About this spot
Saguaro Lake, near Mesa/Fort McDowell in Tonto National Forest's Lower Salt River corridor, has a well-known cluster of jump ledges near Butcher Jones Recreation Site, reached by trail along the cliffs west of the beach or by paddling over. Heights run from a kid-friendly 6 feet up to about 35-40 feet at the tallest ledges; some boulders sit in the landing zone on the bigger jumps, generally avoidable with a short running start, and the water deepens quickly once clear of the rock. A Tonto Pass recreation permit is required to park at Lower Salt River sites. Reach the area from Mesa via Power Road/Bush Highway, and always check current water level and crowding before jumping.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.
Watch & read
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- r/ Reddit — Saguaro Lake, Arizona USA. 1-5-25.
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