Bartlett Lake, located 48 miles from downtown Phoenix and 17 miles northeast of Carefree, Arizona, is a popular recreation area in the Tonto National Forest. After wet winters, the Bartlett Lake area often has fine displays of spring wildflowers. The facilities at Bartlett Lake are managed by the Forest Service. It's part of the Tonto National Forest and therefore needs a Tonto Forest Pass ($6) per day, whether you are just visiting or camping over night. (But there's no additional charge to camp.)

Bartlett Lake is a reservoir that was formed by the damming of the Verde River in the state of Arizona. It is downstream and to the south of Horseshoe Reservoir. Constructed in 1936–39 by the Salt River Project, the Bartlett Dam and reservoir were named for Bill Bartlett, a government surveyor. Bartlett Lake was the first reservoir built on the Verde River.