 | | This medium sized body of water fills 49 acres of Peña Blanca Canyon in the Pajarito Mountain foothills of extreme southeastern Arizona. It is surrounded by grassy, oak-dotted hills, some of which are topped with bluffs of limestone.Peña Blanca Lake is a popular recreation spot for visitors from neighboring Nogales, Arizona and nearby communities in Mexico as well. On weekends and even weekdays, during the peak summer season, this area can be quite crowded. On holidays, especially on Easter, it becomes extremely crowded.Peña Blanca Lake was built in 1957 by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. It provides water-related recreation year-round, although its location so close to the Mexican Border can be a bit deceptive. This is a mountain lake located at 4,000 feet above sea level and its climate reflects that fact.Whenever you choose to visit Peña Blanca Lake, you will find a number of recreational opportunities to enjoy. In the winter, fishing for stocked trout is best. Warm water species such as catfish, bass, and bluegill challenge anglers year-round. The lake is also open to boats with power sources limited to a single electric trolling motors.Bird watching, photography, and hiking are some of the other activities that are quite popular here and one of the best ways to enjoy them is on the Peña Blanca Trail. This mostly level pathway follows the shoreline for the majority of its two-mile route which goes most of the way around the lake. |
| |  | | | Facilities: A barrier-free fish dock is provided at Peña Blanca Lake. Reservations: None. Best Time To Visit: Open year round. Fees: Unknown Accessibility: Unknown Rules: An increase in the number of people swimming in Peña Blanca Lake has resulted in a sharp increase of drownings here. When this lake was formed, scores of rocks were submerged in the rugged canyon that was flooded. Some of those remain under a few inches of water, and pose lethal hazards to swimmers and divers. Trees, brush, and other materials anchored in the lake to provide habitat for fish also become deathtraps for the unwary. Please be careful. Directions: Turn west off of I-19 approximately 8 miles north of Nogales at the Peña Blanca/Ruby Road (AZ Highway 289) Exit 12. Follow the road west about 9 miles to Peña Blanca Lake Recreation Area. Turn right (north) on the paved road that leads to the lake and boat launching area. | | |
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| | | | Address | | Nogales Ranger District | | 303 Old Tucson Road | | Nogales, Arizona 85621 |
| | | Phone | | General: (520) 281-2296 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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