Parker Strip brings together a variety of landscapes and trail features. Parker Dam Road, also known as the “Thread of Life,” runs 11 miles (18 km) along the California bank of the Colorado River. Buckskin Mountain State Park lies along an 18-mile stretch of Parker Strip between Parker Dam and Headgate Dam. Each—the road and the park section—offers its own geographic reference point for planning a trip.
Riverside Road and Park Landscape
Backcountry byways run through scenic, remote corridors in the Parker Strip Recreation Area. Parker Dam Road, by contrast, refers to a specific route along the California riverbank. Those looking to include scenery and trails in their trip will find different ways to experience the region here: the riverside road, the remote corridors and the State Parks along Parker Strip. River Island State Park lies along the banks of the Colorado River on Parker Strip; Buckskin Mountain State Park extends across the stretch between the two dams.
Trails with Different Highlights
Two of the trails mentioned are each 0.5 miles long, but they differ in character. Lightning Bolt Trail is a steep loop that showcases the campground, the park and the Colorado River. Wedge Hill Trail is easy and leads to a viewpoint; it also connects to a shared trail system with neighboring State Parks. So the same distance does not mean the trails offer the same kind of hike: one is a steep loop, while the other is an easy hike to a viewpoint.
Buckskin Loop Trail focuses on native vegetation. Visitors can identify plants at numbered stations using an informative guide from the ranger station. This gives the trail a different focus from the two 0.5-mile routes: rather than a loop or a viewpoint, it highlights plants and how to identify them. Another 2.7-mile loop leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Colorado River, high above the highway. Its length and destination offer another way to choose a hike based on distance and scenery.
Remote Landscapes, Mines and Fishing
Lamb Springs Trail borders a wilderness area and offers a sense of solitude as it ventures farther into the western Arizona backcountry. No length is given for this trail; its described distinction is its connection to the remote backcountry. Another scenic 0.6-mile trail passes abandoned copper mines that evoke Arizona’s past. The mines give this trail a historical connection, while Lamb Springs has a different focus because of its location by the wilderness area.
Fishing is another point of interest along the Colorado River on Parker Strip. Fisheries management focuses on general fishing opportunities for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Alongside trails, viewpoints and scenic corridors, these fish species may also be worth considering when planning a stay.
When choosing Parker Strip as a destination, you can first decide what you want to focus on: trails of varying lengths and difficulty, viewpoints, remote corridors, plant identification, mines or fishing. The details help distinguish these interests without presenting the different trails as a single outing. Those looking for a vacation rental can base their travel plans on the landscapes and activities that matter to them.
Discover more destinations: Quartzsite, Parker, Ehrenberg, Salome.
View the broader travel guide: La Paz County.
