomplicated and back-to-nature cure, whether for just few hours or several days!

And for you jet-skiers, there's also Bartlett Lake! Just east of Carefree.

Arizona Leisure offers a location map of Arizona lakes.


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