Bouyed Swim Area
Lake Havasu City, Arizona · on Lake Havasu · Rotary Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $20
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Bouyed Swim Area
The Bouyed (Buoyed) Swim Area is the designated swimming zone within Rotary Community Park, a 40-acre city beachfront park on Thompson Bay of Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The area is marked off with buoys to create a safe swimming zone along the lake's beach.
The park sits on the shore of Thompson Bay, a bay of Lake Havasu on the Colorado River, with plush green grass, tree-shaded walkways, and a sandy beachfront. It is centrally located in Lake Havasu City with dual access points off S. Smoketree Avenue and Park Avenue, and can be reached by car or by boat.
Swimming at Bouyed Swim Area
Swimming takes place in a marked-off, buoyed section of Lake Havasu's beach, intended to keep swimmers separated from boat traffic, kayaking, and model boating that also occur along the shoreline. It is a calm, lake-beach style swim area suited to families and casual swimmers rather than a wilderness swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 1400 S. Smoketree Avenue, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403, with access via either Smoketree Avenue or Park Avenue.
Parking: On-site parking off Smoketree Avenue and Park Avenue, including handicap parking; the park is also accessible by boat. City planning documents mention additional parking as part of future park expansions.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city park beach, not a hike-in swimming hole. Parking sits right along the shoreline off Smoketree Ave or Park Ave, and there is no trail to reach the buoyed swim area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
The buoyed-off swim zone is specifically designed to separate swimmers from boat traffic, kayaking, and model boating along the rest of the Rotary Community Park shoreline, and the park is built around family use (three playgrounds, one ADA-accessible, plus a walking path). Lake Havasu itself is a calm, wave-free reservoir rather than a river, so there is no current to worry about. Official city and tourism-board sources do not mention lifeguard staffing one way or the other, so supervise kids directly rather than assuming a guard is on duty.
Parking
Free
Free on-site parking off S. Smoketree Avenue and Park Avenue, including designated handicap parking, sits directly adjacent to the swim beach. The park is also reachable by boat via a dedicated boat-access point. City planning documents mention adding more parking spaces as part of future park expansion.
Restrooms
Yes
Multiple restrooms are located within the 40-acre park (exact count and placement relative to the swim beach are not broken down in city sources); handicap-accessible restroom facilities are also called out. The city's park master plan references adding more restrooms as part of future expansions.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
No source describes water clarity at this specific beach. Lake Havasu City's official tourism site (golakehavasu.com) describes the lake generally as having 'refreshing clear blue-green waters with few or no waves,' which is the closest available evidence; this is a lake-wide characterization rather than a Rotary Park-specific measurement, so treat it as directional rather than confirmed for this exact spot.
Hours
Park hours run until 11 pm unless otherwise posted (per Lake Havasu City Parks & Recreation, 928-453-8686).
On the water
Restrictions: The designated swim area is marked off with buoys specifically to keep it separate from boat traffic, kayaking, and model boating happening elsewhere along the park's shoreline -- watercraft are not meant to enter the buoyed swim zone itself. The park has a separate non-motorized boat launch area for kayaks/canoes/paddleboards, and a general boat-access point for arriving by larger boat (the park is reachable by both car and boat).
No source specifies electric-only or no-wake rules for this stretch of Thompson Bay specifically; Lake Havasu broadly supports powered boating, water skiing, and wakesurfing per the destination's tourism site.
Rentals nearby
Powerboat and personal watercraft rentals -- pontoon boats, deck boats, ski boats (19-23 ft, seating up to 12), and Yamaha WaveRunners. No kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards were found listed on their site.
655 Kiowa Ave, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 -- roughly 1.5 miles from Rotary Community Park / the Bouyed Swim Area.
Backstory
The park's skate/BMX complex, Tinnell Memorial Sports Park, honors BMX enthusiast Patrick Tinnell and skateboarder Colin Sasseen.
Bouyed Swim Area: FAQ
Does Bouyed Swim Area charge a fee?
Free general admission; group picnic ramada/ramada reservations cost roughly $20-$30 and must be arranged in advance through the city Parks & Recreation department (permits completed at the Aquatic Center).
Is Bouyed Swim Area kid friendly?
The buoyed-off swim zone is specifically designed to separate swimmers from boat traffic, kayaking, and model boating along the rest of the Rotary Community Park shoreline, and the park is built around family use (three playgrounds, one ADA-accessible, plus a walking path). Lake Havasu itself is a calm, wave-free reservoir rather than a river, so there is no current to worry about. Official city and tourism-board sources do not mention lifeguard staffing one way or the other, so supervise kids directly rather than assuming a guard is on duty.
Do I need to hike to reach Bouyed Swim Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Bouyed Swim Area?
Free on-site parking off S. Smoketree Avenue and Park Avenue, including designated handicap parking, sits directly adjacent to the swim beach. The park is also reachable by boat via a dedicated boat-access point. City planning documents mention adding more parking spaces as part of future park expansion.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Bouyed Swim Area?
No source specifies electric-only or no-wake rules for this stretch of Thompson Bay specifically; Lake Havasu broadly supports powered boating, water skiing, and wakesurfing per the destination's tourism site.
What are the rules at Bouyed Swim Area?
Park hours run until 11 pm unless otherwise posted. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited except in reserved group areas with an advance permit; glass containers and bounce houses/slip-n-slides on grass are not allowed; pets are not permitted.
What water body is Bouyed Swim Area on?
Bouyed Swim Area is on Lake Havasu, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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