Chemehuevi Wash Trail
Description:
An easy, scenic hike through a short canyon and down a wide wash that ends at the lake with your choice of two BLM campsites--Bluebird Cove (on the right) or Wren Cove (on the left), each with picnic tables and restrooms.
Trailhead Location:
South end of Powell Drive
Vehicle required:
Car
Time to Trailhead
From London Bridge:
15 minutes
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34°27.131’ W 114°17.263’
Trail Information
Aesthetic rating*:
**
Level of difficulty:
Easy, mostly gravel wash
Length of hike:
3 miles
Hiking time:
2 hours
History:
The trail follows the contour of Chemehuevi Wash down to Lake Havasu where boat-in campsites maintained by the Bureau of Land Management are located.
Download Trail Map
Download BLM Topo Map
Destination GPS coordinates:
N 34°26.423’ W 114°18.900’
Directions to trailhead:
Go south on Hwy 95; turn right on Acoma Blvd and make an immediate left on Sweetwater Ave. Turn right on Powell Drive and park at the end. (The downloadable TRAIL MAP shows an alternative trailhead from Acoma Blvd.)
Trail route instructions:
- Walk down the trail into the much larger Mockingbird wash. Be on the lookout for a small canyon which appears shortly on the right side.
- Go through the canyon into Chemehuevi Wash and head downstream until tree growth blocks your progress.
- Find the trail up the right bank and follow it out to the Bluebird Cove campsite on the lake (elevation 450 ft). As an alternative, you may take the trail up the slightly steeper left bank to Wren Cove (GPS coordinates are N 34°26.321’ W 114°18.770’).
- Return back the same way you came.
- If you intend to spend more than 20 minutes within 200 feet of the Bluebird Cove or Wren Cove campsites, the user fee is $10 a day for up to six (6) people, with a $2 fee for each additional person. If you intend to camp, an additional overnight fee of $10 is good until 9 a.m. the following day.
- Fee ballards, known as "iron rangers," are located onsite beside the picnic table. Funds should be deposited in the permit envelope and dropped inside the ballard. You must present a use permit upon demand to any authorized Bureau of Land Management official inspecting the site.
* Aesthetic Rating: The more stars, the more desirable the trail the in terms of remoteness, natural features and scenic beauty
Arizona hiking safety
The rugged beauty of the Lake Havasu City area, just down the Colorado River from the Grand Canyon, makes a lasting impression. But the desert can be hazardous. Many trails are unmarked and infrequently traveled. Please consider these suggestions to make the most of your adventure:
- Avoid hiking during the summer, approximately June 15 to September 15, when daytime temperatures can reach 120° or more.
- Do not hike in washes when heavy rainfall is anticipated to avoid the threat of flash floods.
- Always take plenty of water; plan to carry at least one quart of water for every four hours you hike in direct sunlight.
- Wear a hat, sunglasses with UV-protection, and sunscreen.
- Print off a copy of the trail map from this webpage and carry it with you if you the route is unfamiliar.
- Wear sturdy, thick-soled shoes and use a hiking stick if you easily lose your balance.
- Never hike alone and always let a responsible person know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Plan to leave on your hike early in the day to avoid the risk of being lost on the trail after dark.
- Travel light; the less you carry the more you will enjoy the hike.
- Leave nothing behind. We want our trails to remain beautiful for your return!