Highway 95: Lake Havasu City to Parker

Highway 95 is the main north-south road along the Arizona side of the Colorado River. This stretch runs south from Lake Havasu City to Parker, about 32 miles. The Mohave Mountains, with 4,882-foot Crossman Peak, stand to the northeast and the Whipple Mountains rise across the river in California. Moon-like buttes line the road and the Colorado River shows up in glimpses.

Along the way are Lake Havasu State Park and Cattail Cove State Park, a pullout overlooking the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge marsh, and Gibraltar Mountain Wilderness on the left. The turnoff for Parker Dam, built in the 1930s, comes about 24 miles from London Bridge. Past it the road follows the river to River Island and Buckskin Mountain State Parks, then enters Colorado River Indian Tribes land before Parker.

The curves are gentle, so this is a relaxed drive. The reason to take it is the river corridor, not the bends.