Show Low Lake | Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area

High-country adventures attract boaters, anglers and hikers to Arizona’s White Mountains.

Arizona’s high country is popular with locals and visitors alike for its year-round outdoor activities. Between the cities of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside, pine forests and mountain lakes invite visitors to cool off and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Mogollon Rim. With elevations over a mile high, the natural wonders of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest reveal many surprises.

Water Sports

Anglers and boaters head to Show Low Lake for fishing and water fun year-round. Motorized and non-motorized watercrafts are allowed on the 100-acre lake. Cast a line from the shore or from a boat to reel in walleye, catfish, bass and trout. Campgrounds along the lake provide RV and tent sites with full hookups and facilities. Other lakes in the area such as Fool Hollow Lake just north of Show Low and Rainbow Lake in Lakeside make this watery playground a favorite of Phoenix-area visitors looking to cool off in the summer and enjoy snow-covered landscapes in the winter.

Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area

Directly east of Show Low Lake, wetlands attract birds year-round to a pristine wildlife area popular with waterfowl hunters. Geese and ducks nest in the 18 islands of Jacques Marsh, with activity peaking during the spring and fall migrations. Bald eagle sightings are most common in winter, and peregrine falcon populations swell in the summer. Sections of the White Mountains Trail System pass through the area. On the Timber Mesa Trail, hikers loop through forested areas for nearly 8 miles. The western section of the trail overlooks the natural beauty of the adjacent marshlands. Near the trailhead, see the remnants of Jacques Ranch, the site of one of Arizona’s first commercial cattle and sheep operations.

Mountain Communities

Arizona’s rim country features a collection of charming mountain towns that make perfect daytrip and weekend destinations. Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside welcome visitors to enjoy high-country activities during all four seasons. Find woodsy inns and hotels, mom-and-pop restaurants and local shops that add city comforts to the astonishing natural backdrop of mountains studded with towering pine trees.