Land, Lake & River Tours
Several companies offer different types of boat tours on Lake Havasu. Bluewater Jet Boat Tours (tel. 888/855-7171 or 928/855-7171; www.coloradoriverjetboattours.com) runs jet-boat tours that leave from the London Bridge and spend 2 1/2 hours cruising up the Colorado River to the Topock Gorge, a scenic area 25 miles from Lake Havasu City. The cost is $38 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $20 for children 5 to 12. You can also go out on the Dixie Belle (tel. 928/453-6776 or 855-0888), a small replica paddle-wheel riverboat, or the even smaller Kontiki. Cruises range from $15 to $25 for adults and $15 to $8 for children 5 to 12. The Kontiki goes to Copper Canyon, the narrow cliff-ringed cove that is the destination for college-age partyers each year during spring break.
Canoeing the Colorado -- Paddling down a desert river is an unusual and unforgettable experience, from spotting rocks and cacti on the banks to feeling the cool water run beneath your boat. If you're interested in a scenic canoe tour, there are a couple of outfitters in the area. Both provide boats, paddles, life jackets, maps, and shuttles to put-in and take-out points, but usually no guide. Western Arizona Canoe and Kayak Outfitters (tel. 888/881-5038 or 928/715-6414; www.azwacko.com) offers self-guided kayak or canoe trips through the beautiful and rugged Topock Gorge, where you can see ancient petroglyphs and possibly bighorn sheep. Trips take 5 to 6 hours, and the cost is $45 per person, which includes the use of a kayak or canoe, paddles, life jackets, dry bags, coolers, and, most important, the shuttle service to the put-in point and back from the take-out point. Jerkwater Canoe & Kayak Company (tel. 800/421-7803 or 928/768-7753; www.jerkwater.com) offers a similar Topock Gorge excursion and also arranges other canoe and kayak trips of varying lengths. Jerkwater's Topock Gorge self-guided 5- to 6-hour trip is $40 per person if you opt for a canoe or $55 per person if you opt for a kayak. There is a two-person minimum. Another popular trip is through Black Canyon, but advance planning (6 months to 1 year) is required to get the necessary permit. It's easier to get a permit for Black Canyon midweek than on a weekend. Some trips include additional overnight campground or bunkhouse bed-and-breakfast fees.
