SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE
Arizona’s legacy of sunshine and diverse natural beauty create an idyllic atmosphere and a scenic backdrop for every imaginable outdoor adventure or activity. Vast state parks and wildlife refuges are available for swimming, boating, sailing, water sports, rock climbing, exploration, nature study, hunting, fishing, off-roading, horseback riding, hiking, and biking. The opportunities for day trips, weekend holidays, and vacations are abundant in Arizona, from the world-famous Grand Canyon to the breathtaking beauty of Lake Powell.
Alamo Lake State Park
Wenden 928-669-2088
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/ALLA/index.html
Located 38 miles north of Wenden and US Highway 60, this park is one of Arizona’s best-kept secrets. Stark desert beauty is reflected in the calm water, while cacti dot the mountainous landscape around the lake. Premier bass fishing, spring wildflowers, abundant wildlife for nature study, camping areas, and fishing tournaments make the park a favorite.
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
60911 Highway 95
Parker 928-667-4144
www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/billwill.html
This nine-mile corridor at the confluence of the Bill Williams and Colorado rivers preserves 6,000 acres of pristine landscape. Majestic rock cliffs, a cool-water ribbon meandering through high Sonoran desert, and cattail-studded marshland preserve a unique ecosystem for resident and migratory wildlife.
Buckskin Mountain State Park
5476 Highway 95
Parker 928-667-3231
River Island Unit
5200 Highway 95
Parker 928-667-3386
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/BUMO/index.html
Approximately 12 miles north of Parker, this 1,667-acre park commands one of the finest views along the Parker strip. Mountain views frame the river, and the wildlife is as varied as the recreational opportunities. The nearby River Island Unit is ideal for tent campers, offering a ramada, a sandy beach cove, and a boat launch. Both park locations are popular in the summertime for boating, jet skiing, swimming, and camping.
Cattail Cove State Park
State Route 95
Lake Havasu City 928-855-1223
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/CACO/index.html
Just 15 miles south of Lake Havasu City, this vast 2,000-acre park offers a wonderful beach, boat ramp, and more than 60 campsites. Swimming, fishing, picnicking, boating, sailing on quiet coves, and water skiing or jet skiing are all popular activities. Amenities include boat rentals, a marina and RV park, and a cafe. The area that surrounds the park is a rock hound’s paradise.
Colorado River Nature Center
Route 95 to Richardo Avenue
Bullhead City 800-352-0700
www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_co_river_nature.shtml
Approximately 500 acres along the Colorado River south of Bullhead City, the CRNC offers public access to an undeveloped sandy river beach but also protects crucial wetland, riparian, and mesquite bosque habitats and preserves significant cultural resources. Boating, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing opportunities abound.
Hualapi Mountain Park
6230 Hualapi Mountain Road
Kingman 877-757-0915
www.mcparks.com/hualapai_mt_park.htm
Visitors soon discover that the beauty, character, and history of the 2,300-acre Hualapai Mountain Park cannot be fully expressed in words but can only be experienced. Rustic cabins, miles of developed and undeveloped trails, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking vistas complement the spectacular landscape that reaches a height of 8,239 feet at Aspen Peak.
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters Office
Needles, CA 760-326-3853
www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/
Two separate units covering Topock Gorge and Topock Marsh near the Colorado River offer a spectacular 37,515-acre refuge for some of the rarest bird species in North America. Other wildlife includes beaver and bighorn sheep. Hunting, boating, camping, and fishing are permitted with some restrictions.
Lake Havasu State Park
699 London Bridge Road
Lake Havasu 928-855-2784
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/LAHA/index.html
Located on river shoreline near London Bridge, the park’s scenic shoreline offers beautiful beaches, nature trails, boat ramps, and convenient campsites.
Mohave National Preserve
Headquarters Office
Barstow, CA 760-252-6100
Needles, CA 760-326-6322
www.nps.gov/moja
More than 1.5 million acres of desert habitat is located just west of Needles, California, preserving historic and natural treasures. Visitors can observe ranching activities and historic and modern mining operations through and around the “Hole in the Wall” area and follow ancient footsteps along the old Mojave Road. Spectacular geologic features combine with abundant wildlife and campgrounds to support a variety of outdoor adventures.
Parks & Recreation Contacts
Arizona State Parks
State Headquarters
Phoenix 602-542-4174
www.azstateparks.com
Bullhead City
Recreation 928-763-0158
Aquatics 928-763-0159
Senior Center 928-763-0193
www.bullheadcity.com
City of Kingman
3333 N. Harrison Road
Kingman 928-757-7919
www.cityofkingman.gov
Lake Havasu City
Parks 928-453-8686
Recreation 928-453-8686
Aquatics 928-453-CNTR
www.lhcaz.gov
La Paz County
1108 Joshua Avenue
Parker 928-667-2069
www.co.la-paz.az.us
Mohave County
3675 E. Andy Devine
Kingman 877-757-0915
www.mcparks.com
Day Trips & Getaways
Natural Wonders
Grand Canyon National Park
Headquarters Office
Grand Canyon 928-638-7888
www.nps.gov/grca
Celebrated as one of the world’s natural wonders, this magnificent chasm was carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau by the turbulent Colorado River. Offering more than awe-inspiring views, the canyon is a recreational paradise for the adventurous who explore its roads, trails, and raging waters.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Headquarters Office
Boulder City 702-293-8990
Information 702-293-8906
www.nps.gov/lame
Mammoth lakes lure boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and anglers while the desert landscape offers a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for hiking, wildlife photography, and nature study. Three of America’s four desert ecosystems converge in this seemingly barren area, which preserves a surprising variety of plants and animals including some that are found nowhere else in the world.
Lake Powell & Glen Canyon
Page 928-608-6404
www.nps.gov/glca
Boaters, anglers, nature lovers, and campers are all drawn to the unrivaled beauty of aquamarine waters beneath the splendor of chiseled canyon walls. House boating is a popular pastime at this spectacular recreational destination.
Mohave National Preserve
Headquarters Office
Barstow 760-252-6100
www.nps.gov/moja
Campgrounds, the Piute Creek four-wheeler area, and the spectacular formations of Mitchell Caverns are some of the many attractions to this vast and unique preserve.
Quartzite
Information 928-927-5600
www.quartzsitebusinesschamber.com
Rock hounds and geologists will discover a paradise in Quartzite, just 17 miles east of the Colorado River. Agates, quartz, limonite cubes, and gold have been found in this area that welcomes a million visitors to its annual gem and mineral shows from January to February.
Sunset Crater National Monument
Flagstaff 928-526-0502
www.nps.gov/sucr
This awe-inspiring, rose-colored cinder cone lies among the San Francisco Peaks, thought to be formed as early as 1066 A.D.
Supai Canyon
Havasupai Reservation
Information 928-448-2121
www.havasupaitribe.com
This exquisitely beautiful “side canyon” of the magnificent Grand Canyon is known for its ancient civilization, turquoise waters, breathtaking waterfalls, and chiseled-wall splendor. Hiking, riding horseback or on mule, or helicopter are the only means to access this remote wonderland.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Flagstaff 928-526-3367
www.nps.gov/waca
Centuries ago, the Sinagua Indians built small cliff dwellings within this panoramic horseshoe-shaped canyon.
Wupatki National Monument
Flagstaff 928-679-2365
www.nps.gov/wupa
North of Flagstaff on U.S. Highway 89, more than 800 structures make up one of the world’s greatest collections of Native American Indian dwellings.
Metropolitan Attractions
Las Vegas, Nevada
Visitor’s Bureau
Information 702-892-0711
www.lvcva.com
From some of the largest and most spectacular resort hotels and casinos in the world to stellar performances, Las Vegas holds the enviable title of “entertainment capital of the world.” Non-stop shows combine with fine boutiques, wonderful restaurants and dining experiences, pampering spas, swimming pools, attractions, and 24-hour gaming thrills.
Los Angeles, California
Visitor’s Bureau
Information 213-689-8822
Hollywood 323-467-6412
www.discoverlosangeles.com
Movie stars, Rodeo Drive shopping, world-famous museums and gardens, dazzling family attractions like Disneyland and Universal Studios, fine resorts, and oceanfront recreation are just a few of the magnets to Greater Los Angeles. Arizona’s River Cities enjoy a centralized location for a quick trip to the bright lights of Los Angeles as well as those in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Greater Phoenix & Scottsdale
Visitor’s Bureau
Information 877-CALLPHX
www.visitphoenix.com
Sun-drenched days and starlit evenings are the backdrop for fine dining, professional sports, trendy shopping, a lively nightlife, world-class resorts and spas, famous golf courses, and enriching culture. Each community within the Greater Phoenix area claims its own distinctive set of attractions.
