The Reservoir sits at the end of a dirt road, Forest Road #751, about six miles from Arizona Highway 87 and there is a designated boat ramp with parking places to unload. The steep road from the ramp leads paddlers to parking and bathrooms. The bathrooms are very clean and ventilated. I have heard horror stories about waiting for two hours on weekends because of the limited parking but there is a back entrance from the Rim Road ( only about an hour and 48 minutes longer according to my GPS) but we have only visited during the week and had no trouble at all with parking or unloading and loading our kayaks.

The Rock Crossing Campground, if open, is an excellent camping area. I camped there last summer. 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. I never saw it open during any of my three visits this year. I would recommend calling the Forest Service ahead of time before making plans to stay there.

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 Reservoir is only two miles from the campground.

A little history about the Blue Ridge Reservoir:

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 C.C. Cragin 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.

From Flagstaff, take the #3 Road (Lake Mary) until you reach AZ Route 87, follow this until you reach FR #751 and turn right.

Campground Season: Memorial Day – Mid-Fall

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.

For more information, call the Mogollon Rim Ranger District at 928-477-2255

Go to www.outdoorssw.com for a map indicating restrictions including parking.

Other places to kayak in the White Mountains:

A 150-acre lake surrounded by towering pine trees and offering 92 hook-up sites and 31 non-hookup sites. 

The Park was named when Thomas Jefferson Adair moved into the area in 1885 to start a farm. The locals joked that only a fool would try and farm that land and the name stuck.

Fools Hollow Recreation Area has a 1.5-mile walking trail that runs along the south and west sides of the lake. There is great fishing as well as Ramadas, boat ramps, and an amphitheater (with speakers and events). I have kayaked Fools Hollow Lake many times and it is one of my go-to lakes that is very easy to access. There are wildlife, eagles, great blue herons and several varieties of waterfowl. The entrance fee into the Arizona State Park is $7 unless you have a fishing permit and are planning on fishing. It is also limited to a parking lot full of anglers.

Fool Hollow Lake is located at 1500 N. Fools Hollow Rd., in Show Low, Arizona

Go to azstateparks.com/fool-hollow for more information.

At an elevation of 6,500 feet and covering an area of 100 acres, Show Low Lake is great for kayaking. It is located in Show Low, Arizona and is close enough to town for a quick day of boating. With rock cliffs and towering Ponderosa, it is a beautiful escape from the city. Boating is permitted on Show Low Lake in electric boats or gas engine boats with a maximum of 10 horsepower. Boat rentals are on first-come-first-serve basis.

Go to www.campshowlowlake.com for boat rental pricing and for camping.

Show Low Lake has the best Walleye fishing in Arizona, winning the last five Walleye state records, including the last record of 16 pounds, 2 ounces, caught in this lake. Other fish that can be caught in Show Low Lake include: Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass. There is a great variety of wildlife including eagles, waterfowl and herons.

Show Low Lake is located on Show Low Lake Road (between Walmart and Summit Health Care).