Top Boating Attractions

From boaters with high-performance race boats to those with cruising pontoon boats, there’s plenty of room and lots to do for all on one of the most popular Arizona boating lakes. In addition to the Bridgewater Channel near the famed London Bridge, hidden coves and beaches are perfect places to relax for the day, or you can opt to explore the river, with its canyons, cliffs, and abundant wildlife–you won’t find many lakes in Arizona that offer so much to do. Water temperatures range from 75 to 85 degrees, perfect for a quick dip. If a longer stay is what you're looking for, check out the many boat-in campsites. Since Lake Havasu is one of the top Arizona boating lakes, we always have updated news on boating events and facilities in our blog.

Here are just some of the must-see boating locations that make Lake Havasu one of the best lakes in Arizona.

Around Lake Havasu City:

London Bridge

In 1958, entrepreneur Robert McCulloch spotted Lake Havasu from the air and envisioned building a city /community along its shoreline. About ten years later, McCulloch and town planner C.V. Wood had a brainstorm to purchase the London Bridge from England and reconstruct it in Lake Havasu City as a tourist attraction. Today, the London Bridge is the second most popular tourist attraction in the State of Arizona, bested only by the Grand Canyon.

Bridgewater Channel

Every day is a virtual non-stop boat parade when you’re at the Bridgewater Channel, the narrow ribbon of ‘no wake’ navigable water that runs beneath the London Bridge creating a waterfront for shops and restaurants.  The southern end of the man-made channel is bordered by sandy beachfront, a favorite resting, socializing and tanning place for boaters to “beach’ during spring, summer and early fall. 

Site Six Fishing Pier

In 1943, the U.S. military built the Havasu Auxiliary Airfield #6 to serve as an emergency landing strip as part of its World War II defense plan. After the war ended, Site Six was eventually purchased by Robert McCulloch as a test center for his McCulloch outboard motor line of products. Today, Site Six is a busy public recreational boating facility with launch ramp, docks, restrooms and a popular fishing pier. In order to enhance the fishing, a made-made structure was placed beneath the water to provide habitat to attract a wide variety of species.

South of Lake Havasu City

Copper Canyon

In years past, Copper Canyon was considered Lake Havasu’s number one gathering place for boaters looking to party.  Today, Copper Canyon, still popular with boaters and as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, offers a bit calmer, more serene atmosphere.  The entrance to the canyon cove is now marked with “no wake” buoys and an open access lane is maintained for increased safety. 

Skiers Island

This is one of the favorite places on the lake for family boaters to take youngsters to learn to ski, wakeboard or be pulled around on water toys. The natural cove is protected from boat wakes and traffic by a large rock island. Water depth is excellent on all sides with no worries of dinging a prop or running aground. And if the kids tire of water sports, bring along a fishing pole or two, since bass and stripers are often found in the immediate area.

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge

The Bill Williams River is located at the far southeastern end of Lake Havasu. It is a 6,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge and is said to contain the largest surviving cottonwood-willow woodlands of the lower Colorado River. Most importantly, the Bill Williams River is home to more than 300 species of birds and waterfowl. Arizona Game and Fish carefully monitors the area and are actively involved in propagating a number of endangered species including the razorback sucker fish and bony-tail chubs which are indigenous to the area. The refuge was also named an area of global importance for birders by the Audubon Society in 2011.

North of Lake Havasu City

The Sandbar

Approximately 7.5 miles north of where the lake transitions into a river, boaters have found a natural gathering oasis called “the sandbar”.  Water depth ranges from ankle to hip deep and the bottom is silk-like sand, ideal for beaching and day-time anchoring.  On busy summer weekends, it isn’t unusual for as many as 500 or more boats to congregate on the “bar” with a variety of music emanating from powerful stereo systems and sun-bronzed men and women enjoying the party atmosphere.

Topock Gorge

Many people refer to Topock Gorge as a miniature Grand Canyon with its colorful, steep rocky walls and abundant wildlife.  Topock Gorge is a little over four miles long, located approximately three and a half miles south of the I-40 bridge at Needles, CA.  The Gorge is part of the designated Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and a favorite place for boaters, kayakers and canoeists to enjoy the splendor of hundreds of species of birds, big horn sheep and wild burros.  The total Havasu National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 44,371 acres.

Picture Rock

About two miles from the southern entrance to Topock Gorge is a massive rock formation on the Arizona (east) side of the river known as Picture Rock.  If you approach the rock closely by boat and look carefully, you will likely see remnants of prehistoric petroglyphs carved into the stone face.  This art is proof that the Colorado River area was inhabited by ancient tribes thousands of years ago.