A Real Treasure In Yuma

A few errands were getting us to Yuma again. And while we are rarely hanging out in the city, yesterday we made an exception.

White River Beach

It is still strange that we never discovered this during our many visits here, but there is a beautiful public park along the Colorado River. Called the West Wetlands Park, the non-pretentious sign to the park can easily be overlooked.

Bea studying information signs

Keep your eyes on the right curbside as you drive down on West 1.Street. You are crossing a low-key residential area before you'll see the entrance to the park. Then get out and wander down to the boat launch. There is a beautiful white-sand beach and the waters of the Colorado, are slowly moving along towards it's border crossing with Mexico in Algodones. Here the river is carrying a lot less water than what you might have seen in places farther to the north. Even as close to Yuma as at Picacho Recreation area, the river is much, much wider. The reason for the reduced water is, of course, the water needed for irrigation of the thousands of acres of vegetable producing fields around Yuma. The waters are then led into the American Canal, running along the Mexican border all the way into the Imperial Valley where another thousands of acres are irrigated with it.

From the boat launch a beautiful trail leads along the river. Huge old cottonwood trees and big Mesquite, some of them in full bloom make for a very delightful walk.

Canopies are providing space for a sit-down in their shade, and we were sorry we hadn't any lunch package with us. Being a Thursday, there weren't many people on the trail, but dog-walking seemed to be the thing. We heard birds singing in the trees and shrubs, but just imagine how wonderful that would be real early in the morning.

We were getting close to noon and the sun was getting hot, so we had to get back to the car where we had water for Dixie and ourselves. 

Ducks resting by the water

Next time you are in Yuma, check it out. Once on the trail, you will forget about the loud hustle of this ever-growing city.

Honey Mesquite in bloom

Yellow Elder