Cooling off in the river is a popular activity, since temperatures in Laughlin can climb as high as 120 degrees Farenheight during the summer months. While there are beaches, or at least unattended, unguarded patches of sand on the water in front of a couple of river-fronting Laughlin Hotels -- the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall (pioneerlaughlin.com) and the whimsical riverboat-shaped Colorado Belle (coloradobelle.com) most notably -- the only hotel casino providing a swimming beach is Harrah’s Laughlin (harrahslaughlin.com). It has a fully staffed, soft-sand beach complimenting its two swimming pools. There are lounge chairs with umberellas on the beach and private cabanas are available as well. Most importantly, there are lifeguards watching the action. This beach isn’t public, however. Its only available to Harrah’s Laughlin Hotel guests.
A much better swimming beach option is to be had across the water on the Bullhead City, Arizona, side of the Colorado River. West of Highway 95 at Bullhead City’s northern end is Bullhead Community Park. Aside from other recreational amenities, the park contains a beachfront with shady shelters, barbecues and a boat launch ramp.
Rotary Park sits on 300 acres of Bullhead City riverfront land. This large park contains everything from a Pop Warner footfall field to a skateboard park. It also offers Colorado River beaches with walking trails, barbecues and boat launching facilities. Admission to both Bullhead Community Park and Rotary Park is free.
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation area offers Colorado River swimming beaches five miles south of Laughlin. This river beach spot features two miles of sandy shoreline. A two-lane boat ramp, which avoids the river currents, is accessible from a paved parking lot. Shade structures, picnic tables and grills dot the shoreline in both the day use and boat-ramp areas. There is a fee to use the state recreation area.
Another good place to swim is in the Lake Mohave National Recreation area about seven miles upstream from Laughlin behind Davis Dam. Run by the National Park Service, this relatively narrow lake is known for water sports such as swimming, boating and personal watercraft. Plentiful beaches, ample parking and boat and small boat can be found at Katherine’s Landing, near the dam. The area also contains restaurants, fuel and a general store. There are entrance fees into the Lake Mohave National Recreation area and for those who launch motorboats, but the watercraft provide the sole access to the hundreds of undisturbed beaches along Lake Mohave’s rim.
