AZ-Pena+Blanca+Lake

Also, see Peña Blanca Canyon
 * =Birding in Arizona=

Santa Cruz County
=Peña Blanca Lake= Nogales, Arizona 85621 Peña Blanca Canyon webpage Peña Blanca Lake webpage White Rock Campground webpage

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Pena Blanca Lake
Coordinates: 31.401, -111.087 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Peña Blanca Lake
This medium-sized body of water fills 49 acres of Peña Blanca Canyon in the Pajarito Mountain foothills. It is surrounded by grassy, oak-dotted hills, some of which are topped with bluffs of limestone.

Peña Blanca Lake is a popular recreation spot for visitors from neighboring Nogales, Arizona and nearby communities in Mexico as well. On weekends, and even weekdays, during the peak summer season, this area can be quite crowded. On holidays, especially Easter, it becomes extremely crowded.

Peña Blanca Lake was built in 1957 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It provides water-related recreation year round, although its location so close to the Mexican border can be a bit deceptive. Frequently, people who come here during the winter expecting warm, balmy weather are surprised at how cool it can be. This is a mountain lake located at 4,000 feet above sea level and its climate reflects that fact.

The lake was drained and improved in 2009, but it has since refilled. However, the boat ramp has not yet been replaced.

Turn west off I-19 approximately 8 miles north of Nogales at the Peña Blanca and Ruby Road (AZ-289) exit. Follow this road about 9 miles to Peña Blanca Lake Recreation Area. Turn right (north) on the paved road that leads to the lake and the boat launching ramp. From Pena Blanca Lake web site

About Peña Blanca Canyon
Peña Blanca Canyon is a small canyon in the Pajarito Mountain foothills about 10 miles north of our border with Mexico and the city of Nogales. The canyon runs north-south and is broken up by Peña Blanca Lake.

Peña Blanca Lake takes up about 50 acres of Peña Blanca Canyon and was created in 1957 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It's a beautiful desert oasis surrounded by grassy, oak-dotted hills and bluffs of limestone. Peña Blanca Lake is a popular recreation and fishing spot and can be crowded on the weekends in the summer.

The lake was drained in 2009 due to chemical contamination and to remove non-native plants and wildlife, It has been refilled and a new boat ramp installed. The new ramp is 48 feet long and 22 feet wide. It can be used to launch motor-powered boats, but boaters are restricted to one electric motor or one gasoline motor of 10 horsepower or less. From Pena Blanca Canyon webpage

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media type="custom" key="29291311" || L129054 US US-AZ US-AZ-023 31.401 -111.087 Pena Blanca Lake