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Dennis Begin
Colorado River and Echo Lodge RV Park, CA
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Dennis Begin
Map of Arizona, Rand McNally Map
Words by Dennis Begin
The Colorado River is RVing country. This massive river originates in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and flows 2,300 km (1,450 mi) into the Gulf of California. On its journey south, the river passes through seven US States, two Mexican States, and the Sonoran Desert. It creates the state boundaries between Nevada, California, and Arizona. With a sense of humour, locals call the river ‘Arizona’s West Coast.’ While the Colorado River is often associated with the Grand Canyon, it also has many more surprising attributes.
Although many snowbirds spend the winter in Yuma, it is the area from Parker, AZ to Laughlin, NV, which is a paradise for RVers. On the last count, there are 42 RV Parks along US-95 and I-40, a distance of 150 km (98 mi). Along this route are wonderful recreational opportunities for boating, hiking, ATVing, golfing, gaming and exploring the original Route 66.
Mojave (Aha Makave) refers to the indigenous people who 'lived by the water.' Evidence of their existence can be found along the Colorado River with pictographs, petroglyphs and especially geoglyphs, like the Parker Snake and The Twins near Laughlin.
Parker – Mile 0
This little town is known for its electric power dam, the ‘deepest dam in the world.’ Other attractions include the fake tombstone of Wyatt Earp and the 16 mile Parker Water Strip. Parker has 14 RV parks along both sides of the river, with gas stations, big box stores, and the Bluewater Casino. A unique experience involves visiting the Desert Bar embedded deep in the Buckskin Mountains. Back on US-95, the highway passes through red rocky canyons, offset by sand bars and the blue water of the Colorado River.
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Dennis Begin
Lake Havasu and Havasu Springs, Az.
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Dennis Begin
London Bridge in Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu City – Mile 35
Lake Havasu City, meaning ‘blue water’ in Mojave language, is really a lake created by the Parker Dam and the Colorado River. With a population of approximately 55,000, Havasu is the largest city along the river and lacks no amenities. The city was largely created by Robert McCulloch, who built outboard motors and small gyro-planes, along with the infrastructure of the city. However, it was the historic London Bridge that made McCulloch famous. In 1968, McCulloch purchased the authentic stone bridge for $2.46 million, had it shipped through from London England, through the Panama Canal to Long Beach, CA, and then trucked to Lake Havasu. The bridge was reassembled piece by piece and the Bridgewater Canal was dug to create an island. Future growth included an English Village, marina, golf course, and RV resorts. There are now 13 RV parks in Lake Havasu to select from but you will still need to book early for the winter.
If you are interested in dry camping in the desert near Havasu, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), allows RVers to stay, for a small fee.
In addition to water sports, hiking is a popular activity. From Sara Park there is a ten km (six mi) hike using the Crack in the Rock Trail to Balance Rock Cove and return. The park also has mountain bike trails, a BMX/motocross Track, a speedway, and even a dog park.
Interested in gambling? Take the ferry from London Bridge ($2.00) to Havasu Landing Resort, CA, on the opposite side of the lake.
Topock Gorge - Mile 58
The locals call the Topock Gorge a miniature Grand Canyon. The gorge is four miles long and is only accessible by powerboat from Lake Havasu. The canyon is lined with red rocks, dunes and pinnacle peaks such as the ‘Needles,’ where the name originated for the Town of Needles. The gorge is also associated with the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, where big-horn sheep and wild burros are seen along the shoreline. Guided tours are available.
Needles – Mile 70
Needles, CA became famous because of Route 66. Tourist attractions, however, are largely outside city limits including the Topock Maze, John Steinbeck’s cabin, the old Route 66 highway, the Mojave National Preserve with the Mitchell Caverns and the old mining town of Oatman with its many donkeys. In Needles, check out what remains of the Fred Harvey El Garces Hotel and Carty’s Camp at 66 Hotel, where scenes from the movie Grapes of Wrath were filmed in 1940. For RVers, there are ten RV parks and campgrounds in the area.
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Dennis Begin
The Needles at Topack, Az
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Dennis Begin
Avi Resort Golf Course, NV
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Aquarius Hotel in Laughlin, NV
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Dennis Begin
Laughlin, NV, from Black Mountain
Laughlin – Mile 98
The Colorado River splits Bullhead City, AZ, and Laughlin, NV, as the river flows south. Nevada is called the Silver State, known for its mining background and gaming. In 1964, Don Laughlin bought a strip of land called South Pointe, building his first casino (Riverside), consisting of 12 slot machines and two gambling tables.
There are now ten large hotels/casinos along the river, consisting of 10,000 hotel rooms, 7,303 slots, 174 table games, and 60 restaurants. Brand name hotels include Harrah’s, Tropicana and the Aquarius. The major RV parks are the Sunrise Adventures Riverview RV Resort, the Riverside Resort RV Park and the Avi Casino KOA Park.
If gaming does not interest you, take a river cruise, visit the Grapevine Canyon petroglyphs, Don Laughlin’s Classic Car Collection or stroll the Riverwalk.
Golfing
RVing and golfing go together. There are courses for beginners to PGA quality courses. Just north of Parker is Emerald Canyon, rated the Best Scenic Challenging Course in Arizona. The course plays around and through red rock canyons, with the Colorado River and Whipple Mountains providing the backdrop.
Lake Havasu City has four golf courses, two at Lake Havasu Golf Course, the upscale Refuge Cove and a challenging nine-hole course at Bridgewater Links. Needles has a municipal golf course called Rivers Edge Golf Course.
Golf is a major attraction in Laughlin/Bullhead City, with eight courses. The top three include Mojave Resort at Avi Hotel/Casino, El Rio along US-95 and the Laughlin Ranch on Black Mountain. The Ranch is the 14th ranked course in Arizona. If interested in a golf package, contact the Aquarius Hotel.
The Colorado River has a great deal to offer RVers. North of Laughlin is Mojave Lake, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon West Rim Skywalk, Lake Mead and finally, Fabulous Las Vegas.
Dennis Begin