River Island State Park

Located in Parker, AZ near the California border

AZ State Park Link

View from the tent sites

River Island State Park is a campground and recreation area along the Colorado River, about 2.5 hours northwest of Phoenix. It's the little brother to nearby Buckskin Mountain State Park. A link to the park map can be found here.

This trip was taken the first weekend in May. Since the campground is in a canyon, there were constant winds, but mild weather the whole time.

At $28 per night, this is one of the more expensive campgrounds around, but it does have great features. There are 30 sites and 2 bathrooms with showers and a dishwashing area. All sites also have power, including the tent sites. For tent camping, the 8 sites on the grass along the river can't be beat. The view is wonderful, and there's easy access to the beach area and the hiking path. The showers are cleaned daily, but the set near the water can get pretty sandy. 

The tent sites extend back from the assigned parking space, so they all blend together. It's a bit close to neighbors, and, since the park is often full, loud music and parties can be a problem.

The water is beautiful and calm.. There were fisherman and plenty of people using the dock. Although it was chilly in the water, there were lots of kids wading in it. It's quite rocky, so water shoes are a must. It would be perfect for swimming on a hot day.

To the east of the boat dock is a short trail along the coast. It climbs high enough to offer great views of the Colorado River. There's a faux mine shaft that the kids loved too. The whole trail can be completed in less than an hour, even for little hikers.

View of  the Colorado River

View of the mine and branching trails

We took a short trip to check out the facilities at Buckskin Mountain State Park, about 5 minutes away. There is a tourist shop and a restaurant/ bar located there. We had a pizza and watched boats race along the river. It was interesting to check out, but I doubt we'd go back. There is also a small cactus garden and a trailhead located at the front of the park. There's the short scenic Lightening Bolt Trail and Buckskin Trail, which actually crosses the freeway. Once across, there's a scenic trail and one that visits abandoned mines. Unfortunately, the sun was setting, so those will have to wait.

Buckskin Trail freeway crossing

Beautiful mountain views