Rivers & Lakes

Tempe Town Lake

This urban lake on the Salt River offers recreation and entertainment year-round.

Flanking the northern edge of downtown Tempe, a manmade reservoir adds outdoor recreation to the bustling city. At 2.5 miles long, the lake swells a section of the Salt River that flows through Tempe. Visitors get on the water during the warmer months and the banks of the lake buzz with activity year-round.

Get on the Water

While swimming is only allowed at Tempe Town Lake when a triathlon is on the calendar, visitors can enjoy the water aboard a fleet of people-powered water toys. If there’s one place in the metro area where visitors can ride pedal boats shaped like swans, this is it. Rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and electric boats to skim across this stretch of water surrounded by modern buildings and busy highways. The marina and beach have boat ramps for visitors bringing their own watercrafts.

Walk the Shores

A 7-mile trail loops around the lake and sees a steady stream of walkers, joggers and cyclists. East Valley locals head here for their daily workouts along the wide recreation path that spans both banks of Tempe Town Lake. Parks and beaches along the way offer places to enjoy this peaceful oasis surrounded by so much activity. Visitors might join a pickup game of beach volleyball or rent an e-bike and set off on a self-guided tour of the lake, Papago Park and downtown Tempe.

Explore Mill Avenue

As a landlocked desert city, Tempe has a surprising number of bridges. The historic Mill Avenue Bridge leads into the heart of the entertainment district and a pedestrian suspension bridge leads to Tempe Center for the Arts. All six bridges that span Tempe Town Lake let walkers and riders cut across the lake to experience the restaurants, bars and attractions in downtown Tempe. The lake also hosts big events year-round at Tempe Beach Park. From athletic competitions to concerts, the banks of the lake often have a party atmosphere. At annual events such as the Dragon Boat Festival and Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade, the main attraction happens on the surface of the water.

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