I ventured to the Blue Ridge Reservoir with two new friends. Gwen Stutler, digital media manager for Sunrise Park Resort, located in Greer, and her boyfriend Marc, who just left a job in Lake management at Big Bear, California. They brought along Houdini, their five-year-old Siberian Husky and I brought my one-year-old Labrador mix, Blue. Our destination the first night was the Rock Crossing Campground, located two miles from the Reservoir.

The Rock Crossing Campground is an excellent camping area. Each campsite is neatly raked and incredibly clean with a designated area for a tent. There is a table, grill and a fire pit and a large metal Bear-proof container for food. We reached the campsite at around 4:30 p.m. and set up camp. After a brief rain shower, we cooked dinner and enjoyed a spectacular sunset and, as luck would have it, a rainbow.

The Rock Crossing Campsites do not require reservations but are on a first-come-first-serve basis. We discovered that August is a great time to plan a trip here — we were just one of about three or four camping groups. I am sure that during the summer, getting a campsite here would be very difficult. Also, this campground does not have facilities for large groups or group activities. A single campsite can accommodate eight and 16 at a double site.

The next morning, we roughed it with eggs and bacon for breakfast and, after cleaning up the campsite and loading our vehicles, we headed the two miles to the Reservoir. The road down to the boat ramp offers incredible views and it stoked the excitement of getting in our kayaks for a close-up and incredible experience on this canyon lake.

Houdini is an avid and experienced kayaker with a love for swimming. My pup, Blue, on the other hand had only been in a kayak once before. He was pretty congenial and sat still for the most part but there were a few times he decided he wanted to abandon ship and I had to coax him to relax and stay seated. Houdini, on the other hand, was enjoying his cruise and was singing its praises. 

American mining company, Phelps Dodge, built the C.C. Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge Reservoir) in 1962 -- ten years after they built Show Low Lake -- to help meet their need for additional water. SRP acquired the Blue Ridge Reservoir and that sale included an agreement that a portion of the water would be delivered to the Gila River Indian Community as part of the Comprehensive Gila River Settlement. The C.C. Cragin Reservoir is capable of storing 15,000 acre-feet.

Blue Ridge Reservoir was renamed C.C. Cragin by its owners, SRP, in honor of their general superintendent, C.C. Cragin, who served in the 1920s and 1930s. He is remembered for his vision of using SRP’s water management system to generate hydroelectric power. 

FYI: The signs on FR 751 still read “Blue Ridge Reservoir.”

To get to the Blue Ridge Reservoir: From Show Low, take State Route 260 to Payson and the intersection of AZ State Route 260 and AZ State Route 87. Turn right toward Pine-Strawberry and follow until your reach Clint Wells (a gas station/store) junction. Continue on AZ State Route 87 about four miles until you see the Coconino National Forest sign (FR #751) for the Blue Ridge Reservoir. About three miles down this gravel road is the sign for the Rock Crossing Campground. If you continue on #751 two+ more miles, you will reach the Reservoir. The road is narrow and drops off on the right and follows the lake to the boat launch area.

Attractions: Fishing, boating, hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing

Facilities: 32 single unit campsites and two double unit sites with tables, fire-rings and cooking grills. There is drinking water and self-composting toilets.

Boat Ramp: No parking on boat ramp, 5-minute max. vehicle use. No swimming at the boat launch and use the make-ready area to prepare before using the boat launch.