La Paz County Park: The Colorado River seen from La Paz County Park located north of Parker, Ariz. offers many recreational opportunities and a campground for RVers. Boating and almost all water sports are available on the Colorado River on the western border of Arizona. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Lake Havasu: The setting sun lighting the sky and reflecting the waters of Lake Havasu. This is a view of boaters and a paddle boarder on the canal which was dredged out to create a setting for the London Bridge in the 1970s. The waters open up at the end of the inlet to the open lake waters. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
When you hear the term “west coast” you naturally think of the Pacific Ocean and the states of California, Oregon and Washington. However, some landlocked states also have coasts.
The west coast that will be featured in this Post From the Road is the west coast of Arizona. Before denying that there is any coast in Arizona we must consider the western border of Arizona. Arizona’s “west coast” is made up of the Colorado River and various man-made lakes that have been developed along that stretch of the river.
Arizona’s coast begins at Lake Mead and meanders southwards to Yuma, Ariz. before leaving the state as it flows toward the Gulf of California. The two states sharing this coastline with Arizona are Nevada and California. The west coast stretches for about 350 miles from Lake Mead to Yuma but only a portion of the coastline is accessible by automobile.
With the exception of Hoover Dam (Lake Mead) near Las Vegas, Nev. and Yuma, Ariz. in southern Arizona the Colorado River cannot easily be explored except by boat. However, the center section between Bullhead City, Ariz. and Parker, Ariz. can be easily explored via Arizona Highway 95. The distance between Parker and Bullhead City is about 100 miles and offers multiple points to access the river and other amenities. This post will cover this area of the Arizona coastline.
There are numerous water sport activities from boating to paddle boarding to swimming along the west coast of Arizona. Along with the water sports you will find fishing, camping, picnic areas, hiking trails and other outdoor activities along the river. In addition to these activities you will find restaurants, lodging, shopping and other activities that appeal to residents as well as visitors to the area. The west coast of Arizona is definitely a destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.
In Parker, Ariz. you may see speed boat racing where a little farther north around Havasu City, Ariz. you will see tour boats along with recreational boaters and fishermen on Lake Havasu. Another big attraction at Havasu City is the London Bridge (yes, the actual London Bridge) which was moved from London to Havasu City in the 1970s. A canal was dredged to create a spot to relocate the bridge which also created a small island at Havasu City. The bridge brings thousands of tourists to the area every year.
A little farther north is Bullhead City, Ariz., which features many of the water and boating activities mentioned above but the main attraction to this portion of the river is across the river from Bullhead City. Directly across the Colorado River from Bullhead City is Laughlin, Nev. In recent years, Laughlin has become a popular gambling destination which attracts droves of tourists every year.
The desert can be stark in this area of Arizona but the Colorado River and related lakes create a pleasing contrast to the dry and desolate desert landscape.
When traveling west on I-10 or I-40 and have the time, travel Arizona Highway 95 and enjoy the west coast of Arizona. Drivers can access Highway 95 from I-10 at Quartzsite, Ariz. or at Bullhead City, Ariz. from I-40. If you are an outdoor or water enthusiast you may want to schedule a little longer visit as you explore the west coast!
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
London Bridge: The London Bridge is a major tourist destination when visiting Lake Havasu City. The bridge was purchased and moved block by block to Arizona and rebuilt over the canal which was dredged for the placement of the bridge. The area of the bridge is the heart of activities in the area with many restaurants, hotels, shops, and a walking path that stretches along the shoreline. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Tour Boat: A tour boat returns to its dock at Lake Havasu City, Ariz., which is located in the canal near the London Bridge. The tour boat crosses Lake Havasu and docks at Havasu Lake, Calif. allowing passengers to enjoy and see the area from a different perspective. The Chemehuevi Tribe owns the Havasu Landing Casino and Hotel at the dock on the California side of the lake. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Lake Havasu City: Known locally as ‘Arizona’s Playground’ Lake Havasu City is the largest of any of the other Arizona towns along this portion of Arizona’s west coast. This view of the city is from a tour boat on Lake Havasu near sunset. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com