Yuma: Desert Landscape and River History

When looking for a hotel in Yuma, it’s worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: are you most interested in the landscape, the history along the Colorado River, or visiting during a specific event? Yuma County combines vast desert expanses and rugged mountains with irrigated river valleys. In Yuma, historic sites, local products, and seasonal offerings add further points of interest.

Desert, Mountains, and Irrigated River Valleys

Much of Yuma County consists of desert land with rugged mountains. Several river valley regions offer a contrasting landscape: there, fertile farmland is irrigated with water from the Colorado River. The county’s main rivers are the Gila River and the Colorado River. This juxtaposes desert and mountain landscapes with irrigated valleys—a useful guide if you want to plan your trip around different landscape themes.

The county’s location also gives it a distinct geographic setting: it borders California to the west and Mexico to the south. These borders, along with the two rivers, help orient you to the region on a map without reducing its varied landscapes to a single image.

History Along the Colorado River

The Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge, also called the Old Highway 80 Bridge, was the first vehicle bridge across the Colorado River. The Territorial Prison and Yuma Crossing Historic Park are among the notable attractions in Yuma County. The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park preserves two-foot-thick adobe walls and cramped cells with little ventilation. These structural features offer a tangible impression of the site.

In Yuma, the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area covers seven square miles along the Lower Colorado River. It includes the Yuma Crossing National Historic Landmark, the Yuma Territorial Prison, and the Colorado River State Historic Parks. The area also includes more than three miles of connected riverfront parks and trails, as well as 400 acres of restored wetlands. The historic area thus encompasses both sites along the river and parks, trails, and restored wetlands.

Railroad history can also be traced at specific sites. Pivot Point Plaza marks the spot where the first train arrived in Arizona in 1877. It also preserves the concrete pivot that allowed the original railroad swing bridge to turn for passing boats. These two features make the plaza a place to visit for the history of rail and river traffic. Colorado River State Historic Park is located on the former site of an army depot that operated from 1864 to 1883.

Local Experiences and Seasonal Events

The Yuma Farmers Market offers fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, as well as handmade goods. Since offerings and operations may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest market information before planning a visit.

In Yuma, Martha’s Gardens serves Medjool shakes made with Medjool dates grown on its own property. Seasonal tours of the grounds run from November through March. If these tours match your travel interests, keep the stated season in mind when planning.

The Colorado River Crossing Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place over three days every November; events include morning mass ascensions. You can weigh landscape, local offerings, and a possible event date as different priorities for your stay in Yuma.

Discover more destinations: Yuma, Somerton, Wellton, Graham County, Coconino, La Paz County, Apache County, Cochise County.

For the main travel overview: Arizona.