Desert And River Regional Parks
Riverside County, CA
Lake Cahuilla | Mayflower Park | Riviera Marina Park | McIntyre Park |
Miller Park | Palo Verde Park | Goose Flats Area | PVID Access |
Cahuilla Lake, near Indio California, is nestled
against the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Riverside County California extends from Santa Ana River the eastern end of the Los Angeles basin, eastward to the Colorado River. It includes the desert regions of the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs, as well as the San Jacinto, Little San Bernardino and Santa Rosa mountains. It contains portions of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Salton Sea State Recreation Area, as well as most of Joshua Tree National Park.
Thirty-six regional parks also exist within this diverse geography, operated by Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District. These county facilities provide some of the best adventure and recreational opportunities in Southern California.
Eight of these parks are located in the desert region and/or along the Colorado River. They offer a wide range of facilities and recreational opportunities, from camping and hiking, to water skiing and river kayaking.
Take advantage of these less known county recreation areas. In peak seasons, when national and state parks are booked full, you can usually still find a campsite in one of these excellent regional parks. And unlike most county, state and national parks of the desert, Riverside County regional parks are open year round.
General Information
Seasons / Hours
- All parks are open daily, year round. Hours for facilities at individual parks will vary.
Climate, Geography, Setting
Located in the Colorado Desert (the Sonoran Desert west of the Colorado River), all of Riverside County desert and river regional parks experience extremely hot summers and mild winters, with very little rainfall.
Monthly temperature/precipitation normals can be obtained from the DesertUSA city of Blythe, California (in the Palo Verde Valley) and city of Palm Springs, California (in the Coachella Valley) pages.
Description, Things to Do, Camping
Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area
710 acres, 3 miles south of La Quinta/Indio on Avenue 58. Situated at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the centerpiece of this gem-of-a-park is Lake Cahuilla, constructed in the 1960s and filled by aqueduct from the Colorado River.
- Fishing
- Picnic facilities
- Swimming pool (open April to October)
- Dump station
- Showers
- Horseback/Camel riding
- Hiking
- Camping - (reservations recommended) Group; 85 tent; 65 RV (elec & water); Primitive
Mayflower Park
24 acres, 6 miles northeast of Blythe just north of 6th Ave and Colorado River Road. Grassy campsites, covered picnic ramadas on the river, small lagoon.
- Boating/Fishing
- Picnic facilities
- Showers
- Heated swimming pool
- Swimming Lagoons
- Launch ramp
- Camping: 28 tent; 152 RV (elec & water)
Riviera Blythe Marina Park - A 5 star resort on the river.
14-acre, concession-operated park off Interstate 10 on Riviera Drive in the city of Blythe. This is the most developed of all the local parks, with all the comforts of home.
- Boating/Fishing
- Picnic facilities
- Showers
- Heated swimming pool
- Swimming Lagoons
- Spa
- Cable TV
- Laundromat
- Store/propane
- Launch ramp
- Camping: 285 RV & Tent, many with full hookups
McIntyre Park A 5 star resort on the river.
87-acre, concession-operated park 6 miles southeast of Blythe on 26th Avenue and the Colorado River. Has large grassy sites with shady trees on a protected riverfront beach area.
- Boating/Fishing
- Picnic facilities
- Showers
- Dump station
- Swimming
- Launch ramp
- Snack bar
- Grocery store
- Supplies/bait/propane
- Camping: 140 tent; 160 RV (elec & water); Group (reservations required)
- No pets April thru November
Miller Park
5 undeveloped acres on the Colorado River,12 miles southwest of Blythe at Highway 78 and 38th Avenue.
- Boating/Fishing
- Primitive Camping
- No water, no facilities
- Campground Host
Palo Verde Park
3 miles south of the town of Palo Verde on California Highway 78 along an oxbow of the Colorado River. It is adjacent to Cibola National Wildlife Refuge; it is 2 miles west of the Palo Verde Oxbow BLM site on the Colorado River, which has a launch ramp and primitive camping.
- Boating/Fishing
- Camping
- Water/Flush toilets
- Playground
Goose Flats Wildlife Area
230 acres, 3.5 miles southeast of Blythe at 18th Avenue and the Colorado River.
- Boating/Fishing
PVID Fishing Access
2 acres, 10 miles north of I-10 on Highway 95 on the Colorado River.
- Fishing only
Rules, Regulations, Precautions
- Fires must be confined to existing stoves or fire rings.
- No off-road vehicle use allowed in the parks.prohibited.
- All persons under 18 must be accompanied by a legally responsible adult.
- All plants, animals, natural features and archeological resources are protected and may not be damaged, injured or removed.
Resources & Nearby Attractions
Resources
Cities & Towns
- Blythe, California
- Quartzite, Arizona
- Palm Springs, California
- Yuma, Arizona
- Twentynine Palms, California
- Yucca Valley, California
Parks & Monuments
Recreation & Wilderness Areas
Historic & Points of Interest
- General Patton Memorial Museum
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Palm Springs Desert Museum
- Living Desert Reserve
-- Bob Katz
Related DesertUSA Pages
- How to Turn Your Smartphone into a Survival Tool
- 26 Tips for Surviving in the Desert
- Death by GPS
- 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience
- Maps Parks and More
- Desert Survival Skills
- How to Keep Ice Cold in the Desert
- Desert Rocks, Minerals & Geology Index
- Preparing an Emergency Survival Kit
- Get the Best Hotel and Motel Rates
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