Attractions

The Lake Havasu Replica Lighthouse Collection

Scaled-down, functional lighthouses spread along the shoreline and channel -- what they are, how they got there, and the best ways to see them by boat, kayak, or on foot.

Last updated: 2026-07-24

Quick Verdict

Lake Havasu's replica lighthouses are one of the shoreline's more distinctive, low-key attractions -- functional, roughly one-third-scale copies of famous American lighthouses, installed along the channel and open water largely through the volunteer work of the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club. There is no single lighthouse you must see; the appeal is the collection itself, best appreciated slowly by boat or kayak, with a handful of replicas also reachable on foot near shoreline parks. Pair a lighthouse-spotting pass with an afternoon on the water, and bring a hedge against exact counts and locations, since the collection is added to and adjusted over time.

What the Lighthouse Collection Is

Scattered around Lake Havasu's shoreline and the Bridgewater Channel is a collection of replica lighthouses -- each one a scaled-down version of a real, well-known lighthouse from elsewhere in the United States. The project has been built and maintained largely through volunteer effort tied to the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club, a local group dedicated to installing, restoring, and caring for the replicas over time.

The replicas are typically built at around one-third the scale of the originals they represent, which keeps them modest in size while still clearly recognizable as the lighthouse they are modeled on. Many are wired with working lights and registered as private aids to navigation, meaning they are not purely decorative -- several genuinely help boaters read the shoreline after dark, echoing the practical purpose of the full-size lighthouses they copy.

How Many Lighthouses, and Which Ones

The exact number of replicas in the collection is not a fixed figure worth memorizing -- the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club has added, relocated, and restored structures over the years, so any specific count you read in an older article or blog post may already be out of date. What is durable is the idea: a rotating, growing set of scaled replicas modeled on famous American lighthouses, installed at points around the lake rather than clustered in one spot. As of the club's own published location guide, the collection stands at 28 replicas, and the club posts a downloadable map that is the only count worth trusting on the day you go.

Because names and locations shift as the collection is maintained, treat any list of specific lighthouse names and their exact spots as a snapshot rather than a permanent map. The Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club and the Lake Havasu City visitor resources are the best sources for a current list before you go looking for a particular replica.

Seeing Them by Boat or Kayak

Water is the most complete way to experience the collection, since the replicas are spread along the shoreline and channel rather than concentrated where a land visitor can easily reach all of them. A slow cruise or paddle past the shoreline turns the lighthouses into a kind of running landmark trail -- useful for orienting yourself on the water as much as for the novelty of spotting each one.

If you do not own a boat, the rentals and guided cruises covered in our boating guide are a straightforward way to get on the water for an afternoon, and a lighthouse-spotting pass combines naturally with a longer day that also takes in the Bridgewater Channel and the anchor-out coves. Paddlers looking for a quieter, slower pace can also cover a good stretch of shoreline by kayak or paddleboard, particularly in the calmer morning hours -- see our watersports guide for rental options and conditions to expect.

Before you push off: Arizona law requires a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket on board for every person on any vessel — and that includes kayaks and paddleboards, which many visitors do not realize are legally vessels here. Children 12 and under must actually be wearing one whenever the vessel is underway, not just have one aboard. Arizona also prohibits operating a watercraft while even slightly impaired; there is no "one beer is fine" threshold on this lake. Arizona State Parks and the Arizona Game & Fish Department enforce both rules. There are no lifeguards anywhere on Lake Havasu, the water gets deep fast off the shoreline, and afternoon wind can turn a flat morning paddle into a hard slog back — another reason the early hours are the better window.

Seeing Them on Foot

Not every replica requires a boat. A number of the lighthouses sit close enough to shore to be visible, or reachable by a short walk, from shoreline parks and public access points around Lake Havasu City, including stretches near the London Bridge and the Bridgewater Channel. Exactly which replicas are walkable changes as the collection is maintained, so check a current map from the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club or the visitor center rather than assuming a specific park guarantees a specific lighthouse.

If you are combining a lighthouse walk with other sightseeing, it pairs well with a broader stroll around the English Village and channel-front area covered in our things-to-do guide, since several of the shore-accessible replicas are within easy walking distance of that same stretch.

Tips for Visiting

Best time of day

Early morning and the hour or two before sunset generally offer calmer water, softer light for photos, and lower temperatures than midday, which matters more than it sounds: normal daily highs here average roughly 110°F in July and 107°F in August (Western Regional Climate Center). The National Weather Service advises shifting outdoor activity to the coolest hours, drinking water steadily before you feel thirsty, and never leaving a child or pet in a parked vehicle. Carry more water than you think a short shoreline walk needs. If any of the replicas you are hoping to see are lit at night, an evening pass on the water can also be worthwhile, though which lights are active can vary.

Get a current list first

Because the collection changes over time, it is worth checking with the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club or the Lake Havasu City visitor center for a current map or list before you set out, rather than relying on an older blog post, ours included, for exact names and positions.

Combine it with a bigger day on the water

A lighthouse-spotting pass rarely needs to be its own dedicated trip. It slots naturally into a longer boating or paddling day that also covers the channel, the coves, and the London Bridge, so plan it as one stop on a fuller itinerary rather than a standalone outing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lake Havasu replica lighthouse collection? +
It is a shoreline trail of scaled-down, functional replica lighthouses installed around Lake Havasu's channel and open shoreline, maintained largely by volunteers with the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club. Each replica is modeled on a real, well-known American lighthouse, and the collection has grown over the years as new replicas are added, so any exact count you read is a snapshot rather than a fixed number.
Are the Lake Havasu lighthouse replicas full size? +
No. They are typically built at roughly one-third scale of the original lighthouses they represent, which keeps them modest in height but still clearly recognizable on the shoreline. Scale can vary somewhat by replica, so treat one-third as a general rule of thumb rather than an exact spec for every structure in the collection.
Do the replica lighthouses actually work as navigational aids? +
Many of them are wired with working lights and are registered as private aids to navigation, meaning they do more than look decorative -- they help boaters read the shoreline and channel after dark, similar in spirit to the real lighthouses they copy. Not every replica in the collection is necessarily lit or active at any given time, so treat the navigational function as a general feature of the project rather than a guarantee for any single structure you pass.
How can I see the Lake Havasu lighthouse replicas? +
The most complete way to see them is by water, since the replicas are spread along the shoreline and channel and many are easiest to view from a boat or kayak passing by. A number are also visible on foot or from a short walk near shoreline parks and public access points around town, though you will not be able to reach every replica without getting on the water. Check current maps or ask locally for the most walkable stretch if you do not have a boat.
Is there an official map of the lighthouse trail? +
The Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club and local visitor resources have published maps and lists of the replicas at various points, but locations and the total number of lighthouses can change as the club maintains, relocates, or adds to the collection. Check the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club's current materials or the Lake Havasu City visitor center for the most up-to-date map before you go looking for a specific replica.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026-07-24

Planning Your Trip

Staying near the channel puts most of the shore-accessible lighthouses within an easy walk. Compare lodging or browse boat tours and rentals through our partners below.

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Keep Reading

Lake Havasu Boating Guide →

The channel, the coves, rentals, and launch ramps -- the fastest way to get on the water and past the lighthouses.

The London Bridge Story →

How a real 1831 London bridge ended up over the channel most lighthouse replicas overlook.

Things to Do in Lake Havasu →

Everything beyond the water -- the bridge, the lighthouse trail, beaches, and day trips.

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