What Cattail Cove Is
Cattail Cove State Park is managed by Arizona State Parks and sits on the Lake Havasu shoreline south of the city. Our camping guide describes it as a short drive south along the shoreline, offering a quieter, more spread-out camping experience with direct lake access. It is separate from Lake Havasu State Park, which sits closer to town, so the two are easy to confuse and worth keeping straight.
How It Differs From Lake Havasu State Park
Lake Havasu State Park, covered in our state park guide, puts you near the city, the Mohave Sunset Trail, and Windsor Beach. Cattail Cove trades that proximity for room: it is farther out, more spread out, and more oriented to boaters and campers who want the lake itself. If you want restaurants and nightlife close at hand, stay near the channel. If you want the shoreline, Cattail Cove is the more relaxed choice.
Boat-In Camping
The park offers its own boat-in campsites along the shoreline. Boat-in camping means you arrive by water, which can be memorable and also demands planning: loading gear, anchoring or beaching safely, and handling wind. Rules, reservations, and fees for the sites are set by Arizona State Parks, so confirm them before you plan an overnight. Our boat rental guide and boating guide cover the basics of renting and handling a boat on this lake.
Walks and Day Use
The park is not only for overnight guests. State parks across the country, including Arizona's, have held New Year's Day guided hikes, and the park has hosted one in past years, as shown in the photo at the top of this page. Whether similar events are planned is a question for Arizona State Parks. If you want a longer desert hike instead, our hiking guide and SARA Park guide cover the options near town.
Season and Heat
Summer is the peak lake season and also the hottest, so shade, water, and sun protection matter more than anything. Spring and fall are milder, and winter can be pleasant for hiking and camping without the crowds. Our best time to visit guide explains how crowds and weather change through the year, and our weather guide covers heat.
What to Bring
- Drinking water well beyond what you expect to need, plus sun protection
- A shade structure or hat, since natural shade can be limited
- Anchor, life jackets, and a charged phone if you arrive by boat
- Trash bags, because you should pack out everything you bring in
Fitting It Into a Trip
Cattail Cove works as an overnight base or a day trip south of town, and it fits naturally with a drive toward the Bill Williams River refuge and Parker Dam. The Lake Havasu blog lists more ideas.