Welcome to Arizona State Parks

· Roper Lake State Park, in eastern Arizona near Safford, has its own natural spring fed hot tub. They say the minerals in the water make you tingle but just the warmth of the water alone is the perfect way to end the day. After a day of hiking or sail boarding at the park or day tripping to the nearby Coronado National Forest a soak in the tub is a must before a night around the campfire.

· Slide Rock State Park, in picturesque Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, is just about paradise but the natural rock water slide is the coolest. The water temperature averages 68 degrees in the summer and the surrounding red rocks and pines make it THE kick back spot in the state.

· Alamo Lake State Park, about 2 hours northwest of Phoenix, has a huge lake (1,500 surface acres) with little more than bass fisherman on it making it the ideal out of the way place to play.

· Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, in the northern pines near Show Low, is a small lake (150 surface acres) but the scenery is huge! Motor boats are limited to 8 horsepower so crowds don't play but giant blue herons do.

· Roper Lake State Park, in eastern Arizona near Safford, is a sail boarder's heaven. This little lake (30 surface acres) gives you great views of Mount Graham in the Coronado National Forest.

· Lake Havasu State Park, on Arizona's "West Coast," takes in both Arizona and California and the recreation is rippin'! Water sport is this park's middle name and the scenery is a knock out. The park's two huge boat ramps and boat access campsites make it a prime summer destination but hundreds of miles of shoreline lead to just as many canyons of quiet beauty.

· Cattail Cove State Park, in western Arizona just south of Lake Havasu City, gets you on to the southern tip of Lake Havasu. The lake is huge (18,000 surface acres) giving everyone plenty of elbow room for sailing, motor boating, skiing and fishing. The campground has all the amenities but the boat access camp sites along the shoreline provide a natural beauty.

· Buckskin Mountain State Park, north of Parker in western Arizona, is THE river park. It sits right on the Colorado River below the dam that holds back Lake Havasu. This narrow ribbon of waterway is a green belt among rock cliffs and Indian Reservation. Park trails give some of the best views in the state. The summer boating crowd thins out in September and floating down the river becomes a breeze again.

· Patagonia Lake State Park, in southeastern Arizona, is the largest lake (265 surface acres) in that part of the state. Hidden in rolling hills, it is a park for all. You'll find motor boating, skiing, and fishing co-existing on this little oasis.

· Lyman Lake State Park, in northeastern Arizona near St. Johns, is a favorite! This glass smooth lake (1,500surface acres) offers the finest skiing around. It's so nice those trick skiers train here. Each summer the park staff, avid skiers themselves, set up a slalom course for water sport funsters. The petroglyph (prehistoric Indian rock art) trail is a bonus for those staying on dry land.

· Lake Havasu State Park, on Arizona's "west coast", offers enough space and large coves for everything from wild rides to getting those "newbies" up and skiing.

· Cattail Cove State Park, south of Lake Havasu City in western Arizona, brings you into the quieter end of Lake Havasu. Still, there are almost 300 miles of shoreline to cruise and drop.

· Patagonia Lake State Park, east of Nogales in southern Arizona, offers both shoreline and trolling. The variety of fish include bass, crappie, blue gill, and catfish. Trout is stocked during the winter months. Boat rentals are available and the camp store sells bait.

· Alamo Lake State Park, 2 hours northwest of Phoenix, is a prime fishing lake. Tournaments abound in spring and fall and the catch can include largemouth bass and catfish. Boat rentals are available on site and a camp store sells bait.

· Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, in northeastern Arizona near Show Low, is a gorgeous lake (150 surface acres) filled with an angler's buffet of bass, catfish, bluegill and trout. The sounds, scenery and shoreline wildlife are a bonus since the motors are limited to 8 horsepower.

· Roper Lake State Park, in eastern Arizona near Safford, is a quiet giant for anglers, since the park actually raises its own fish. Motors are limited to electric but the bass, bluegill, and catfish will give you a good run.

· Lake Havasu State Park, on Arizona's "west coast", is so large (18,000 surface acres) the only difficult thing to do is pick the spot where they're hot!

· Cattail Cove State Park, south of Lake Havasu City in western Arizona, on Lake Havasu offers hundreds of miles to wet a line in search of the big one.

· Dead Horse Ranch State Park, in central Arizona near Cottonwood, has a stocked pond for a lounging day in the lawnchair. This little fishin' hole teams with catfish, bass and bluegill. Those willing to walk can catch trout out of the Verde River, stocked each month in the winter.

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