Horseshoe Cienega Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horseshoe Cienega Lake |
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 Horseshoe Cienega Lake
Location in Arizona
Horseshoe Cienega Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Apache County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34°01′56.7″N 109°41′7.8″W / 34.032417°N 109.685500°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Average depth | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Surface elevation | 8,100 ft (2,500 m) |
Horseshoe Cienega Lake is a beautiful lake located in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It's a very popular spot for fishing because it has lots of fish and is easy to reach from State Route 260. The lake is in Apache County. Since it's on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, you need special permits for activities like fishing or camping. You can get these permits in nearby Hon-Dah.
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Where is Horseshoe Cienega Lake?
Horseshoe Cienega Lake is high up, at 8,100 feet (about 2,500 meters), on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The turnoff for the lake is about 20 miles (32 km) west of Pinetop-Lakeside. It's also about 25 miles (40 km) east of Eagar.
Getting to the Lake
The main parking area and boat launch are about a mile (1.6 km) south of State Route 260. You can get there using a well-kept dirt road. Unlike many other high-altitude lakes in the White Mountains, Horseshoe Cienega Lake is open all year.
Weather at the Lake
You can even go ice fishing when the lake freezes over. This usually happens from late November until mid-April. In January, the average high temperature is about 42 °F (6 °C), and the low is around 7 °F (−14 °C). In July, it's much warmer, with an average high of 75 °F (24 °C) and a low of 44 °F (7 °C).
What is Horseshoe Cienega Lake Like?
This lake was made in the early 1960s by building a dam on Horseshoe Creek. It covers an area of 120 acres (49 hectares). The lake is about 30 feet (9.1 meters) deep on average.
Lake History
The lake was briefly drained, meaning all the water was let out, during the winter of 1990–91. The forest around the south side of the lake has about 70 basic campsites. These campsites have pit toilets, picnic tables, and places to get drinking water.
Past Amenities
There used to be a convenience store that sold permits, groceries, bait, and rented boats. It was open every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, at least until the 1990s. Now, the store seems to open only sometimes, or it might be closed for good.
Fishing Records
Horseshoe Cienega Lake once held the state record for the biggest brown trout ever caught. This fish weighed 16 pounds, 7 ounces, and was almost 30 inches long! However, this record was broken in 1999 by a brown trout caught in Reservation Lake.
Fish Species in the Lake
Horseshoe Cienega Lake is home to several types of trout. These fish make it a great place for anglers!
