20 Attractions to Explore Near Bartlett Lake

Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona, and the sixth largest national forest among 154 USDA National Forests.The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet in the Sonoran Desert to 7,400 feet in the ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim.

Mount Ord is one of the most popular and accessible tree-covered summits nearby the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area. The turn off to Mount Ord Road is less than an hour from the suburbs of Mesa and Scottsdale via the Beeline Highway. The top of Mount Ord is home to a collection of communications towers. The mountain is popular with birdwatchers.

Pinnacle Peak is a granite summit located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The peak rises to an elevation of 3,169 feet. It is located within the 150-acre Pinnacle Peak Park, operated by the City of Scottsdale Park District. Part of the Sonoran Desert, the park is home to a variety of native desert flora and fauna. Hikers utilize a 1.75 mile trail to explore the area, though rock climbing skills are needed to reach the summit.

Saguaro Lake is the fourth reservoir on the Salt River, formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam in the U.S. state of Arizona. The lake is off State Route 87, about halfway between Phoenix and the ghost town of Sunflower. This lake is within the Tonto National Forest

Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 91. Today it is the main campus of The School of Architecture at Taliesin and houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. It is open to the public for tours and is one of the prime attractions in Maricopa county.

Four Peaks is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, 40 miles east-northeast of Phoenix. In winter, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow-covered peaks. Four Peaks is the site of an amethyst mine that produces top-grade amethyst.

Barnhardt Trail is considered to be one of the "expressways" to the Mazatzals. It starts at Barnhardt trailhead and proceeds westward to the ridge of the Mazatzal range or "Divide" where you intersect the N-S Mazatzal Divide Trail, which is part of the Arizona Trail. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona. It was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction. Canyon Lake, with a surface area of 950 acres, is the third and smallest of four lakes created along the Salt River.

The Musical Instrument Museum is located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the largest museum of its type in the world. The collection of over 15,000 musical instruments and associated objects includes examples from nearly 200 countries and territories, representing every inhabited continent. Some larger countries such as the United States, Mexico, India, China, and Brazil have multiple displays with subsections for different types of ethnic, folk, and tribal music.

The Three Bar Wildlife Enclosure is a fenced wildlife study area operated by Arizona Game and Fish. The proximity of two recreation sites provides ample parking should you want to cool off in Roosevelt Lake after your ride. Scenery includes the riparian habitat associated with Roosevelt Lake and watershed as well as chaparral vegetation.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is a 40-acre railroad park located in Scottsdale, Arizona. It features a 15 in gauge railroad, a Magma Arizona Railroad locomotive, a railroad museum, three model railroad clubs and a 7 1⁄2 in gauge live steam railroad.

The Lost Dutchman State Park covers 320 acres in the middle of Arizona, not far from the Superstition Mountains. The park was created in 1977, and it's named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine.The park offers camping facilities, day use parking and acts as a trailhead for the trails leading into the Tonto National Forest in which the Superstition Mountains are located. Many people confuse these National Forest trails with trails that are maintained by Lost Dutchman State Park.

The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, a.k.a. Airbase Arizona Aircraft Museum, was established in 1978, in Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona. It is the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force and the home of one of the largest Commemorative Air Force units in the world. On exhibit are World War II artifacts, helicopters and classic American and foreign combat planes, many of which are the last remaining warbirds of their kinds.

The Siphon Draw Trail leads up the bajadas of Lost Dutchman State Park into a rugged canyon within the Superstition Mountain complex.This hike is somewhat unique in that in less than 2 miles. It traverses a State Park (Lost Dutchman), a National Forest, and a Wilderness Area while urban views of the Greater Phoenix Area are always at hand.

This is such an enjoyably moderate trail that loops in Lost Dutchman State Park. While hiking you will witness some of the most breathtaking geological terrains. After a fire swept through this area some time ago, the land has recovered with low sparse vegetation; taller plants such as Saguaro, Cholla, Barrel Cactus, Palo Verde and Mesquite continue to survive.

Devil's Canyon also known as 'Devcharacho kond' in Konkani, is a picturesque river gorge near Molem situated in a beautiful patch of the jungle where the river flows with great turbulence and cuts the deep gorge into solid rock. It is suicidal for swimmers due to the slippery rocks, strong undercurrents and unfathomed depth. In its jungles one can see some rare sightings of Black Panther and while here one can also visit the Tambdi Surla Temple that is situated nearby.

The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction and the surrounding region. Perhaps nowhere in the entire United States is there an area full of legend, history and intrigue as the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range in Central Arizona. It was lying on a 15-acre parcel in the shadow of the beautiful Superstition Mountains.

Apache Lake is one of four reservoirs built along the Salt River in central Arizona as part of the Salt River Project. The lake is located along the Apache Trail and about 16 miles east of Tortilla Flat, in Maricopa County, Arizona. It is about 65 miles. Apache Lake is formed by Horse Mesa Dam impounded the Salt River northeast of Phoenix.

Apache Lake is one of four reservoirs built along the Salt River in central Arizona as part of the Salt River Project.Apache Lake is a popular recreation destination within the Tonto National Forest, which is the authority that manages the facilities located at the lake. The lake is located along the Apache Trail and a number of other hiking trails can be found in the area. Situated along Apache Lake is Apache Lake Marina and Resort, which offers visitors various amenities.

The Flatiron trail in Lost Dutchman State Park is a rugged, strenuous hiking trail that will take your breath away with views.