Lyman Lake State Park lies 10 miles north of St Johns in Eastern Arizona. This beautiful public recreation area surrounds Lyman Lake, a large man-made reservoir that captures the melted snow from nearby Mount Baldy and Escudilla Mountain.
Visitors enjoy camping, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, discovering the petroglyphs and nature watching at the northern foothills of Arizona’s White Mountains.
Activities at Lyman Lake State Park
Escape to this serene lakeside Arizona state park for a few days and swim, boat, fish, camp, explore trails and discover some of the history of this beautiful rustic area.
Picnic areas, shaded ramadas, a playground, boat ramps, a fishing pier, market and more are available to make your visit more comfortable and enjoyable whether you visit for a day or a week.
Check out Lyman Lake Market, near the park visitor center, to pick up books, souvenirs, apparel, ice, drinks, grocery items, fishing licenses, bait and more.
Here are some more activities that you can do during your visit to Lyman Lake State Park:
Swimming at Lyman Lake State Park
Lyman Lake State Park has a nice designated swimming area located between the park store and the petroglyph trail. This is a safe and secure spot for swimmers and no boats or fishing are allowed in this area.
The shore area is rocky so wearing swim shoes is highly recommended to protect your feet, and bring a beach mat to sit on. Don’t be too concerned if the water looks muddy or cloudy, it becomes this way as the silt washes down from the mountain.
Also, keep in mind that lake temperatures can vary greatly depending upon how far out you swim and wear a thermal swimsuit if you plan to swim further out.
Boating at Lyman Lake State Park
Enjoy a relaxing (or exhilarating!) day out on Lyman Lake during your visit to this serene park. There are no motor restrictions on this large lake so feel free to bring your motorized or non-motorized watercraft to enjoy. Two paved boat ramps are available inside the park just north of the Ranger Station/Park Store; canoes and kayaks may launch from shore or either boat ramp.
Canoe, kayak, paddle board, water ski, wakeboard, jet ski and more and cool off after exploring the trails inside the park. Remember to hydrate and wear plenty of sunscreen!
Fishing at Lyman Lake State Park
Lyman Lake is a great place to fish for catfish, largemouth bass and walleye! Fish from boat, shore or fishing pier. Just remember to pick up an Arizona fishing license ahead of time; a fishing license is required for anyone over the age of 10. The park store carries bait and limited tackle supplies.
Trails at Lyman Lake State Park
Lyman Lake State Park has 5 trails, of varying length, that spread throughout the large park and along the lake. Discover the petroglyphs along the Petroglyph Trail and learn more about Pueblo history, the Little Colorado River and early life in Arizona.
Each trail inside the park has something unique to offer and interpretive signs, guides and maps will help make your hike more interesting and memorable.
Here’s a bit about each of the 3 trails at Lyman Lake State Park:
- Peninsula Petroglyph Trail – Moderate ¼ mile trail that starts near the campground and climbs up to several significant petroglyphs. These pictures were carved into the stones long ago by the Native Americans that lived in the area.
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Buffalo Trail – Moderate to difficult 2 mile trail that starts at either the park entrance or near Campground C. This path has very steep inclines, steps and gorgeous views.
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Pointe Trail – Moderate one mile trail that begins at the north end of the day use area and climbs up to the overlook.
Wildlife Viewing at Lyman Lake State Park
If you’re a bird lover or even just a nature lover, you will be delighted by the many different species of wildlife that you will encounter during your visit to Lyman Lake State
Park. Here you’ll see deer, squirrels, rabbits, raccoon, waterfowl, songbirds, eagles, osprey, egrets and mountain bluebirds among others.
Keep an eye out for a sagebrush lizard and a plateau striped whiptail, these reptiles are common in this area.
Camping at Lyman Lake State Park
Spend the night inside Lyman Lake State Park! Stay in your tent, RV or popup or one of the park’s 8 rustic camping cabins and enjoy a few days of rest, relaxation and outdoor recreation.
The park has 56 campsites, 38 have full hookups and no maximum RV length and the remaining 18 are standard sites. Group camping is also available and the park has a Camping Group Building that has a kitchen, restrooms, electricity, water and outside tables and grill.
The 8 camping cabins have beautiful views of the lake from their own small front porch. These cozy cabins have 2-4 bunk beds, table, chairs, AC/heat and electricity. Each has an outside picnic table, grill and access to water. Bathhouses are conveniently located nearby.
Pets at Lyman Lake State Park
Pets are allowed at Lyman Lake State Park but must be attended to at all times and kept on a leash no longer than six-feet. Please clean up after your pet. A $5.00 additional fee is required per pet staying in cabins and there is a limit of two pets staying in each cabin.
Become a Junior Ranger at Lyman Lake State Park
Junior Ranger Pledge: ‘As an Arizona State Parks Junior Ranger, I pledge to help the park rangers protect and preserve habitat, wildlife, and help keep the park clean and safe for visitors and wildlife.’
Encourage younger generations to do their part and help preserve the beauty of the parks for future visitors. If your child is between the ages of 6-12 they can become a Junior Ranger at Lyman Lake State Park.
All they need to do is download and complete the Junior Ranger Activity Sheet and then request a Junior Ranger booklet at the park’s visitor center once you’ve arrived at the park. Complete each of the activities during your stay.
When all of the activities have been completed report back to a Park Ranger who will swear your Junior Ranger in and award them with a Junior Ranger Button. Kids can become a Junior Ranger at most Arizona State Parks and earn each park’s unique Junior Ranger Button. Check out the For Kids section on each park’s website.
More Information
Open 24hrs/day all year round
Contact Station Hours: 7:00am – 6:00pm Daily
Park Entrance Fees:
Per vehicle (1-4 Adults): $7.00 (Mon–Thurs);
$10.00 (Fri–Sun and Holidays)
Individual/Bicycle: $3.00
Park Location
Lyman Lake State Park
11 US-180
St Johns, AZ 85936
Phone: 928.337.4441
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Lyman Lake State Park:
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