When people think of Arizona, beaches rarely come to mind. While we may not have oceanside beaches with kelp and clams floating to shore, we do have some sitting along lakes, rivers, and even in some select water parks. We covered some of our more famous beaches in an article last year, so here’s a look at a few more that often go under the radar.
- Butcher Jones Beach
William Herron/Flickr Sitting about 20 miles east of Fountain Hills at Saguaro Lake, this beach is a nearby retreat from urban life.
- Cool deck beaches at water parks
Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix/Facebook Once upon a time, our waterparks used to have sandy beaches (like Big Surf in Tempe) but not so much these days. Most of the “beaches” you will come across in local waterparks come in the form of concrete or cool deck that gently slopes into the wavepools, like this one at Wet ‘n’ Wild in Phoenix.
- FireSky Resort, Scottsdale
FireSky Resort & Spa/Facebook As much fun as a beach resort escape sounds, the travel to and from one can be tiring and expensive. For a nearby option, try the FireSky Resort in Scottsdale, which has sandy beaches and delighfully cool pools.
- Gateway Park, Yuma
Gateway Park/Yelp This beach park sits right along the Colorado River and has been a popular gathering spot for Yuma residents for years. The sandy beach dips gently into the river and nearby ramadas make it a perfect spot for a picnic.
- Havasu Falls
Alexander Wrege/Flickr The waterfall rightfully gets all the attention at this Grand Canyon attraction but the small beach surrounding the pools is perfect for wading, sitting in the waters, or just a good nature shot.
- Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa, Scottsdale
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch/Facebook Here’s another Scottsdale resort where you can kick back and enjoy an icy drink on a beach without driving for hours or dealing with TSA and canceled flights.
- River Island State Park
River Island State Park/Yelp This sandy Colorado River beach near Parker is a clean area for most of your typical water activities. Plus, you can camp a short walking distance away from the water’s edge meaning you can wake up with a refreshing morning dip.
Have you visited any of these Arizona beaches? Let us know which is your favorite!
William Herron/Flickr
Sitting about 20 miles east of Fountain Hills at Saguaro Lake, this beach is a nearby retreat from urban life.
Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix/Facebook
Once upon a time, our waterparks used to have sandy beaches (like Big Surf in Tempe) but not so much these days. Most of the “beaches” you will come across in local waterparks come in the form of concrete or cool deck that gently slopes into the wavepools, like this one at Wet ‘n’ Wild in Phoenix.
FireSky Resort & Spa/Facebook
As much fun as a beach resort escape sounds, the travel to and from one can be tiring and expensive. For a nearby option, try the FireSky Resort in Scottsdale, which has sandy beaches and delighfully cool pools.
Gateway Park/Yelp
This beach park sits right along the Colorado River and has been a popular gathering spot for Yuma residents for years. The sandy beach dips gently into the river and nearby ramadas make it a perfect spot for a picnic.
Alexander Wrege/Flickr
The waterfall rightfully gets all the attention at this Grand Canyon attraction but the small beach surrounding the pools is perfect for wading, sitting in the waters, or just a good nature shot.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch/Facebook
Here’s another Scottsdale resort where you can kick back and enjoy an icy drink on a beach without driving for hours or dealing with TSA and canceled flights.
River Island State Park/Yelp
This sandy Colorado River beach near Parker is a clean area for most of your typical water activities. Plus, you can camp a short walking distance away from the water’s edge meaning you can wake up with a refreshing morning dip.
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