10 unique ways to get on the water in Arizona

We all know Arizona is full of beautiful lakes, but many people don’t know about these 10 spectacular ways to get out on the water.

The lakes of Arizona make for a beautiful oasis in our otherwise dry desert landscape.

We’ve all heard of tubing the Salt River, fishing at Saguaro, and jet skiing on Bartlett. However, Arizona offers a myriad of fun and unique ways to get on the water, including hot tub tours, dinner cruises, and floating overnight stays. So grab your suit and your sunscreen and get ready to experience the stunning scenery of Arizona with one of these 10 unique ways to get on the water.  

1. Pedal Boats at Tempe Town Lake

Swans, ducks, and … dragons? Could this be a scene from a sci-fi novel? Nope. It’s just Tempe Town Lake. While pedal boats are available to rent at many marinas and harbors across America, not all offer fun animals to pedal around on! Don’t worry; they’re not real animals, but you can pedal around Tempe Town Lake in style with up to 4 friends starting at $55/hour. Bring a cooler with some refreshing beverages, a wide-brimmed hat, and legs ready to propel your group around the scenic waterway. Open year-round. 

2. H2-Whoa! at Lake Pleasant

Put on by the same company that hosts the pedal boats at Tempe Town Lake, H2-Whoa! waterpark is the world’s largest floating water slide. This calls for a day trip to Peoria, where you can enjoy this wild slide starting at $35/person. There are also special night flights where you can slide at night! 

3 & 4. Double Whammy: Floating Cabins & Paqua Park at Scorpion Bay 

Before heading out to Lake Pleasant for H2 Whoa! consider making a week long stay out of it. Lake Pleasant’s Scorpion Bay offers many thrills and spectacular stays that are truly one of a kind. For $2100, you and 7 others can stay for a week in a floating cabin! Not a cabin with a lakefront, a cabin that floats on the water! If you book a stay between March and September, Paqua Park is another exciting option at Scorpion Bay that includes a floating inflatable obstacle course that provides hours of fun. It starts at $24/person and is for humans 7 years of age and older. 

5. Guided Tours & Dinner Cruises 

Available at both Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake, a sightseeing cruise is an excellent and exciting way to experience the refreshing Arizona waters and stunning scenery. Starting at $25, Desert Belle Cruises at Saguaro Lake offers sightseeing with your choice of experience. Choose to sightsee while enjoying craft brews,  appreciating live music, or tasting wine with a sunset wine tour. Canyon Lake boasts The Dolly Steamboat, starting at $35, for either a scenic nature tour of 1.5 hours or a twilight dinner cruise of 2 hours. Canyon Lake, while the smallest of the Salt River Sister Lakes, is home to amble wildlife, including javelina, big horned sheep, and bald eagles, and is surrounded by stunning views. Experiencing these cruises will offer a new and exciting perspective on the flora and fauna that call Arizona home.  

6. Hot Tub Boat Tours

Offered in two Arizona hot spots–pun intended–you can now enjoy the soothing pleasure of a hot tub while touring beautiful Arizona. Yet another activity at Scorpion Bay of Lake Pleasant, Yachtuzzi charges $400/2 hours for up to 6 people. This experience allows you to captain your own boat while soaking in a hot tub that is free of the typical harsh chemicals. If Lake Pleasant isn’t a pleasant commute for you, try Lake Havasu instead. For $200/hour, Lake Havasu Hot Tub Charter Boat can host a party of up to 13 people and includes a local captain to navigate the boat for a tour while you relax and live it up with friends. Both are rejuvenating ways to appreciate the landscape and bond with your people. 

 7. Lone Rock Boat Rentals of Lake Powell

Located in Page of Northern Arizona, Lake Powell boasts a slough of activities for the open water including tubing, water skiing, slot canyon exploration, and more. Lone Rock Boat Rentals can help facilitate this water fun with their pontoon boat rentals that can fit up to 13 passengers for around $650/day. A pontoon boat is a little more versatile than the average motorboat, making it the perfect way to explore the iconic area of Lake Powell.  

8. Rubba Duck Safari at Lake Havasu

For about $200, you can receive a tour of Lake Havasu with an intimate setting of 1-3 friends. Rubba Duck Safari lasts for about 90 minutes and includes commentary from a well-versed tour guide, choice stops, and a fun way to learn all about Lake Havasu on the Colorado River. 

9. Beach Shack Island at Lake Havasu

Much like Scorpion Bay, it may be worth taking a longer trip to explore Lake Havasu. Thompson Bay has Beach Shack Island, a floating jungle gym complete with a slide, trampoline, and rope swings. For a few extra dollars, Beach Shack Rentals—associated with Beach Shack Island—rents larger trampolines for water play, as well. While it is currently off season, all of this is still available by appointment.

10. Havasu Landing Casino 

Havasu Landing Casino is located in Lake Havasu and is accessible via a $4 round-trip ferry ride from the London Bridge–if you didn’t know, Lake Havasu is home to a repurposed bridge from London. It’s not quite the bridge we sang about as children, though, thank goodness. The casino offers ample card tables, slots, and even cozy accommodations if you plan to stay. Just be sure to check the ferry schedule, as it only runs during certain hours of the day!  

Whether in the hot summer sun or at other temperate times of the year, getting on the lakes of Arizona is always a good idea. There is always something worthwhile to discover, including animals, plants, and scenery. Now, you can enjoy it all while checking a unique experience off that bucket list. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: Your guide to central Arizona lakes