Going to the lake!
Burnt Corral, Apache Lake Oct 2008
What: It's time for a trip to Apache Lake! The purpose here is to relax, enjoy each other's company and have fun! Escape the modern trappings of life. Leave your hectic life behind and slow down for a weekend. Enjoy nature! Enjoy a few drinks on the beach or at party cove. Water ski, wakeboard, or get pulled on a tube. Cruise the lake. Soak in some sun. Do some fishing (Crappie, bass, catfish.) It's hard to beat a weekend on the lake!
Who: You and your family and friends! The lake is very family friendly. So feel free to invite your own family and friends to come along. The lake is also dog friendly, but you must keep them on a leash and clean up their messes.
Where:
Burnt Corral Campground,
Apache Lake, Arizona. This was one of my family's favorite campgrounds when I was growing up, and it continues to be. It has the basics: concrete boat launch, outhouses, trash cans, and even the convenience of potable water! No RV hookups, electricity, or shelter other than what you bring. Each camping unit generally has a generous parking spot big enough for trailers, RVs, 5th wheels, etc. There are also some pull throughs. Some units are bigger than others. They also include a pre-built fire pit (Bring your own wood) with grill and picnic table. The whole area has pretty good tree cover. Most units are very close to the water.
Burnt Corral is on the northern end of Apache Lake. About a 15 minute boat ride from the Marina (Website), where there is a restaurant, hotel, and gas.
Weather: During the summer it's anywhere from 80 to 110 degrees during the day, and can cool down to 50-80 at night. Make sure you bring sweaters and pants, too. A cozy campfire can only do so much! If you're looking up weather, search for "Roosevelt, AZ." Apache is just a few miles from there. Here is the weather for the current month and Here is the monthly averages for the whole year.
Current weather:
Cost: You must buy a Tonto National Forest day pass for each vehicle and water craft you take to the lake. The cost for vehicles is $6 per day, and for water craft is $4 per day. You can not buy these at the campground we're staying at. You have to buy them online, from a reseller in town, such as Big 5 or Ride Now, or from the marina. Rangers routinely drive around the campsite looking for these passes. Do not forget them!
Directions:
From Tucson: 77/168 to Roosevelt Lake side. (144 miles, 3 hours, 7 minutes) Basically drive straight north on Oracle. Follow the signs for Globe. Once in globe, follow the signs for 188/Roosevelt Lake. Turn left onto 88, which is just before the big bridge next to the Roosevelt Dam. This route will take you around the "back way" to Apache. It's a much shorter dirt road to burnt corral, and is generally more accessible from Tucson. This is the route that I recommend.
Through Phoenix: I-10 to Phoenix, 60/88 to Burnt Corral. (169 miles, 3 hours, 42 minutes) This takes you through Phoenix. Note: the 88 from Apache Junction to the lake is at some points a very narrow winding dirt road with a sheer cliff on one side. I have no problem with a small 20 foot or less trailer and my truck. My family never had a problem with our 25 foot boat trailer. I've seen 30 foot RVs do it, but that was tight and scary in some places (though granted I was a kid when I did it =)). So I wouldn't suggest taking this road unless you're a passenger vehicle or have a reasonable size trailer. If you have an RV or a 5th wheel, I would suggest going the roosevelt way (Option 1).
When you get there: Once you get to the campground, just find a place to set up and begin your vacation. You don't need to sign in anywhere, but you do need to scratch off the time you got there on the day pass you bought (see "Cost" above") and put it in your windshield. Forgetting this can lead to a $25 fine, so it's cheaper to just remember to do it. We will generally try to hold spaces if we know there are more coming. To find us, just look for the light blue 4Runner with the yellow Reinell boat on a yellow trailer. We shouldn't be hard to spot. Here's a picture:
On the boat: Our boat is always open to guests. We are more than happy to have you on board just to cruise, to get pulled on a tube or other inflatable, or pull you on skis or wakeboard. Or anything else you might have that can be pulled behind a boat. We only ask that you abide by a few simple rules:
- Stay seated while underway and especially whenever we are doing difficult maneuvers, such as skiing, docking, or anchoring.
- Obey all rules of the captain... he or she is responsible for everyone on board, and must be obeyed for everyone's safety.
- Keep your gear stowed and out of the way
- While we are perfectly open towards casual drinking on the water, please don't drink to excess or else you could place yourself or others at risk. Drink plenty of water!
- Know where safety equipment is: Life vests, oars, throw float and fire extinguisher. If the captain doesn't tell you this, ask
- Shoes clean and off at all times. It is REALLY easy for the bottom of the boat to get coated in sand and gravel, which hurts everyone's feet and the carpet. Please make sure your shoes are rinsed and stowed properly
- Children 13 and under are required to wear a life jacket while the boat is underway, no exceptions
- Go to the bathroom before you board. The only other option while on the water is to jump in the water to go
What to bring:
Here is a pretty exhaustive list. Things that are highly recommended by us are bolded.|
Shelter |
Bedding |
| __Tent | __Sleeping bag |
| __Ground cloth/tarp | __Sheets/blankets |
| __Extra stakes | __Pillow |
| __Shade tarp/poles/rope/stakes | __Air mattress/sleeping pad/cot/tarp |
| __Axe or hammer | __Air pump |
| __Mat for tent entrance | __Repair kit for air mattress |
| __Dust pan/brush | __Utility bags for storage |
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Cooking |
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| __1 gallon of Water per person per day | __Potholders/oven mitts |
| __Coolers/ice | __Pots and frying pans with lids |
| __Thermos | __Soap |
| __Stove with fuel/propane | __Cook utensils-spatula, knife, spoon |
| __Matches/lighter | __Tongs |
| __Charcoal/firewood/buddy burner | __Skewers/grill forks |
| __Dutch oven/tin can stove/box oven/etc | __Can opener/bottle opener |
| __Campfire grill/BBQ grill | __Folding table |
| __Fire starters/newspaper | __Dutch oven |
| __Tablecloth/thumb tacks/clips | __Pie irons |
| __Plates & bowls/paper plates & bowls | __Mugs/paper cups |
| __Silverware/plastic silverware | __Mixing bowl |
| __Measuring cups | __Cutting board |
| __Heavy-duty aluminum foil | __Ziplock bags |
| __Paper towels | __Napkins |
| __Trash bags | __Dish pan |
| __Dish soap | __Dish rags/towels |
| __Clothes pins | __Scrub pad/brillo |
| __Cooking oil/Pam spray | __Seasonings/sugar/condiments |
| __Containers for food storage | __Potato peeler |
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| Clothes | Personal |
| __Shoes/boots (Bring old pair to get wet) | __Shower shoes/flip flops |
| __Jeans/pant/belt | __Towels/washcloth |
| __Shorts | __Soap in plastic case/shampoo |
| __T-shirts | __Tooth brush/tooth paste |
| __Socks/extra socks | __ Deodorant |
| __Hat | __Comb/brush |
| __Bandana | __Razor |
| __Sweatshirt/jacket | __Feminine products |
| __Underwear | __Toilet paper |
| __Sleep clothes | __Shower bag or 5 gallon bucket |
| __Rain gear | __Camping shower/shower pump |
| __Swim suit/towel | __Other personal items |
| __Laundry bag | __Personal medications--take extra |
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| Miscellaneous | |
| __Sunscreen/chapstick | __Flashlight/batteries |
| __Lantern with fuel/mantles | __Pocket knife |
| __Extra batteries/bulbs | __Plastic grocery bags |
| __Compass | __Binoculars |
| __Bug repellant/candles | __Rope/clothes line |
| __Whistle | __Canteen/water bottle/coffee pot |
| __Water filters/purification/treatment | __Bungi cords/straps |
| __Camera/battery/film/video | __Cards/games/toys |
| __Books/magazines | __Duct tape/electrical tape |
| __Candles | __Notepad/pen |
| __Maps/directions | __Reservations info./confirmation |
| __Misc. tools | __Cell phone/charger & 2-way radios/walkie talkies |
| __Backpack/fanny pack | __Small shovel |
| __Fishing gear/license/bait | __Safety pins |
| __Radio | __Money/ID/credit card/quarters |
| __Musical instruments/song books | __Bikes/helmets |
| __Camp chairs | __Travel alarm clock |
| __Sunglasses (extra cheap pair for jet-ski) | __Work gloves |
| __Hammock | __Umbrella |
| __First aid kit | __Hand wipes |
| __Tissues | __Drinks/snacks |
| __Saw/axe | __Small sewing kit |
| __Park map/guidebooks/trail maps | __Fire extinguisher |
| __Lantern pole or hanger | __Hot chocolate/tea bags/coffee |
| __Collapsible drying rack | __Scissors |
| __Popcorn | __Watch |
| __Marshmallows, Graham crackers, Hershey bars (Smores) | |
| __Tell someone of your plans - give details of where you are going and when you expect to return, give directions and possible alternative roads that you may take, provide cell phone numbers, vehicle description and license plate numbers, hand-held radio channel and codes that you will use, and provide local authority phone numbers (State Police, Game & Fish Commission, Sheriff Dept, etc.) for the county or area that you will be in. | |
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| Basic First Aid | |
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| **The following list is only a suggestion of some of the supplies you should consider for your first aid kit. You should personalize your kit to meet your needs, activities and situations. The key to a good first aid kit is its usability. What supplies to include and how much of each item should be based upon your individual needs. | |
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| __Personal medications | __Triangular bandages |
| __Roll bandages | __Misc. Band Aides/bandages |
| __Adhesive tape | __Anti-acids (Tums, Rolaides) |
| __Antiseptic wipes | __Antibiotic cream |
| __Sterile gauze pads | __Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Tylenol/Naproxin |
| __Cotton swabs | __Hydrogen Peroxide |
| __Tweezers | __Ace bandages |
| __Safety pins | __Sunburn lotion |
| __Scissors | __Burn ointment |
| __Bee sting kit | __Snake bit kit |
| __Sinus medications | __Eye drops |
| __Tissues | __Poison ivy cream/cleansers |
| __Bug repellant | __Heat/cold packs |
| __Sunscreen | __Small flashlight |
| __Notepad/pen | __Latex gloves |
| __Sterile compresses | __Antibacterial soap |
| __Splinting materials | __Thermometer |
| __Personal information/contact person | __Coins for emergency phone calls |
| __Feminine products | __Antibiotic soap |
| __Ipecac | __Butterfly bandages |
| __Razor blades | __Twine |
| __Plastic bags | __Mole skin for blisters |
| __Small bottle of water | __Road flares |
| __Blanket | __First aid manual |
| __Other personal needs | __Nail clippers |
| __Small mirror | |
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| *Take a First Aid class and a CPR class -- keep current on this information | |
| *Keep supplies in a well marked, durable, waterproof container | |
| *Keep the contents organized | |
| *Know how to use everything in your first aid kit | |
| *Inspect content often, re-supply as needed | |
| *Keep readily available at all times | |
See you at the lake!
