Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona

Cattail Cove is a great Arizona State Park just south of Lake Havasu City. We stayed there April 3 through April 7. 

We really like it and hope to go back. Besides being close to the lake (created by a dam on the Colorado River about ten miles downstream from the park), it has 61 camping spots, a white sand swimming beach, a boat dock, lots of hiking trails, a dog beach (the only one I've ever seen in the years we've camped near water), a big dog walk area, a really nice staff, and ice-cream for sale at the office. Can't beat that. A marina, restaurant, and 70 more camping spots are supposed to be added by next March.

Jim and Arlo on the dog walk path at Cattail Cove. Last fall the Arizona State Park system was named the best managed state park system in the nation.  Runners up were Washington, Tennessee, and Wyoming.

Cattail Cove swim beach.  They must have trucked in tons and tons of white sand.

Maddie at the dog beach. Throw a ball at a dog park and Maddie will most likely ignore it.  Throw a stick in the water however, and she's right there. 

The campground.  It has water, electricity and a dumpsite.

Front entrance to the well-cared for park.  We talked with a couple who have been camp workers there for ten years. They were about to head home to South Dakota after their latest six-month stint.

We spent one afternoon in Lake Havasu City picking up supplies, then went to a brewpub called Hangar 24. It had a lot to choose from in porters and stouts (that I like) and in IPAs (which Jim likes) so we got a flight of four of each kind.

Jim paddling into Lake Havasu from Cattail Cove's beach. Right after I took this photo the small wave you can see forming rolled water into the kayak.  

Maddie near blooming blue palo verde trees. Up close the blossoms look like yellow cherry blossoms.