Rainbow Lake dates to 1903, when Mormon settlers dammed Walnut Creek. Their settlement later grew into Lakeside, now part of Pinetop-Lakeside. Homes ring the 116-acre lake today. It sits at 6,760 feet and is very shallow, with a maximum depth of about 14 feet and an average of 7, which makes it weedy and prone to water-quality problems as summer goes on.
Ownership makes this lake unusual. An irrigation company owns the water and the land under the lake, the shoreline is almost entirely private, and water levels rise and fall with irrigation demand and precipitation. The public reaches the lake through a small parcel next to the dam that AZGFD owns and maintains for fishing and boating. AZGFD has stocked catchable rainbow trout in spring and early summer, and since 2024 that has followed the Show Low area's March-to-July schedule. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish reproduce naturally, and illegally introduced northern pike are also present.
Check the lake's status before you go. In 2026 the irrigation company has been considering making the lake private. At a June 2026 community meeting reported by the White Mountain Independent, participants said AZGFD would not stock a private lake and that its stocking agreement expires in October. As of August 2026, negotiations involving the irrigation company, Pinetop-Lakeside, and Show Low were still under way. Contact AZGFD's Pinetop regional office to confirm current access and stocking.
Lake notes updated October 6, 2026No recent official weeks are listed for Rainbow Lake right now. AZGFD may still add this water in a later schedule.
No stocking activity found for this period.
From State Route 260 in Lakeside, turn south on Rainbow Lake Road or Lakeview Lane to reach the AZGFD parcel by the dam. The parcel has the only public boat ramp, a barrier-free fishing pier, and paved parking, but no restrooms. The land around the rest of the lake is private and closed to the public, so stay within the posted public area.
With so little public shoreline, AZGFD says Rainbow Lake is best fished from a boat. The pier and the bank beside the ramp are the shore options. The closest public camping is the Forest Service's Lakeside Campground on SR 260, about a quarter mile west of Porter Mountain Road and a few hundred yards from the dam. AZGFD lists 82 sites with vault toilets and drinking water.
This is the best trout window. AZGFD says water quality is good, weeds are down, and stocking is under way. The current Show Low–Pinetop schedule runs from March to July.
Weeds and water-quality problems make trout fishing harder, and irrigation draws can lower the level. Bass, pike, and catfish remain options.
There is no regular trout stocking, and with the lake's public status in question for fall 2026 and beyond, confirm access before you plan a trip.
Rainbow Lake is not a White Mountain Apache tribal water. AZGFD maintains the public access, and Arizona law applies. Anglers 10 and older need a valid Arizona fishing license; children under 10 do not. General statewide limits apply: 4 trout, 6 bass, 10 catfish, and unlimited sunfish per day. Northern pike are unlimited but must be killed or released immediately. Boats may use a single electric motor or a gas motor of 10 horsepower or less, and live baitfish are prohibited throughout this fishing area. Waters on the nearby Fort Apache Indian Reservation work differently: they require a White Mountain Apache Tribe permit, and state licenses are not valid there. Check AZGFD before fishing, since access terms here may change.
No. Rainbow Lake sits beside State Route 260 in Lakeside, and AZGFD maintains its public access, so an Arizona fishing license applies. Lakes on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation instead require a White Mountain Apache Tribe permit.
Only at the AZGFD parcel next to the dam, which has a fishing pier. Nearly all other shoreline is private, which is why AZGFD recommends fishing from a boat.
Its future is uncertain. The irrigation company that owns the lake has been considering privatization, and community members reported in June 2026 that AZGFD would stop stocking a private lake after its agreement expires in October. Confirm current status with AZGFD's Pinetop office before visiting.
Spring and early summer. AZGFD says that is when water quality is best, weeds are low, and trout are being stocked.
Dates are AZGFD stocking weeks, not guaranteed plant days. How this data is sourced