Arizona is home to over 100 lakes and 5 rivers! If you’re worrying about missing out on fishing, boating, or lounging on the beach–don’t! You’ll just have to swap salt water for fresh water and deal with breathtakingly beautiful mountain backdrops. Here are some of our favorite Arizona beaches that will make the transition much easier.
Marble Canyon (the beach in our featured image for this post) is located in Coconino County, about a 4 hour drive from Phoenix. This beautiful location is home to many a Colorado River beach-spot, including Lee’s Ferry Campground and Cathedral Wash Trail Head. If you’re looking to casually stroll up to a beach try Lees Ferry, but if you’re a more advanced hiker and don’t mind scrambling up and down rocks then Cathedral Wash Trail Head might be more your style.
Pebble Beach – This beach is known to be a great place to swim or go tubing because there are no motorized boats allowed. This makes it a great spot to bring the family and let kids (and adults!) play in the Salt River waters. Pebble Beach is only 20 miles northeast of Mesa, so if you’re looking to avoid crowds be sure to go early! You might even catch a glimpse of the Salt River Horses if you’re lucky.
Football Beach – If you’re looking for a more secluded beach experience and have a little more time on your hands, look into the Grand Canyon beaches like Football Beach. The Grand Canyon is about a three hour drive from Phoenix. You can take a raft tour in, camp overnight, and raft back out with minimal human interaction. (You might have some squirrel interactions though!)
River Island State Park – Only a two and a half hour drive from Phoenix! This place truly has it all, with options for boating, fishing, jet skiing, and swimming right on the Colorado River. There is a boat launch area if you want to set out on the river, or you can just lounge on the sandy shores. You can even set up camp here and spend a few nights enjoying the natural beauty!
What’s your favorite Arizona beach?
