Water Wonders | Arizona Office of Tourism

Dive into The Grand Canyon State’s Water Wonders.

Lake Powell

With warm, sunny days and a world of refreshing water recreation…

…the temperature is always set for a water adventure in Arizona.

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Lake Havasu

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Northern Arizona

Take to the Water at Lake Powell.

Lake Powell is a narrow, 186-mile-long lake set amid the deep canyons, rocky outcrops and spectacular scenery of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. With 96 side canyons and over 1,960 miles of shoreline, there is a lot to do in this ultimate aquatic playground. If you like to spend time communing with fish, Lake Powell is one of the best-known spots for fishing in Arizona. From bass to crappie, walleye and catfish, Lake Powell fishing offers plenty of fun for anglers of all types. If you want to get out and explore the lake, take a Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas dinner cruise or boat tour and cruise by Glen Canyon Dam, the second largest concrete arch dam in the U.S.; Antelope Canyon which is more than 10 miles long; Navajo Canyon with walls that are covered in “Navajo Tapestry” and tower 600 feet above the water and the 50/50 Wall where the rock is above you and equally deep below you. If you stay on the Lake longer, rent a houseboat with personal watercraft at Antelope Point Marina or Wahweap Marina and spend your days exploring the labyrinth red canyons and secret coves and your nights on shore warming up by a campfire under a canopy of stars.

Want to explore more cool adventures? Check out a great mini-guide all about water here.

Northwest Arizona

Plunge into Rafting the Grand Canyon.

For an exhilarating perspective on the Grand Canyon, explore it on a motorized or oar-powered white-water or smooth water rafting excursion. A motorized trip gives you an opportunity to see more of the Grand Canyon in less time and typically with a smaller group; 100-percent oar-powered trips are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who want a more intimate experience with the river and combination motor/oar trips are for those who want to do both—paddle part of the time and relax part of the time. There are several outfitters that offer different types of guided adventures and excursions from half-day to 18 days. Whatever length of time you choose, you can ride the rapids and leisurely float over smooth stretches of water. Radiating both excitement and serenity, raft trips provide plenty of thrills and chills and an abundance of geological wonders. Be sure to book early—waiting lists can be lengthy for these popular voyages. And while you’re in the Grand Canyon, "share your park" rafting adventures with others as part of the National Park Service’s Centennial anniversary, just visit findyourpark.com for details.

Eastern Arizona

A Lake with a View

The White Mountains region, located in eastern Arizona, is a high-country, pine-scented retreat dotted with small lakes. Landscape and climate that are more typical of the Pacific Northwest or Canada, this is an excellent part of the state to escape the summer heat and chill out. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, near Show Low is surrounded by Ponderosa Pine and is praised by both campers and RVers for its beauty, first-rate facilities and a view of the lake from every site. Kayaking, lake boarding, motor boating, canoeing, fishing or just sitting in a chair and admiring the lake are popular and highly encouraged. About 45 minutes from the town of McNary, sits Hawley Lake—a 300-acre lake, located on the Fort Apache Reservation, that is surrounded by mountains covered with spruce, aspen and pine. Touted as one of the coldest places in the nation during the winter, Hawley Lake warms up to the balmy 70s during the summer and is an ideal location for camping or renting an outfitted cabin. Visitors can fish, sail, canoe, kayak or hike. Want your kids to really run loose? Head out of Springerville to Lyman Lake State Park, a 1,200-acre park set around a 1,500-acre reservoir. Here, you can camp (cabin and yurt rental options), swim, fish or meander the hiking trails. Feel the need for speed? The lake is big enough to accommodate the family ski boat.

Western Arizona

Be Part of the West Coast “Jet Set” at Lake Havasu.

Cast an anchor in Lake Havasu, which rests along the Colorado River’s beautiful shoreline and boasts 60 continuous miles of lake and river waterways. Known as the “Watercraft capital of the World,” Lake Havasu has something for water enthusiasts in and out of the lake. Take a jet boat tour up the river for information and views of rock formations, petroglyphs and if you’re lucky, a bighorn sheep. Take a sunset cruise to Copper Canyon, formerly the site of the largest producing copper mine along the Colorado River, and learn about the history of the mine, the London Bridge and Lake Havasu City, in addition, to witnessing a spectacular sunset. If you want to stay on a boat and explore the miles of shoreline and canyons on your own, consider renting a houseboat. You’ll have your pick since Lake Havasu is a boating paradise. If you prefer to be alongside water, hang out for the day at beach parks next to Lake Havasu. Rotary Beach has six sand volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, ramadas and a swim area. London Bridge Beach offers a view of that historic English span, plus a beach volleyball court, a dog park, ramadas and open swimming. The beachy strip at Cattail Cove State Park leads to a protected swimming area, and there’s also a dog beach at this park with 61 slots for camping and a boat launch.

Lake Havasu - Arizona's Playground. Discover some great “time outs” on Arizona’s West Coast.

Southern Arizona

Find a Liquid Oasis in Tucson

When the temperatures rise in Southern Arizona, there are plenty of natural and man-made oases to escape to. If you’re looking to cool off in luxurious surroundings, consider a staycation at a world-class resort. Tucson’s Westin La Paloma Resort features five spectacular pools and the 177-foot long SlideWinder waterslide. It’s tough to drag kids away from the Desert Springs Oasis at the Hilton El Conquistador, with its mega waterslide and shallow fish-shaped pool. And, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa’s lazy river and Monsoon Falls Water Slide are guaranteed to keep the kids entertained while you relax in a family cabana. Don’t worry if you prefer the big kids pool, all the resorts offer quiet adults-only pools with swim-up bar service. If you prefer nature’s waterworks, visit one of Southern Arizona’s most spectacular spots to take a dip — Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area where cascading-water meets striking-desert meets mountains-and-forest landscapes. If you’re looking for a body of water that’s popular with people and animals, check out Patagonia Lake State Park, a crossroads for avian enthusiasts and nature lovers. Rent a canoe or rowboat, enjoy wildlife viewing or cast a line to fish for bass, bluegill, freshwater trout and catfish. If you don’t mind a little weather, nature’s most electrifying performance is the lightning show that accompanies the monsoon rains which typically arrive in early July. Tucson’s unusually high cloud base and vistas create some of the Southwest’s most dramatic storm displays, and you can usually catch “the show,” most summer afternoons.

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