While Arizona is easily recognized for its desert terrain, there are a number of lakes and other bodies of water that are worth checking out. They’re all conveniently located within an hour of Scottsdale, so come stay at Scottsdale Park Suites and make sure to bring your bathing suit.

Salt River is located 30 miles east of Scottsdale. For people who want to go kayaking, tubing and fishing, Lower Salt River is the go-to. Upper Salt River is meant for whitewater rafting. There are tubing rentals on-site.

Located 35 miles northeast of Old Town Scottsdale is Saguaro Lake. This lake was created by Stewart Mountain Dam and has more than 22 miles of shoreline. At the marina you can rent a runabout, fishing or pontoon boat, or take a 90-minute guided tour on a double-decker paddleboat called the Desert Belle. You can also go skiing, sailing, kayaking and fishing.

Bartlett Lake is located in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, 50 minutes away from Old Town Scottsdale. There is a full-service marina with pontoon and ski boat rentals, a general store and a dockside grill. You can also go water skiing, jet skiing and fishing on this lake.

One of the largest lakes in the area, Lake Pleasant, is only a scenic one-hour drive away from Old Town Scottsdale. This lake has over 50 miles of shoreline and 10,000 acres of water perfect for boating, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. For those looking to include a hike in their day, there is Roadrunner Trail and Visitor Center Trail.

Canyon Lake is also an hour drive away from Old Town, and this lake presents brilliant views of red rock canyon walls and unusual rock formations. It’s located in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness area, and is the gateway to the Apache Trail. Enjoy hiking around the shore, boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. Visitors can also take the Dolly Steamboat cruise and learn about the myths surrounding the mysterious Superstition Mountains.

Farther up the Apache Trail from Canyon Lake is Apache Lake. This lake is accented by high canyon walls and deep mountain valleys. It’s great for boating, fishing, water skiing and hiking. The marina offers pontoon boat rentals, so that’s an option as well.

Even farther up the Apache Trail is Roosevelt Lake. This lake is 17 miles long and the largest in the Scottsdale area. It was created in 1911 with the construction of Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River. Roosevelt Lake is a favorite among fishers, but it’s also great for water skiing, jet skiing, swimming and boating. The marina has all the typical amenities, a general store and kayak, ski and pontoon boat rentals.

Whether you’re looking forward to going boating, water skiing or kayaking, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in all of the lakes that Scottsdale boasts. Spend the night at Scottsdale Park Suites and explore everything this lovely city has to offer.