SCENIC DRIVES
From the scenic overlook at the top of the canyon to the swimming holes and hiking trails at the bottom. Below are a few scenic drives and official byways for the traveler with a thirst for the authentic and unusual.
Canada Goose Drive
| Basics | |||
| Location: | In the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge along the Colorado River south of I-10 | Length: | 3 mile loop |
| Surface: | Paved | Time: | 1/2 hour |
| Suitable Vehicle: | Any Vehicle | Season: | October - May (Summer is too hot) |
| Basic Directions | |||
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Canada Goose Drive runs through the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge along the Colorado River in western Arizona. It provides access to the Nature Trail and a viewing area for Canada geese, snow geese, ducks and sandhill cranes in a 20-acre pond. The Nature Trail is a one-mile loop that will take the visitor through three different native habitats; cottonwood, mesquite, and willow. Halfway around the trail, the winter visitor will view thousands of Canada geese, snow geese, ducks and sandhill cranes in a 20-acre pond from an elevated observation deck. The deck is designed to allow the wildlife to feed and loaf without being disturbed and allow the quiet visitor to experience these wildlife up close.
This drive is open from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Hwy 95 Parker to Interstate 40
| Basics | |||
| Location: | From Parker through Lake Havasu to I-40 | Length: | 57 miles one way |
| Surface: | Paved | Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Suitable Vehicle: | Any Vehicle | Season: | Driveable year round |
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Hwy 95 north of Parker winds along the Colorado River past state parks, wildlife refuges, and Lake Havasu's London Bridge. The best scenery is between Lake Havasu City and Parker.
Special Attractions: Buckskin Mountain State Park, Lake Havasu State Park, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Topock Gorge, Lake Havasu City, London Bridge, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, water-skiing, canoeing, wildlife observation. This chapter is a complete description of a scenic drive with a route map and information on the best travel seasons, interesting sites, recreation opportunities, camping locations, and much more....
Parker Dam Road Back Country Byway
| Basics | |||
| Location: | Parker to Parker Dam | Length: | 11 miles one way |
| Setting: | Desert | Time: | 1 hour |
| Surface: | Paved | Season: | Spring - Fall |
| Suitable Vehicle: | Any Vehicle | ||
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Parker Dam Road Back Country Byway highlights scenic, natural, historic, and prehistoric values along an 11-mile road that winds adjacent to the Colorado River. Near Parker and Lake Havasu City on the California/Arizona border, this area has attracted people, wildlife, and vegetation along the river canyon creating the Thread of Life. The byway provides an abundance of recreational and leisure time activities including camping, swimming, boating, fishing, rock hounding, hiking, off-highway vehicle driving, wildlife viewing, watching wild burros, and quiet relaxation. Accessible by all types of vehicles.
Bill William’s Bridge
The 6,105-acre Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge lies along a ribbon of cool water through classic Sonoran desert with cactus-filled uplands, cattail marshes and desert riparian habitat. A few miles North of Parker Dam, the Bill Williams River flows into Lake Havasu on the Arizona side of the river. That’s where the Bill Williams Bridge is located, sporting a spectacular view of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (Bill Williams Unit) to the right and a panoramic view of Lake Havasu to the left. The refuge, established in 1941 to provide wintering water flow habitats, is comprised of cattail marshes, rugged desert uplands and a riparian zone. The varied terrains attracts many species of migratory birds including the endangered Yuma Clapper Rail as well as other wildlife such as owls, lizards, desert bighorn sheep and Gamble’s quail.
This is a unique ecosystem where you can look at cattails, cottonwoods and Saguaros from the same spot. It's also unique in that the various habitats so close together allow for use by a huge diversity of plants and wildlife. This area also sees lots of neotropical birds from Central and South America as this is near the northern end of their migratory routes.
NOTE:
Vehicles are allowed only on the La Paz County rights-of-way along the already established roads. Nothing motorized or mechanized is allowed off the roads in the Refuge. No camping, fires, firearms or trapping is allowed on the Refuge. Pets are allowed only if on a 6' or shorter leash and under the owner's control at all times. Everything (except the visitor) is protected by federal and/or state law. Remove and/or disturb nothing, except game or fish taken in season by a duly licensed hunter/angler using legal means. And no rock hounding, prospecting or use of metal detectors is allowed.
For more information about the Bill William’s area call the U.S. Fish Wildlife office at (928) 667-4144.
One Last Challenge
For those Energetic, Adventureous people looking for a challenge ... Here is a stunning and extremely scenic hike
The Havasu Falls (or Havasupai Falls)
You would need to get directions to get to The Havasu Falls or the Havasupai Falls, Arizona. They are an Arizona secret of sorts. Hiking to the majestic Havasu Falls is truly like finding an oasis in the desert. Though it is a ten-mile hike and will take a substantial amount of effort to get there, the scenic reward is definitely worth the journey. The hike begins at the the Hualapai Hilltop with a 1,000 foot descent and will take you on a journey to remember through red rock canyons, beautiful creeks, and even an indian village before getting to the majestic Havasu Falls water fall and the sandy beach, crystal clear waters, and the rest of the beautiful scenery that surrounds it.
