43 When the weather’s this warm, water is always welcome. From mild to wild, there’s no shortage of splashy activities to enjoy on the Río Colorado. Keep it cool with chilly sips and retreat indoors when you’ve had your fill of sol y soul. Riverside Relaxing: Floating, Paddleboarding and Beach Combing The Colorado River has been a lifeline in Yuma for generations. Floating, paddleboarding and non-motorized watercraft activities are easily accessible from Historic Downtown Yuma. Gateway Park beach features shallow waters for novice swimmers but remember to stay vigilant; even the river’s slowest waters bring currents that take experienced swimmers by surprise. A waterfront trail connects two beaches in West Wetlands Park — Centennial Beach and Playa Linda — each offering comfortable spots to post up for a day in the sand. Any day in Yuma is a good one for floating down the river with a cold drink in hand. With a reservation from Yuma River Tubing, you can float to your heart’s content. Feeling balanced? Put it to the test! 3:10 Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals provides lessons and boards. Channel your highest self from the water with paddleboard yoga and guided meditations from Paddalini. Special occasions call for an evening on the river with Lower Colorado River Excursions. Cruise Imperial Dam or the upper river from an elegant, idyllic paddle wheeler that’s perfect for groups. Fearless on the Waterfront: Boating, Skiing and Sandbar-ing Upriver, discover a boater’s playground above the Imperial Dam, where the cool waters of the river form a series of lakes, backwater channels and faster-moving sections. From there, it’s up to you to find the sandbar that suits your mood (and vessel) so you can soak up every minute. Just 10 minutes north of Imperial Dam, find two marinas at Martinez Lake: Fisher’s Landing Resort and Martinez Lake Resort. With restaurants, bars, bait shops, camping and more, consider these your pit stops to fuel up and get out on the water. Find additional boat launches and campgrounds to enjoy throughout California’s Picacho State Recreation Area, farther upriver. Strategies to Beat the Heat Five Stellar Swimming Holes 1. Centennial Beach at West Wetlands Park: beach, boat ramp, trails, picnic tables, grills 2. Gateway Park: beach, outdoor shower, trails, picnic tables, grills 3. Playa Linda at West Wetlands Park: beach, trails 4. Mittry Lake: boat ramp, beach, trails, free primitive camping 5. Xanyō Xamshré Lake: beach, trails, cliff jumping, some primitive camping Gateway Park
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