Desert Belle Cruises — Attraction in Fountain Hills

We did the 2pm Narration Cruise on a Monday afternoon, end of March and it was lovely (and also pretty close to sold out!) I think for $28 bucks, it was well worth it!

Captain Dan kept things light hearted and entertaining, while at the same time being a fount of knowledge about the lake, the wildlife, plant life and history of the area. We learned so much! Even my dad who's lived here for over 10 years and is also a nerd learned a few new things!

We had a 10 day weather wise, so the cruise was just perfect! Bathrooms were clean!

While you do kind of claim seats (they are not assigned,) you are somewhat able to get up and take photos. My boyfriend and I went down to the back of the boat, where there was no one and enjoyed some of the ride there and took cute pics. Most seats are on the 2nd floor under a shaded area and it's a great vantage point due to the height. The first floor is the snack/drinks enclosed dining area and a few seats at the front of the boat, but with no shade.

The only things I would change would be: -We bought tickets in advance and were literally there 1 hour before the tour began (as per their instructions.) However, there was no one at the check-in kiosk at that time. What happens is the boat returns from the prior trip, and that staff member then opens the kiosk and starts checking in folks. Even though we were waiting by the dock, we did not notice this happened as we were watching the folks get off the boat. So by the time we noticed a line was forming back by the kiosk, we were in like the 4th or 5th boarding group, even though we had purchased tickets in advance and arrived an hour early. I would have just appreciated a simple line in the confirmation email with clearer instructions to wait in line at the kiosk for the staff or to explain how the check-in process works, in which case I would have lingered by the kiosk instead of by the dock. In the end, we got great seats all together anyway, but I did find that process a little confusing. A brief orientation via email would have helped!

-You also cannot bring your own snacks on board, which I understand from a business & practical stance, but I personally would have enjoyed being able to bring some trail mix or something simple on board. I did not purchase anything on board b/c it was so pricey.

Overall would recommend if you enjoy leisurely sailing along, learning a few interesting things and are looking for an activity to do with loved ones in the desert that...

Saguaro Lake: Stewart Mountain Dam: The dam, built between 1928 and 1930, is the reason Saguaro Lake exists.

Salt River Project (SRP): The dam was part of the SRP, a project that aimed to manage the Salt River's water resources and provide irrigation and electricity.

Last dam built on the Salt River: The Stewart Mountain Dam was the last dam built on the Salt River by the SRP.

Roosevelt Lake is one of four lakes created on the Salt River northeast of Phoenix, the others being Saguaro Lake, Apache Lake, and Canyon Lake.

President Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental in creation of the dams ..which lead to the chain of lakes.

These Lakes are beautiful places to visit and Saguaro Lake is a very popular one. There's boating and jet skiing, swimming... people can hang out on the beach.. there's wild horses, big horn sheep to be seen... there's a bat cave way out of the end of the lake. You can eat at the Cozy Saguaro Lake restaurant and enjoy some time watching the marina, and the boats going by. In the evening there's some skunks that hang around the grounds of the restaurant but they're relatively harmless and friendly and they're just Scavenging for scraps. There's even a bobcat that hangs around up on the mountain nearby. The desert Belle goes out on Lake excursions and sometimes has live entertainment. A very lovely place...

The Desert Belle Cruise on Saguaro Lake is a golden gem hidden in the mountains northeast of Phoenix. The lake is situated in the Tonto National Forest and it's gorgeous!! The Captain and crew of the Desert Belle greet you warmly upon arrival and will help you to your seats if you need assistance. There is handicap accessible seating available, but I wouldn't recommend it if you are wheelchair bound, or have serious difficulty walking. (This is due to it being a ship - no fault of the crew). There is air-conditioned seating on the main deck, but it fills up quickly, so arrive early if that's what you want. Otherwise, there is ample seating on the top desk with a cover to block the worst of the sun. The cruise is approximately 80 - 90 minutes of pure pleasure. The Captain gives a great narration of the surroundings, mountains, landscape, wildlife and history. There is lots of wildlife in the area, but it is up to Mother Nature to allow you the chance to see some of it. Some days you get very lucky, others, the wildlife is all hiding. Luck of the draw. The vistas found on the lake are awe inspiring and worth the trip - even if you don't get to see a single animal. Overall - this is a very worthwhile trip to make for family, locals and tourists alike. Discount tickets are usually available through Groupon, Living Social and...