Winter Walkabouts: Take a Walk on the Mild Side
Easy to Challenging—Here Are a Few Hikes in Havasu You Won’t Want to Walk Away From
People from the northern climates consider putting on jackets and gloves and shoveling snow as winter activities. Here in the desert southwest, winter signals the start of four months of glorious weather complete with an endless list of outdoor activities. While we don’t have the room to expound on every leisure interest, we hope this short list of hikes (arranged from easy to more difficult) will get you out enjoying our perfect winter weather.
Walks/Easy-Peasy
Island Trail
The Island Trail is a paved asphalt loop around the interior of the Island. Great for beginners or low-stress impact walkers. Loop is easy to traverse and level. Built by the City of Lake Havasu in the 1980s. Great views of the lake and mountains.
Length of hike: 3.5 miles
Hiking time: 1.5 hours
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34°28.113’ W 114°21.265’
Directions to trail: Drive over the London Bridge on to the Island. Park in the parking area along McCulloch Blvd. just before reaching Beachcomber Blvd.
Fun Facts: The Island Trail instructions are for pedestrians to travel in a counter-clockwise direction and for bicyclists to travel in a clockwise direction.
Shoreline Trail
A level, paved concrete sidewalk along Bridgewater Channel through Rotary Park that provides spectacular views of the lake, mountains, and the London Bridge. Also, a great view of the new Patrick Tinnell Memorial skate park.
Length of hike: 2 miles
Hiking time: 1 hour
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34° 28.333′ W 114° 20.808′
Directions to trail: Drive down McCulloch Blvd past Hwy. 95 heading to the Island. Park in the large lot on the left (just before crossing the London Bridge.) Walk down the steps to under the London Bridge.
Try This: Start under the bridge at the English Village and walk south on the paved walkway along Bridgewater Channel to the far end of Rotary Park and back.
Easy Hike
Photo courtesy of Steve Eskenazi
Mockingbird Wash Trail
This hike, while easy, is in a gravel wash. The trail follows Mockingbird Wash down to Lake Havasu at Solitude Cove. There are rest rooms and picnic tables available. A very different sort of hike that provides beautiful views and a quiet calmness.
Length of hike: 4 miles
Hiking time: 2 hours
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34°27.131’ W 114°17.263’
Fun Facts: The end of the trail opens up on the lake and a number of boat-in campsites managed by the BLM.
Directions to trail: Drive south on Hwy 95. Turn right on Acoma Blvd and then an immediate left on Sweetwater Ave. Turn right on Powell Drive and park at the end of the street.
Hikes With Hills-Easy To Moderate Difficulty
Photo courtesy of Steve Eskenazi
Water Tank Trail
A variety of geology, flora, and fauna await you on this stimulating hike.
The Water Tank Trail passes the scenic rocks of Aubrey Hills, named for Francis Zavier Aubrey, a Canadian guide noted for his prowess in taking wagons and flocks over challenging western trails.
Length of hike: 6.2 miles
Hiking time: 3 hours
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34°25.392’ W 114°12.284’
Directions to trail: South on Hwy 95 to around mile post 173, about 4 miles out of town. Park at the entrance road near the gate (off to the right you will see an electrical substation.) Walk behind the gate down the dirt road to the electrical substation. Continue right up a small hill on a dirt road which will fork. Turn left and follow the road into the foothills, turning right over a low rise and then back into the valley, and down into a long valley. The trail turns left around the scenic rocks of Aubrey Hills and leads directly in front of Horse Hoof Point (Shiprock Mountain).
Fun Facts: On this hike you will see a fenced-in wildlife watering area maintained by Arizona Game & Fish. This area is a frequent lookout area for Big Horn sheep.
Photo courtesy of Steve Eskenazi
Pilot Rock Trail
The end of the trail offers a scenic view of the lake and Pilot Rock. Picnic tables are also available on this well-traveled trail.
The Pilot Rock Trail offers a nice desert mountain hike in open terrain. A wide variety of desert scenery throughout with the hike ending the Pilot Rock campsites on Lake Havasu.
Length of hike: 7 miles
Hiking time: 4 hours
Trailhead GPS coordinates:
N 34°26.441’ W 114°15.652’
Directions to trail: Drive south on Hwy 95 to McCulloch Blvd (mile post 177). Turn right and travel one mile to the second parking lot in SARA Park (on the right), across from the Desert Hawks entrance road. Follow the trail straight out from the parking area which drops into SARA Canyon wash on the left. In ½ mile, just past some old fence posts, the trail climbs up the left bank. Just up the bank, keep right at the fork and follow this trail cross country until it drops into a small wash that will curve around to the right. There is a short trail on the left which goes over a mound into the much larger Grand Wash. Cross the wash and continue up the trail on the other side, bearing right. At the jeep trail, turn right and follow to the lake. Continue straight ahead to the Pilot Rock campsite.
Fun Facts: The trail is an old mining road that leads to a red lava rock outcropping in the Colorado River that was used by steamboat pilots for navigation. Pilot Rock still serves boaters today with a navigation light that shines at night.
Hiking isn’t the only outdoor activity to be enjoyed during the winter months in and around Havasu. Here’s a quick list that just might provide you with a few ideas for your next outdoor activity:
- Auto Touring/Exploring
- Biking & Cycling
- Bird Watching
- Camping
- Geocaching (picture treasure hunting using a GPS)
- Ghost Towns & Cemeteries
- Gold Prospecting & Treasure Hunting
- Meteor Hunting
- Desert Caves & Caving
- Finding & Viewing Fossils
- Golf Courses & Resorts
- Hiking & Climbing
- Horseback Riding
- Off-Highway Vehicles (Off-Roading)
- Desert Photography
- Raceway Driving
- Shopping
- Fishing
- Boating
- Wildlife Viewing
- Wine Tasting