Tempe Town Lake

Opened in 1999 Tempe Town Lake is on 220 acres providing recreational, business and office space to this college town in the middle of a desert! Only two miles long this man made lake gives visitors access to boating, fishing and hiking and other fun filled activities for everyone in the family.

Tempe Beach Park provides 25 acres of park that is free to the public and open from April through September each year. The Cox Splash Playground is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm and provides a great place for children to enjoy manufactured rain and lightning flashes along with waterfalls that become streams and ride miniature whales. There is also a Safari Guide Coloring Book and Splash Playground Photo Gallery that will delight everyone.

Boating is a popular pastime with boats for rent – outrigger canoes, sailboats, or dragon boats – or you can bring your own with the purchase of a permit. Boat storage is also available with boat launches, parking and a harbor to accommodate the boaters. Fishing is allowed with an Arizona Fishing Permit that you can get at a local sporting goods store and you can catch a wide variety of fish that includes rainbow trout, catfish, bass or sunfish.

With more than five miles of hiking paths around the lake and two bridges that cross the lake making it a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors and is the scene for many nonprofit races and triathlons each year. Special concerts and other events are held regularly and called Music at the Marina. Bike paths circle the lake as well and offer a great activity for people of all ages. There are also benches that offer a great place to sit and people watch or read and relax and enjoy the scenery.

Tempe Town Lake is popular with hikers, bikers and those on horseback as equestrians also use the trails here that are within Papago Park, Canal Park and Hayden Butte Preserve with varying levels of difficulty. Picnic tables can be reserved and beer permits are issued for Tempe residents only. Other activities include volleyball courts and there are also golf courses close by for those who really want more exercise. There is a 13 acre habitat called LoPiano Bosque that supports wildlife like lizards, jack rabbits, cottontails, falcons and coyotes and many species of birds. Volunteers provide much of the maintenance for this area and there are more areas designated to be restored and become habitats for similar wildlife.

Many special events take place on Tempe Town Lake including a Cardboard Boat Regatta with participants’ boats made up of recyclable materials; Ironman Arizona that is a traditional marathon and PF Chang’s Rock-N-Roll Marathon that offers entertainment along the route; Fourth of July is a big party with fireworks; Circle K Tempe Music Festival thirty bands on three stages over a two day period; Way Out West Oktoberfest is a western version of Germany’s famed Oktoberfest and APS Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade is a great celebration during the holidays with lots of activities and entertainment for all.

Many people enjoy the scenic view of Tempe Town Lake from their luxury condominium or other residential properties that includes an apartment complex with concierge services and the luxurious Onyx Tower. There are also several hotels – Le Meridien Hotel and Aloft Hotel along with restaurants, shopping and other retail and offices that provide anything you need for a carefree lifestyle in a resort area.