Rose Canyon Lake Tucson, Arizona

The magnificent Rose Canyon Lake is situated 48 kilometers northeast of Tucson, Arizona. The six-acre lake is tucked away in a scenic stand of mature ponderosa pines forest high on the slope of Santa Catalina Mountains near Mt Lemmon. Rose Canyon Lake is small ecologically fragile reservoir, but it is famous for trout fishing lake. 

The lake’s altitude is about 7,000 ft much cooler than the lower-elevation campgrounds in the area. The lake soothes the human spirit. The lake is filled up by rain and snowmelt.  However, during drought, the water level may be low. But when the water is abundant, it spills out of the lake and travels downstream. A charming natural point attracts thousands of peoples to be here with your family and friends to spend a day/ or night between tall trees and rocky slopes lined up the shore reflected in the lake’s sheltered waters. 

It is only one hour from Tucson drive up to the Rose Canyon Campground. It is perfect spot in the summer to escape the heat and bustle of the city. It could be blown away from the entire area the Campground is wide spread full on weekends. But reward is so awesome. The Coronado National Forest covers 1.78 million acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. 

The Elevations range from 3,000 to 10,720 feet in twelve widely scattered mountain ranges, that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supportive biologically diverse plant communities. A beautiful paved road along the Rose Canyon Campground leads to a small parking area, a little walk from the water. Moreover, the rainbow trout is large enough to catch and take home usually released in the lake about once a month from April through the end of August. Because the water temperatures are bit too warm for these cold-water fish. 

Make sure, you must have a valid fishing license. It is not allowed to swim, boating or camping at the lake. Although 43 sites are already available for camping on a first come first service basis. However, your dogs are should be kept in a leash. All stocking and fishing regulations for Rose Canyon lake, are managed by Arizona Game and Fish, which publishes the current stocking schedule. 

Trail of Rose Canyon Lake

The Lake Trail #37 leads around the sedate water’s edge offer an excellent opportunity for nature photography, birds watching, wildlife, and strolling. A one-mile trail around the lake is convenient for anglers, hikers, and mountain biking trails. If you’re nature lover, then it is an ideal place to sit on the downed logs close to the lake water to sit and relish the moments with snack and relaxing meditation.  The Rose Canyon Lake is sheltered by amazing pine trees provides a pleasant setting for a stroll in the woods, relaxing on the shore or spending an afternoon fishing for stocked trout. 

Don’t forget to bring your basic fishing gears. No matter if you forget, because the nearby store carries bait, tackle, fishing poles, fishing licenses, camp supplies, firewood, rain ponchos, cold drinks, sundry grocery, ice creams, chocolates, ice creams and candies. Rose Canyon Lake offers many recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, picnicking, bird-watching, botanizing and fishing in a lovely forest setting. Source - CP

Patagonia Lake – Arizona

Patagonia Lake is a 2.4-mile-long man-made reservoir in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The lake is located southwest of the town of Patagonia, Arizona and northeast of Nogales. The Lake is popular spot for fishing, camping, picnicking (table and grills), hiking, beach relaxing, bird watching, water skiing, and boating, created by damming Sonoita Creek.

The tracks of the Arizona-New Mexico railroad lie beneath the lake and leftovers of the old historic line may be found at the Nature Conservancy in Patagonia. Patagonia Lake never disappoint anyone who love nature.

The natural scenery is spectacular, that will provide you cool refreshing break from the heat. It is highly recommended to go early to avoid from evening rush. Also, some areas have beautiful shade coverage and lake front access. The 250-acre lake located inside the Patagonia Lake State Park established Sonoita Creek State Natural Area in 1975.

Moreover, an exclusive event includes an annual mariachi festival in March and bird tours and interpretive programs on request. Many Mexican Mariachi bands perform, and there is a variety of food vendors and arts and crafts booths. The Lake Patagonia is located on State Route 82, 7 miles south of Patagonia, tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona.

It is an ideal place to lookout whitetail deer roaming the hills and great blue herons walking the shoreline. The hikers love to stroll along the creek trail, enjoying sight views, birds watching. The most common birds are Inca dove, black vulture, vermilion flycatcher, canyon towhee, green kingfisher, gray hawk, thick-billed kingbird, cardinals and tangiers are plentiful as well as orioles, and several types of hummingbirds. If you have forgotten anything with you, then there is a small marketplace in the premises.

The lots of fishing spots and a beautiful bridge overlooking a beautiful marina. Without any doubt, Patagonia Lake is prettiest desert Lake ringed with trees and desert vegetation. Summer temperatures range from 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while during the day it is somewhere 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Patagonia Lake Fishing

There are several kind of fish species reproducing in Patagonia Lake are black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, redear sunfish, black bullhead, red shiner, mosquitofish, crayfish, Gila topminnows, speckled dace, longfin dace, Sonora suckers, desert suckers, threadfin shad, American bullfrogs, and channel catfish. Moreover, rainbow trout are stocked for every three weeks from October to March. Source: - CP

Bear Canyon, Arizona

Bear Canyon is a stream fed drainage steep sided basalt cliffs, located in the Sabino Canyon recreation area of the Coronado National Forest near Tucson, Arizona, offers views of the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north of Arizona. The canyon is accessible by tram or foot. Bear Canyon contains majestic attractions of the seasonal Seven Falls and Thimble Peak. The nearby area runs seasonal refuge within the Oak Creek Wildlife Area for different large mammals, i.e. deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, cougar, and black bear. Moreover, rattlesnakes are encountered often in the canyon during the warmer months.

Bear Canyon is a great route, handful of rappels that leads to a lovely section of Clear Creek where one can unwind and relish meal while watching the trout swim around. The water is extremely cold to relax at the edge of clear creek. The good thing is that, most of the area are well shaded by canyon and trees on the hike.

Bear Canyon Trail

Don't misjudge this inspiring trail! Though it is just under two miles in length, it packs quit the punch, The trail of Bear Canyon follows Bear Creak up, the lush, shady, and eventually to Bear Lakes. The trail stays near to cascading waters of the creek, gaining relatively elevation and making it a lovely hike. The trail climbs 1,400 feet to the Bear Lakes on the path to Chesnut Mountain Trail veers off to the east.

Only pedestrian are allowed to tracked from April 1^st to 16 July. After that, bikes can enter on the trail. Keep in mind, during spring and mid-summer the trail could be muddy in shades areas and quite buggy during wet months. The Bear Canyon trail is rocky, can navigate able in snow, difficult but doable. So, Bear Canyon Trail offers neighborhood views, straight ahead, trail-goers will face the scenic Sandia Mountains.

Santa Rosa Blue Hole, New Mexico

The Santa Rosa Blue Hole of New Mexico is circular bell-shaped pool for scuba diving and training. It is one of most popular diving destinations, is an artesian once used as a fish hatchery.

The crystal-clear water with constant 62 °F (17 °C) temperature and constant inflow of 3,000 US gallons per minute (11 m3/min; 2,500 imp gal/min). However, Santa Rosa surface is only 24 meters (80ft) in diameter and 40 meters at the bottom.  Due to its high elevation, (1,407 meters), divers must use high altitude dive tablets to compute the dive profile and decompression stops.

These are the above Blue Holes in the world, where you would feel to swim into the earth forever. These geological phenomenon sinkhole fills with crystal clear water and becomes vertical void in the landscape. The fantastic marine life such as parrot fish, Schools of Bream, Moray Eel, Lobster, Octopus and much more for all level of divers as there are several depths and routes to choose from.

Watling's Blue Hole, San Salvador

The Watlings Blue Hole is located on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. The karst feature of Watlings Blue Hole is formed by the erosion of limestone, made of calcium carbonate, a mineral that can dissolve in water especially in acidic water. When the limestone dissolves, it gives off carbonic acid, and even more able to dissolve limestone. 

Once, the limestone dissolves the remaining part abruptly dissolves more, and result in formation of a deep blue hole around the spot where the limestone first began dissolving. In fact, Watlings Blue Hole has incredible water chemistry, has no fresh water anywhere not even a tiny lens on top. 

Thus, this sinkhole must link all the way to the ocean to let salt water flow in continuously to dominate the system. The sinkhole is sitting in the middle of rainy Tropical Island, signifying that the hole must be connected to the ocean by an underground tunnel.

Dahab Red Sea Hole, in Egypt

Dahab Blue Hole located on the southeast Sinai, Egypt on the coast of Red Sea. A submarine sinkhole, with the depth of 328ft with a 20 ft shallow sea. The it also known as “the saddle” and 85 feet long tunnel “the arch”. The Blue sinkhole surrounding area have an plenty of coral and reef fish.  And ideal hot spot for freediving because of the depth directly accessible from shore and the lack of current.

It is considered deadliest dive site in the world. It has claimed the lives of 150 to 200 divers. Dahab Red Sea Hole is most dangerous as with differing explanations given for its high death rate. The Blue Hole enter “The Bells” is from the shore. At 26 meters of the bottom of Bells divers do not get to see the Blue Hole arch when doing the Bells to Blue Hole dive.

Guam Blue Hole, Great Barrier Reef in Australia

The Guam Blue Hole is located about 100 ft. off the west coast of Guam an island in the Western Pacific Ocean. This rare blue hole is an open chasm that begins at 60 feet, opens to the sea at 130. The scuba divers can see along the reef top some fishes like dogtooth tuna and eagle rays with dolphins and pilot whales can also be found occasionally.

It is strictly bound for skilled divers. Because, the shore line of the Blue Hole is a cliff of almost 150 ft high, hence there is no beach entrance. It is only accessible via boat. Though, besides diving, Guam Blue Hole is a paradise for photography. Also, for Corals, one have to dive at Hap's Reef, located outside Apra harbor or Finger Reef, inside Apra Harbor, which has a wonderful accumulation of corals.