Exploring Shea Road, Parker, AZ

With all the years I’ve been coming to the Quartzsite and Lake Havasu City area, Parker, AZ and the area around it have only been a way to get between the two. 

This year I have a friend who set up a group to gather for the WRTR (woman’s RTR) and RTR (Rubber Tramp Rendezvous), at the La Paz County Fairgrounds in Parker.    While hanging in the Parker area I figured I would take some time to explore the “area between”.

My first exploration was Shea Road, east of the center of Parker.

Prius Friends and followers:

This is a Prius friendly road as it is asphalt with only a few places with small pot holes.  Often drives like this are dirt with tough ruts and washes.  You you should not have any problem as long as you keep your eyes on the road for the first few miles.

Google Maps screen capture

After filling up with gas in Parker center I drove south on 95 and left on Shea Road.  It is 18 miles out to the Arizona Canal, where the road changes name.  Plan your time as it is a 1 hour round trip.

Above is a screen capture from my On X Hunt Map App doftware that shows who owns what land.

Shea Road doesn’t show as I had to zoom out to get the two red pins to show.  The one on the left is the beginning of Shea Road and the one on the right is at the Arizona Canal.  Why I show this map in addition to the one above is because if you plan on Boondocking it’s important to go far enough from town to reach BLM land.

The orange colored map to the left is Indian reservation land.  

Shea Road then travels across Arizona Trust Land that is blue/gray.

Finally the yellow colored land is the BLM Land and open for Boondocking under BLM rules.

Shea Road is wide and scenic.  It gradually rises in elevation as you make your way around hills/mountains.

There are plenty of places to pull off and camp.

Shea Road ends at the Arizona Canal.  Follow the canal up on the picture above where it comes through the mountain.

The water from the Colorado River flows swift and the dits in the river are mallard ducks getting a free ride towards Phoenix.

I went a bit further after crossing the Arizona Canal, after the road changed names.  Although it became a  dirt road, it was wide and not too rough for small cars with some caution.

At this spot there are a couple fire rings and large enough for 6 good size vehicles.  There is no cell service here or at the canal bridge.  Cell service ends somewhere before the canal but I didn’t notice and I do use a cell phone amplifier.

If  your looking for an easy scenic ride into the desert with just a few others on the road Shea Road in Parker, AZ is it.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com