River Island State Park

On Sunday we packed up and moved south along the Colorado River to a place just south of Parker Dam. Parker Dam is what creates the backwater that extends north to eventually form Lake Havasu. Here below the dam the water is crystal clear and flowing at a moderate pace. We launched the kayaks from the campground and found it difficult to move very far upstream due to the current and the boat traffic.
The park is nestled in a box canyon right on the river and we are surrounded by cliffs. There is no TV reception here because of the surroundings. yesterday we loaded the kayaks and headed a few miles north to the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge and kayaked from the Parker Dam backwater up the Bill Williams River for a couple of miles until we couldn't go any further. It was a beautiful paddle into the back country and we saw grebes and an osprey plus numerous ducks and turtles along the way. The mountains towered above the river in places and provided a spectacular background. The marsh grass along the banks made it seem like the everglades only we didn't see any alligators!
The weather has taken a turn for the better and we have been enjoying days in the high seventies and nights in the sixties with lots of sunshine. Also the stars have been awesome at night since there is not much light pollution in the area.

Kayaking on the Colorado below Parker Dam near River Island Campground.

The river runs past some rocky cliffs and small coves.

River Island S.P. from the river.

Looking downstream from the park.

California is on the west bank of the Colorado and Arizona on the east, although here the river turned so that California was actually east of us!

A view from the mountain looking down on our campground.

A grebe on the Bill Williams River.

No gators here.

But ospreys just like in Florida.

Getting near the head of the river in the Bill Williams Wilderness.