Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Near Show Low

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area sits just outside Show Low, Arizona, at around 6,300 feet, and it's the spot to head when you want a full day on the water instead of a quick shoreline trip. It's a bigger lake than the little ones in town, with a real boat launch, developed campgrounds, picnic ramadas, and enough room to fish, paddle, and swim without tripping over anyone. From the cabins in Lakeside it's a short hop — figure roughly 15 to 20 minutes depending on where you start and how the drive through town goes.

What to Do at Fool Hollow

This is a use-the-whole-day kind of lake. You can launch a boat and troll for trout, cast from the bank in the morning, spread lunch out under a ramada, and let the kids burn off energy on the shoreline all in one outing. The recreation area is developed in the good sense — there are restrooms, paved parking, and organized day-use areas — but it still feels like the pines, not a parking lot.

Boating is a big draw here because, unlike some of the tiny electric-only lakes nearby, Fool Hollow can handle larger boats. If you've been wanting to actually run a motor, this is your lake. Check the current posted rules for horsepower or wake limits before you launch, but it's a far more boat-friendly place than Rainbow Lake in town.

Fishing Fool Hollow Lake

Fool Hollow is stocked and fishes for a nice mix. Rainbow trout are the headline through the cooler months, and the lake also holds warmwater species — largemouth bass, walleye, catfish, and sunfish among them — that come alive as the water warms in summer. That variety is what makes it fun for a mixed group: someone can chase trout off the bank while someone else works the coves for bass.

Bank fishing is solid, and there's plenty of accessible shoreline. If you've got a boat, you can reach the quieter arms and deeper water where fish hold on hot afternoons. Bring the usual: PowerBait or worms for trout, and some soft plastics or spinnerbaits if you want to try for bass. As always, check the current AZ Game & Fish stocking reports and regulations before you go — species and limits shift through the year.

Camping and Picnicking

The recreation area has developed campgrounds with sites for tents and RVs, and it's a genuinely pleasant place to overnight if that's your thing. But most cabin guests use it as a day trip, and the picnic ramadas are the reason. Shaded tables near the water make it easy to turn fishing into a whole family outing — pack a cooler, claim a ramada, and settle in. On busy summer weekends the good spots go early, so arrive in the morning if you want your pick.

Getting There from the Cabins

From Parkway Lodge or Mohave Cabin with Treehouse, you'll head toward Show Low and follow the signs to the recreation area. Call it roughly 15 to 20 minutes — close enough that you're not committing your whole day to driving, far enough that it feels like a real outing. It pairs nicely with a grocery or supply run in Show Low, since you're headed that direction anyway.

If your group has been fishing the closer, quieter Rainbow Lake and wants to level up to boating and a bigger day out, Fool Hollow is the natural next step. And if you're plotting a whole week of water, it slots in well between an easy day in town and the bigger drive up to Hawley Lake.

What to Bring

Bring your Arizona fishing license first and foremost — Fool Hollow is a state recreation area on non-tribal water, so anyone 10 and up needs a valid AZ Game & Fish license. Beyond that: rods and tackle, a cooler with lunch and plenty of water, sunscreen and hats for that high-country sun, and camp chairs. If you're bringing a boat, pack your registration and check the launch rules ahead of time. There may be a day-use or vehicle fee at the entrance, so bring a little cash or a card just in case, and check current fees before you go.

For a full day, don't skimp on shade and water. The elevation is a bit lower than Lakeside but the sun is still strong, and it's easy to underestimate how much a day on the water dries you out.

Common Questions

Do I need a license or fees for Fool Hollow Lake? Yes on the fishing license — anyone 10 or older needs a valid Arizona Game & Fish license, since this is non-tribal water. There's also typically a day-use or entrance fee for the recreation area, so bring payment and check the current rates before you arrive.

Can I bring a motorboat? Yes. Fool Hollow has a boat launch and is friendlier to larger boats than the small in-town lakes. Confirm the current motor and wake rules at the ramp before launching.

How far is it from Lakeside? Roughly 15 to 20 minutes, over toward Show Low. It's an easy drive and pairs well with a supply run in town.

Fool Hollow is the "make a day of it" lake — bigger water, boat-friendly, with room for the whole group to spread out. Staying nearby makes it painless: you can be on the water by mid-morning and back at the cabin by dinner. Check availability at the cabins and use Lakeside as your basecamp for a summer of lakes.