Parker Dam Road Scenic Back Country Byway

The 11-mile Parker Dam Road Back Country Byway features the Parker Dam, boat launches, fishing piers, campgrounds, and more along the way. Nearby recreation activities include camping, swimming, boating, fishing, rock hounding, hiking, OHV play areas and wildlife viewing. 

The byway offers many scenic river views and a chance to see wild burro or desert bighorn sheep herds. The adventure at Parker Dam Road Back Country Byway begins in Arizona at the iconic Parker Dam. Often referred to as the "deepest dam in the world," Parker Dam is a concrete arch structure built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the 1930s, anchoring the northern end of the Parker Strip. 

Please note that oversized vehicles and vehicles towing trailers are not allowed to cross the Parker Dam, and there are video and drone restrictions near the dam. Before you cross the dam, consider stopping at Take Off Point. It includes parking and wheelchair-accessible boat docks, fishing piers, picnic tables, ADA-compliant vault toilet, decontamination station for quagga mussels, and a fish-cleaning station. Leashed service animals and pets are welcome at Take Off Point. Boaters can also access any of the 73 boat-in campsites along the Arizona shoreline of Lake Havasu from Take Off Point.

Crossing over into California, the byway continues along Parker Dam Road south to the boundary of the Colorado River Indian Reservation. You can follow the Parker Dam Road Back Country Byway to a few BLM-managed recreation sites along the lower Colorado River. Stop to enjoy some fun at the Parker Strip Recreation Area, including Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area, Crossroads Campground, Bullfrog Day Use Area, and more. Popular activities in the Parker Strip Recreation Area include hiking, biking, rock hounding, and off-road vehicle travel. Stop by Rock House Visitor Center in the winter to be greeted by a volunteer site host. Year-round, you can enjoy river access, a boat launch, shaded benches, and restrooms near the visitor center.

This area has long attracted people, wildlife, and vegetation along an oasis, creating the “Thread of Life.” Indigenous cultures of the region include San Dieguito, Armagosa, Patayan, and Yuman.