Is something I would not have imagined. After all of the dust, rocks and hills (and fortunately still paved roads) we rounded a corner on the trail into the Tonto National Forest. Forest? Unless you mean a forest of cacti. Well, there were some trees but mostly it was cacti and other forms of succulents. As we were here in January there wasn’t much blooming; I missed seeing that by a few weeks but it was still amazing scenery none the less. The family pulled over into this little cove to let me and the camera out.
Here we were surrounded by desert life and there it was, Canyon Lake, with people boating and fishing. There’s even a little steamboat on the lake that will take you for tours. The first photo below is from the side where we pulled over and the second one is from the other side where you can just make out the road we were driving on in the middle of the hill on the left. I’m so used to seeing cacti in purely arid regions but here they were right next to a lake; a beautiful contrast. I suppose that makes the cactus happy.
It was at this juncture of the trail that we came upon our first one lane bridge with the signs No Fishing, Diving, Loitering On Bridge. Does photographing on the bridge while watching out for vehicles fit into any of those categories? I would like to add that on the trail the “facilities” are few and far between so be warned if you happen to be drinking a lot of water on your trip. There are facilities and a picnic area right past this one lane bridge and this day there were fishermen on the beach. I was told by one of them that they were angling for bass and trout. Bass and trout in Arizona? Who knew! It’s a lot easier to just pull over and get out for photos around this part of the trail than further on… and your ears may start popping soon after.
Next on the trail – a saloon!
Images by T.Dashfield Photography 
Your pictures are great.
Thank you.
nice blue water and sky. i think you were in violation of most of the bridge laws.
Oh well….didn’t need bail money this time 😉
Looking forward to your trip reports..are you still on the road? Safe trip and enjoy the blue sky and sunshine!!
I wish I was still out there but no, I’m back in Ohio and fighting a virus I caught somewhere on my trip 😦
I’m enjoying the ride. Just got set up in Apache Junctions enjoying an unobstructed view of the Superstitions out my rear window. Aaahhhh!!!
Oooooo! What RV spot are you in?
We’re parked at the AJ Elks Lodge (just south of the Superstition Museum) for two nights before heading to the north end of Phx, closer to the kids. Can’t beat the view!
The inlaws are somewhere off of Idaho in one of those 55+ camps and I remember that view 🙂
I can’t believe you broke some rules! You???
Lovely photos! That blue sky is what I have come to love!
Sigh………that sky! That beautiful amazing sky! Rules? I broke rules? hehehe
Never having been to Arizona, I’ve always thought it to be a desert-like area with a large gash in the middle, the Grand Canyon. If I came upon that lake, no sign would have stopped me from taking a few photos. (None would have been nearly as good as yours, though.)
Thanks, John. Arizona is a place you should visit. There is just so much to see!