Lake Havasu Information

Lake Havasu borders Arizona and California on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, and San Bernardino County, California. The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation runs along Lake Havasu’s entire California shoreline, and Lake Havasu City is on its Arizona border. The Colorado River feeds Lake Havasu. Parker Dam impounds Lake Havasu, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam.

The Metropolitan Water District owns and operates the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct, which stretches from Lake Havasu, Arizona, to its terminal reservoir at Lake Mathews near Riverside, California. The Lake Havasu Field Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management manages the public lands surrounding Lake Havasu in Arizona.

Lake Havasu covers 19,300 acres with over 400 miles of shoreline, an average depth of 35 feet, and a maximum depth of 90 feet. Lake Havasu is home to the famous London Bridge, which industrialist Robert P. McCulloch purchased from the U.K. in 1968. McCulloch established Lake Havasu City in 1964 as a recreational and retirement development. The Mohave and the Sonoran Deserts flank Lake Havasu.

Lake Havasu supports diverse desert plant and wildlife with a variety of cacti. Steep reddish-brown cliffs, desert, gorges, and marshy grasslands frame Lake Havasu. The Chemehuevi Indians own the Havasu Landing Resort & Casino in Havasu Lake, California. Except for Havasu City and southern Havasu Lake, there is little development around Lake Havasu.

Lake Havasu History

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built the Parker Dam on Lake Havasu between 1934 and 1938. Seventy-three percent of the dam's structural height of 320 feet is below the original river bed, with only about 85 feet of the dam's structural height visible.

The Chemehuevis are the southernmost branch of the Southern Paiute people. The Chemehuevi lived in close conjunction with the Mohave people, usually, but not always, on friendly terms. These tribes ranged from the Colorado River to the San Bernardino Mountains, which were familiar hunting grounds with Chemehuevi landmark names.

Evidence indicates that Native Americans inhabited the Colorado River Basin since One A.D. The Chemehuevis split from the Southern Paiutes in the Las Vegas area before the early 1800s. They ranged over the Mohave Desert by the mid-1800s. The Chemehuevis are linguistically related to the greater Uto-Aztecan language family, which includes languages spoken by peoples from the Great Basin of the Northwest U.S. south into Central Mexico.

While the Civil War raged in the East, Immigrants discovered valuable mineral deposits and established mines in the West. After the town of Prescott developed as the capital of the new Arizona Territory in 1864, the need for mail service arose. The Indians had become aggressive and attacked mail carriers at random. Relationships between the Mohave and Chemehuevi deteriorated and escalated into war in 1867. In the meantime, the Colorado River’s resources had become a hotly debated topic.

Settlers eventually depleted the Indian’s meat sources, which reduced them to working for wages for the new inhabitants. In 1870, the U.S. government relocated the Mohave to a reservation at Fort Mohave, which spans the borders of Arizona, California, and Nevada. The 1908 U.S. Supreme Court decision Winters v. United States recognized Indian water rights regardless of whether or not a tribe had used the water, with rights established at the time reservations were created.

Delegates from the seven Colorado River Basin states met on November 9, 1922, in New Mexico to discuss, negotiate, and ultimately work out the Colorado River Compact. This compact apportioned Colorado River water between the Upper and Lower Basin States and is a defining document in Colorado River management. The delegates signed the compact on November 24, 1922, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But, the contract promised the states more water than existed.

The Colorado River Compact came into play during the environmental movement in the 1970s, when the U.S. enacted1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), which severely complicated Colorado River management with new criteria. The river’s power was harnessed to turn turbines and irrigate crops, and especially the cotton thirsty crops in Arizona. The ESA ensured that the Colorado River is a protected and preserved ecosystem and created a new conflict.

The controversy of how to utilize the Colorado River’s water and protect its ecosystem remains today. Lake Havasu is in the Lower Colorado River Basin. It is home to over 56,000 people and a flourishing tourism industry that attracts over 835,000 visitors every year. The London Bridge is the most famous landmark in Lake Havasu City and one of the most visited historic sites in all of Arizona.

Fishing Lake Havasu

Predominant game species include largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, bluegill, carp, channel catfish and flathead catfish, black crappie, green and redear sunfish, tilapia, and rainbow trout. Roundtail chubs, bonytail chubs, and razorback suckers are protected species. Lake Havasu is a top fishing destination in the Southwest and hosts premier bass tournaments year-round.

Arizona and California have reciprocal fishing licenses on Lake Havasu, and anglers can fish from a boat in the waters of both states except on California shores. Anglers need a California Fishing License to fish from the shore in California. Anglers also need a Colorado River Special Use Stamp when fishing from a boat on waters which form mutual boundaries between Arizona and California or Nevada. River stamps are required on some streams around Lake Havasu.

Lake Havasu bass fishing is considered the best in the Southwest because of its warm water. The air temperature ranges from 75 to 108 degrees year-round. Lake Havasu’s rock layers hold pockets in between the layers, and are perfect for catching bass near Lake Havasu’s shoreline. Lake Havasu’s water begins as precipitation at the top of the Central Rocky Mountains. It is fresh, clean water, which creates an outstanding fishery.

Lake Havasu fishing guides will say every cove in Lake Havasu cove potentially holds a big bass. Anglers at Lake Havasu do have to compete with pleasure boaters for quiet fishing areas. The lake can become dangerously windy too. Wind warning lights and alarms placed strategically around Lake Havasu give anglers the chance to seek cover before the fast oncoming wind creates unsafe boating and fishing conditions.. Fishing from a boat is more productive than shore fishing. Anglers can explore quite a few fishing hot spots on Lake Havasu.

Lake Havasu Upper River

Catfish Bay is a sheltered bay with reeds and tulles to the north side and shallow rocky points to the south, just north of where the Colorado River drains into the main lake. Find largemouth in and around the tulles and smallmouth around rocky points and cuts. Structures: Reeds, tulles, points, cuts, and boulders. Best for: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, and bluegill.

Jops Harbor is a sheltered bay to the north end of the lake. It has reeds and tulles and a significant amount of submerged vegetation and grass in the summer and several narrow points. It is great for bed fishing in the spring. Structures: Reeds, tulles, points, cuts, and boulders. Best for: Largemouth, smallmouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and tilapia.

Castle Rock Bay is tucked away, completely sheltered from the main river channel, and is surrounded by reeds and tulles. Structures: Reeds, tulles, points, cuts, and boulders. Best for: Largemouth, bluegill, catfish, and tilapia.

Blankenship Bend has a group of areas of fishing hot spots, and not a singular location. Fishing is more productive by focusing on the inner bend and in all the small washout coves that the river current creates. Or fish rocky bluff walls just off the main river channel. Find largemouth in and around the tulles and smallmouth along the rocky points and walls. Structures: Reeds, tulles, points, cuts, and boulders. Best species to target: Largemouth, bluegill, catfish, and tilapia.

Mid-Lake Havasu

Successful Lake Havasu mid-lake anglers target artificial structures other than docks and marinas, like Christmas trees, Georgia cubes, and reef balls. Lake Havasu placed 10 Georgia cubes and 10 reef balls around the lake in 2019. Focus on other types of secondary cover where bass could hold in, like drop-offs, submerged grass, and washes or culverts.

The Windsor Beach area is on the Arizona side of the lake and stretches along almost a mile and a half of shoreline. It has multiple fishing docks, marinas, sightseeing areas, and artificial structures. Structures: artificial structure, fishing docks, marinas, submerged grass, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, and points. Best for: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and tilapia.

Chalk Cliffs to Ski Cove Three: Schools of striped bass will suspend around the river channel ledge and multiple points in this area. Structures: Submerged river channel, ledges, points, sparse artificial structure. Best for: Largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, bluegill, and crappie.

The Ski Cove One to the Grass Island area features submerged grass that grows abundantly in the summer. Largemouth bass like the patches of submerged brush and timber, along with cuts and runoff channels. Structures: Artificial habitat and structure, grass, reeds, tulles, ledges, points, submerged brush, river channel, timber, and floating tires. Best for: Largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, bluegill, and crappie.

The Daytona Wash to Contact Point is south of the London Bridge is extremely productive and has access points for kayak or float tube anglers. It is loaded with artificial structures, submerged weed flats, cuts, drop-offs, and washes. In the backs of the pockets and coves, there are large sections of tulles and reeds. Because of the river current flowing straight into this area, fishing early mornings and late evenings are the most productive. Striped bass will hold over the main lake river channel drop-offs. Structures: Rocks, points, cuts, tulles, reeds, fishing docks, submerged grass, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, and points. Best for: Bluegill, largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, and catfish.

The Three Points to Teal Point stretch of Lake Havasu has lots of artificial structures, cuts, drop-offs, pockets, and washes and is rockier, which makes it excellent for smallmouth bass habitat. Sections of tulles and reeds are in the backs of the pockets and coves. Because of the river current flowing straight into this area, fishing early mornings and late evenings are the most productive. Structures: artificial structure, submerged grass, tulles, reeds, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, chunk rock, boulders, and points. Best for: Bluegill, largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, and catfish.

The Havasu Palms into Whipple Bay area sees less recreational boaters. RV’ers that stay in Whipple Point fish this area from the shore, boat, kayak, or float tube. It has a good amount of artificial structures, docks, a marina, drop-offs, pockets, and washes, and tends to be rockier. Structures: artificial structure, submerged grass, tulles and reeds, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, chunk rock, boulders, and points. Best for: Bluegill, largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, and catfish.

Lower Lake Havasu

Three Dunes Point to Cattail Cove State Park has an area between Three Dunes Point and Sandpoint Marina that is secluded and does not see many recreational boaters. Campers and RV’ers fish this area from the shore, boat, kayak, or float tube. This area has lots of artificial structures, cuts, drop-offs, pockets, and washes, and is rockier. Structures: artificial structure, submerged grass, tulles and reeds, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, chunk rock, boulders, and points. Best for: Bluegill, largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, and catfish.

The Bass Isles to Powerline Cove has many options and structures to fish and is not often frequented by recreational boaters. Structures: artificial structure, submerged grass, tulles and reeds, ledges, drop-offs, culverts, chunk rock, boulders, and points. Best for: Bluegill, largemouth and striped bass, catfish, and tilapia.

The Bill Williams River is about 25 miles south of Lake Havasu City. It offers solitude and drains into Lake Havasu. Its mouth is an open area that is productive for largemouth and striped bass and lined with tall reeds and tulles. Anglers can avoid the strong winds on this river. Structures: Reeds, tulles, open bay. Best for: Largemouth and striped bass, bluegill, and tilapia.

Get out on the water with our Lake Havasu Fishing Guides page.

Boating Lake Havasu

From high-performance racing boats to pontoon boats, Lake Havasu provides ample room for boaters who enjoy all water activities. Boat owners with two-stroke watercraft can operate their vessels on the lake, but two-stroke watercraft must be in good operating condition to avoid water pollution.

Boaters play on Lake Havasu’s sandy beaches or coves, visit the islands, water-ski, wakeboard, canoe, or kayak. Visit the lower Colorado River’s scenic canyons, cliffs, and take in abundant wildlife sightings. Some, but not all, boat-in campsites around the lake have barbecue grills, portable or pit toilets, and shaded picnic tables. Except in no-wake zones, there are no size restrictions or speed limits on the lake.

Lake Havasu boat rental services are plentiful, and houseboat rentals provide hotel amenities on the water. Lake Havasu has some of the best beaches in the Southwest. Water temperatures average 79 degrees from May through September. Six marinas and 12 motorized and six non-motorized launches dot the lakeshores, but not all the marinas have gas docks.

Shop or sell a boat on our Lake Havasu Boats for Sale page.

Plan your trip to Lake Havasu by calling one of the marinas today on our Lake Havasu Marinas page, and explore our Lake Havasu Boat Ramps Map.

Lake Havasu Real Estate

Lake Havasu homes for sale are in Arizona only. The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation covers the whole of California’s shoreline, except for a tiny portion at the southern end of the lake that is mostly part of the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona. Two tiny communities, one on the Parker Dam Road on the Colorado River and Castle Rock Communities, are residential on the southern end. The other homes for sale are in Crystal Beach, Desert Hills, Lake Havasu City, and the Havasu Riviera State Park on the northern border.

The average price for a home at Lake Havasu runs a little over $500,000. Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is part of the Mohave County R-1 School District, with 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and five high schools. The closest international airports are McCarran in Las Vegas, at 150 miles away, or Sky Harbor in Phoenix, at 195 miles away. Lake Havasu City has a local airport.

The I-95 corridor runs along the eastern border of Lake Havasu. There is one Walmart Supercenter and a Best Buy near Lake Havasu City, along with many boutique shops. Most of the Lake Havasu restaurants are located around this corridor. Most of the casinos and nightlife are also in this area at Lake Havasu. The Havasu Landing Resort & Casino is in the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation in California on the north side of the lake.

To find your dream home, explore our Lake Havasu Homes for Sale page.

Lake Havasu Cabin Rentals

The Lake Havasu State Park offers 13 two and three-room cabins. The Crazy Horse Campgrounds has ten cabins. There are many options to choose from in vacation home rentals, and the prices average a little over $200 a night and up. The vacation homes at Lake Havasu are upscale rentals with plenty of amenities. Most of the rentals are in the Lake Havasu City area with a few on the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation in California. Visitors can find other Lake Havasu cabin and vacation home rentals at vrbo.com and airbnb.com.

Find the perfect vacation home on our Lake Havasu Cabins page.

Lake Havasu Camping

The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation in California offers 1,015 full-service campsites for tents and RV sites with 30 and 50 AMP hook ups. Amenities include showers, a boat launch and slip rentals, a day beach, dry storage, a dump station, laundry facilities, a marina, and 24-hour security with free WI-FI, and is big rig friendly. Its Havasu Landing Resort provides a fully stocked grocery store with fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, a deli, a large casino, and a ferry that carries patrons across the lake. Visitors can rent by the day, week, or month, with various holiday rates.

The Cattail Cove State Park in Arizona offers 61 campsites total, 57 RV sites offer 30 amp electric hookups, and four sites have 50 amp service. Maximum occupancy is 10 people, with a maximum of 6 adults per campsite, two vehicles per campsite, and a maximum two-week stay. All sites have electric and water, a picnic table, and a BBQ/fire pit, with fires allowed, unless fire restrictions are in effect. The park sells unreserved sites on a first come, first served basis.

From April 1 through Sept. 30, there is a two-night minimum stay for weekend camping. Visitors must reserve Friday and Saturday night. On Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, and Columbus Day weekend, there is a three-night minimum stay for weekend camping. This park has primitive boat-in camping sites with picnic tables, stand-up BBQ grills, and access to pit toilets. Please plan to pack out your trash. No fire pits or campfires are allowed at year-round at boat-in sites, but propane stoves are allowed. All boat-in camping sites are first come, first serve.

The Three Dunes Campgrounds in Cattail Cove State Park offers 32 boat-in campsites only. Its sites have picnic tables, BBQ grills, and pit toilets. The day-use fee at Three Dunes is $10, plus an additional $10 per site to stay overnight. On holiday weekends, live DJs spin tunes. These sites are first come, first serve.

The Lake Havasu State Park offers 54 sites and all sites have 50 amp electrical hookups and access to potable water at individual sites, plus 13 cabins. Campsites include a picnic table and a fire ring and most have shade ramadas. Most sites accommodate RVs or tents. Amenities include use of the shower/restroom, water, a dump station, a beach, and day-use facilities. A special events area is not available on holiday weekends.

The Crazy Horse Campgrounds features 612 RV sites, 200 tent sites, and 10 cabins. All sites include water and electric service. Waterfront sites do not have sewer on site. For sites without sewer hookups, it offers on site dump stations or mobile pump services. Amenities include a boat launch, hot tub, laundry facilities, a pool, and a recreation room with day passes available.

Besides Lake Havasu RV Parks, there are a few RV rental services at Lake Havasu. Most Lake Havasu RV parks offer daily, weekly or monthly rates. Most RV park amenities include resort discount offers, convenience stores, clubhouses, cable TV, full hookups with water, cable TV, electric, and sewer or dump stations, handicap facilities, laundry facilities, heated pools and hot tubs, recreation rooms with games and exercise activities, and .high speed Wi-Fi. They may charge a fee for cable TV, Wi-Fi, and monthly utilities.

Campbell Cove RV
D-J's RV Park
Havasu Falls RV
Havasu RV Resort
Islander Resort
Prospectors RV Resort & Spa
Sam's Beachcomber RV Resort

Check out our list of campgrounds and RV parks for your family adventure on our Lake Havasu Camping page.

Hiking Lake Havasu

Backpacking and hiking in the desert require precautionary preparations, which are essential to fully experience its nature. Hikers need to tell someone where they are going and when they plan on returning, and leave a copy of their itinerary in their vehicles for authorities to find in case of emergencies. Safety and conservation precautions when hiking in desert landscapes are:

Recommended to Wear

Bandana
Comfortable hiking boots or sturdy shoes/sneakers
Gloves if hiking steep terrain
Hat
Sunglasses with a strap and polarized with UV protection
Sweatshirt or jacket for winter hikes or hikes to higher elevations
Watch for keeping track of daylight hours
Dress in layers, as temperatures are variable.

Recommended to Bring

Binoculars
Camera
Cell phone, although service may not be available in some areas. Turn on cell phones which may help authorities locate you in case of an emergency.
Compass
Day pack with padded shoulder straps
First aid kit: ace bandages, bandages, pain killers, mole skin, and surgical adhesive
Flashlight or headlight
GPS unit
Map
Salty snacks, trail mix, power bars and/or sandwiches for longer hikes
Sunscreen and lip balm
Toilet paper, tissue or paper towels, but please carry out
Walking stick
Water/sports drink, two quarts per person for four hours of hiking. The desert’s dry air acts like a sponge, drawing the water out of you as you do not realize it.
Whistle or noise-making device

Lake Havasu Trails

Walks, No Vehicle Needed:

Island Trail: 3.6 miles, 1.5 hours
Mohave Trail: 4 miles, 2 hours
Shoreline Trail: 2 miles, 1 hour

Easy Hikes, Some Hills, Car Needed to Get to Trailhead

Chemehuevi Trail: 4 miles, 2 hours
Mockingbird Wash Trail: 4 miles, 2 hours
Water Tank Trail: 6.2 miles, 3 hours

Moderate Hikes with Climbing, Car Needed to Get to Trailhead

Arch Rock Loop Trail: 4.5 miles, 3 hours
Crack in the Mountain Trail: 5 miles, 3 hours
Keyhole Landing Trail: 7.2 miles, 4 hours
Mallard Cove/Teal Point Trail: 5.3 miles, 3 hours
Pilot Rock Trail: 7 miles, 4 hours
Sara Mountain Park Loop Trail: 5 miles, 3 hours
Standard Wash Trail: 9.6, 4.5 hours
Three Dunes Trail: 6.5 miles, 3.5 hours

Difficult Hikes with Long Slopes and Scrambling, Car or Four-Wheel Needed

Crossman Peak Trail: 6 miles, 5 hours
Cupcake Mountain Trail: 4.5 miles, 5.5 hours
Dead Burro Mountain Trail: 7.3 miles, 4.5 hours
Iron Door Mine Trail: 5 miles, 4 hours
Lizard Peak/Picnic Table Mountain Trail: 4 miles, 3 hours

Lake Havasu Things to Do

Lake Havasu restaurants are mostly in or near the Lake Havasu City area on the northeastern side of Lake Havasu. The Havasu Landing Resort & Casino on the Chemehuevi Reservation in California offers a gourmet restaurant. You can order almost any cuisine imaginable in Lake Havasu restaurants, from Americana to European cuisines, and these restaurants give top tier service and serve satiating dishes.

Visitors can take hot-air balloon rides from Lake Havasu Hot Air Balloon Rides and Wanderlust Balloons, go hang gliding over Lake Havasu, rent a Polaris Slingshot, rent a water jet pack, rent a parasail, take a helicopter ride over the lake and desert, and go skydiving.

Lake Havasu Boat Tours

Bluewater Jet Boat Tours
Channel Catz
Cruisin’ Tikis Lake Havasu
Dixie Belle
Havasu Boat Tours
River Rat Yacht Club
Rubba Duck Safari
Sunset Charter & Tour Co

Lake Havasu Casinos

Blue Resort & Casino: Parker, Arizona
Dreamcatcher to Havasu Landing Resort & Casino: Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Havasu Landing Casino: Needles, California
Havasu Landing Resort & Casino: Chemehuevi Reservation, California
Win Win Casino: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu Golf Courses

Bridgewater Links Golf Club
Emerald Canyon Golf Course
Iron Wolf Golf & Country Club
Island Golf Club
Lake Havasu Golf Resort
Refuge Golf & Country Club

Most visitors to Lake Havasu flock to the London Bridge. Because of uneven construction, many repairs, and reconstructions, the bridge survived over 600 years in London. Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. an inventor and entrepreneur, who had outstanding success in the boat motor and chainsaw markets, came to Lake Havasu to test his motors. McCulloch set about growing his small boat motor company into a thriving Lake Havasu City as a tourist destination. He bought the London Bridge in 1968. The London Bridge crosses a river connecting two parts of Lake Havasu as McCulloch Boulevard North in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Lake Havasu is home to more lighthouses than any other lake in the entire country. The lake’s shoreline hosts a collection of 28 scaled-down lighthouse replicas. All are actual functioning navigational aids. They are built to the specifications of famous lighthouses from the shores of the East Coast, West Coast, and Great Lakes. Over eighteen are visible along Lake Havasu's shores. Most are accessible by hiking and others only by boat.

The Aquatic Center Indoor Waterpark, in Lake Havasu City, features a heated Olympic-sized pool, which is used for lap swim and exercise classes, but also becomes a wave pool during designated open swim times. This facility features two hot tubs, a kiddie lagoon, a pipeline slide, and an outdoor splash pad. On site vending machines provide snacks and drinks, but visitors can bring their own food and beverages. Hours vary by day and season, and the cost is $6 for adults, $5 for children, and free for kids under three.

Visit the Lake Havasu Museum of History and explore the extensive history of the Lake Havasu City area through the eyes of Native American Chemehuevi and Mohave tribes through modern times. The Lake Havasu Museum of History offers free education programs each Saturday. The programs are open to all ages, and the program changes each week. Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Lake Havasu City and the surrounding region feature several vortex energy sites, where visitors can tap into the up-flow, rejuvenating energy moving up and out of the earth, or the inflow, calming energy flowing back into the earth, and meditate. The vortexes are located at Castle Rock Bay and Topok Gorge in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Rotary Community Park, Yonder Park, Cattail Cove State Park, and Take Off Point Recreation Area at Parker Dam.

The Desert Bar, also called the Nellie E. Saloon, is located near the Parker Dam at AZ-95 at Cienega Springs Road, and Parker, Arizona. This bar offers a one-of-a-kind experience in an old mining camp. Solar energy powers the bar, and it is built from many unique materials, such as windows from old refrigerator doors and wielded steel barstools. It is not accessible by paved roads, and it is only open on weekends with a stage for live music and DJs from noon until the sun goes down during the October through April.

Plan the perfect day trip or vacation on our Things to Do at Lake Havasu page.

Lake Havasu Weather & Climate

Lake Havasu sees an average of 5 inches of rain per year, with no snow and 290 days of sunshine. The winter low in January is 42 degrees and a summer high in July of 109 degrees. March, April, and November are the most comfortable months for this region. July and August are the least comfortable months.

Keep your eyes on the skies with our Lake Havasu Weather Forecast page.

Lake Havasu Zip Codes

Mohave County, Arizona: 885344, 86403, 86406.

San Bernardino County, California: 92267, 92363.