Pirates Cove In November

[lavey jr]

I’ll be moving back state side in November and trying to plan a trip for Thanksgiving with my family and in laws. My usual Thanksgiving trip would be to go to Glamis but want to do something different this time.

We’re pretty set on going to Pirates Cove for 5 days. My wife and I will have our 10 month old daughter with us and figured it would be a good easy calm “camping” type trip for her.

I’ve never been to Havasu during November so my questions are; what’s the weather like that time of the year and what’s the water level like for boating in that area? And how cold is the water? Brother/sister in law have a RZR and boat so we would be able to cruise around and enjoy both types of motorsport. But we’re unsure if it would even be worth bringing the boat depending water conditions.

What’s everyone’s experience and suggestions on this?

 

[TPC]

It's usually excellent. It's why the snowbirds flock here.
We love Pirates.

 

[HB2Havasu]

Its hit or miss for boating that time of year, but with summer starting late this year I would bet money the air temps are going to be on the warmer side during Thanksgiving. Now the water temps are a different story. Needles water temps are cold even at the height of summer, end of November your talking Major Shrinkage, lol. If you go down south to Havasu the water temps will be warmer, but that time of year your still probably looking at around 65F-70F water temps? Should be great weather for the RZR and/or Fishing. Welcome Back and Enjoy!!!

 

[Ziggy]

By end of October the lake water has usually cooled unless weather has stayed warm. One cool/cold storm and the lake looses its warmth and can't recover.
Upriver by Pirates I'd assume the water will be cold for sure.
Weather is generally comfortable but cool at night.
With as late as the weather patterns have been all Spring/Summer this year maybe the perfect October temps will reach into November....who know?
Either way, hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[monkeyswrench]

We've spent quite a few Thanksgivings in the Needles and Topock area...probably the better part of the last 20. Boating is usually pretty good, but a bit cooler for the water sports. Offroading is great. Usually not too windy, but enough to keep the dust moving so not following into clouds. We typically do a fair amount of shooting that weekend...especially now that we're on the Az side. Usually just cool enough for evening bonfires too.

 

[Rbcconst]

I’ll be moving back state side in November and trying to plan a trip for Thanksgiving with my family and in laws. My usual Thanksgiving trip would be to go to Glamis but want to do something different this time.

We’re pretty set on going to Pirates Cove for 5 days. My wife and I will have our 10 month old daughter with us and figured it would be a good easy calm “camping” type trip for her.

I’ve never been to Havasu during November so my questions are; what’s the weather like that time of the year and what’s the water level like for boating in that area? And how cold is the water? Brother/sister in law have a RZR and boat so we would be able to cruise around and enjoy both types of motorsport. But we’re unsure if it would even be worth bringing the boat depending water conditions.

What’s everyone’s experience and suggestions on this?

Water level is usually ok but would use extra caution. The temp of the water is about the same as it usually is. Weather its worth it or not to bring the boat will depend on the outside temp. Ive been thanksgiving and it was hight 80’s low 90’s and great, ive also been and it was to cold to boat. We like to take the boat from pirate to havasu landing and eat at the sail in and stop in the casino. I would check weather 2 weeks before the trip and and make a game time decision.


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[Meaney77]

We did Thanksgiving at PC this year and it was awesome. The weather was in the upper 70's to low 80's We went on some good buggy rides but be warned the trails are pretty tore up out there with breaking bumps and ruts everywhere- it was still a good time.

We headed out to Oatman one day and took dirt all the way to and from.

We spent alot of time hanging out playing washers on the beach and also people watching in the channel.

If I would have had my truck with me I may have considered driving to Havasu and pulling the boat out of storage. Weather was good, water was chilly but there were still people driving boats to PC up river from Havasu.

It was pretty cool deep frying a turkey and having a turkey dinner on the river. We will be doing it again...

 

[lavey jr]

Thanks for the replies everyone! We just booked all our spots for the trip!
If any of you will be out there for Thanksgiving I'll see you out there!

 

[DWC]

We did Thanksgiving at PC this year and it was awesome. The weather was in the upper 70's to low 80's We went on some good buggy rides but be warned the trails are pretty tore up out there with breaking bumps and ruts everywhere- it was still a good time.

We headed out to Oatman one day and took dirt all the way to and from.

We spent alot of time hanging out playing washers on the beach and also people watching in the channel.

If I would have had my truck with me I may have considered driving to Havasu and pulling the boat out of storage. Weather was good, water was chilly but there were still people driving boats to PC up river from Havasu.

It was pretty cool deep frying a turkey and having a turkey dinner on the river. We will be doing it again...

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I gotta figure out the all dirt Oatman trip. We did it but did asphalt the last few miles. I haven’t done the AZ plates on the SXS so it’s a little nerve wracking.

 

[Meaney77]

I gotta figure out the all dirt Oatman trip. We did it but did asphalt the last few miles. I haven’t done the AZ plates on the SXS so it’s a little nerve wracking.

It’s pretty easy from Pirates, you just parallel the train tracks until you get to Needles. The only pavement was going over the Needles bridge. Once you get into Bullhead you can take a few different trails to get to Oatman.

Check out this trail on AllTrails.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/backway-to-oatman?p=22045177

 

[Rbcconst]

I gotta figure out the all dirt Oatman trip. We did it but did asphalt the last few miles. I haven’t done the AZ plates on the SXS so it’s a little nerve wracking.

In a SXS you would have to trailer to topock to be legit even with the AZ plate. There is no all dirt path right out of pirates to Oatman. You either take the 40 one exit or run the dirt and have to cross needless bridge. Now you could take an all dirt trip to Havasu landing out of pirates.


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[DWC]

In a SXS you would have to trailer to topock to be legit even with the AZ plate. There is no all dirt path right out of pirates to Oatman. You either take the 40 one exit or run the dirt and have to cross needless bridge. Now you could take an all dirt trip to Havasu landing out of pirates.


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We’ve only done it from my buddies place in Marina cove. (Across the river from Needles). We’ll give it a shot with gps this fall. Last trip was following washes and power lines. Solid adventure for sure.

 

[Moneypit]

Bluewater circle races that weekend, Friday and Saturday... Usually a good show, even for a couple of hours...
Ray

 

[FishSniper]

I’ll be moving back state side in November and trying to plan a trip for Thanksgiving with my family and in laws. My usual Thanksgiving trip would be to go to Glamis but want to do something different this time.

We’re pretty set on going to Pirates Cove for 5 days. My wife and I will have our 10 month old daughter with us and figured it would be a good easy calm “camping” type trip for her.

I’ve never been to Havasu during November so my questions are; what’s the weather like that time of the year and what’s the water level like for boating in that area? And how cold is the water? Brother/sister in law have a RZR and boat so we would be able to cruise around and enjoy both types of motorsport. But we’re unsure if it would even be worth bringing the boat depending water conditions.

What’s everyone’s experience and suggestions on this?

I was also considering a trip to pirates early November and was concerned about the water levels as well.

 

[Meaney77]

Now you could take an all dirt trip to Havasu landing out of pirates.

Would be interested in finding the route for this- we crossed the 40 and got into the trail system on the other side and tried to figure out a path to the landing and we were unsuccessful. Also tried to map a route using Google Earth- its totally due able just need to figure out the right route.

 

[Rbcconst]

Would be interested in finding the route for this- we crossed the 40 and got into the trail system on the other side and tried to figure out a path to the landing and we were unsuccessful. Also tried to map a route using Google Earth- its totally due able just need to figure out the right route.

Ill ask some of the guys in the park when i see them next. Im pretty sure you go under the 40 and get on pipeline road and take that to the 95 and a bit of the path you take parallels the 95 until you get closer to 17 mile road.


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[c_land]

We’ve only done it from my buddies place in Marina cove. (Across the river from Needles). We’ll give it a shot with gps this fall. Last trip was following washes and power lines. Solid adventure for sure.

It’s pretty easy from Pirates, you just parallel the train tracks until you get to Needles. The only pavement was going over the Needles bridge. Once you get into Bullhead you can take a few different trails to get to Oatman.

Check out this trail on AllTrails.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/backway-to-oatman?p=22045177

You can do the oatman trip from pirates with mostly dirt. There's dirt trails all the way to the Avi and the cross at the Avi bridge into Fort Mojave. I've done it a few times.

 

[RiverDave]

Its hit or miss for boating that time of year, but with summer starting late this year I would bet money the air temps are going to be on the warmer side during Thanksgiving. Now the water temps are a different story. Needles water temps are cold even at the height of summer, end of November your talking Major Shrinkage, lol. If you go down south to Havasu the water temps will be warmer, but that time of year your still probably looking at around 65F-70F water temps? Should be great weather for the RZR and/or Fishing. Welcome Back and Enjoy!!!

This

 

[lavey jr]

What are the best apps to use for trails navigation around there?

 

[Meaney77]

What are the best apps to use for trails navigation around there?

I would use a GPS if you have one and put around and get a feel for where you are going- kind of hard to get lost or turned around out there.

All trails app works okay. Might look on google earth as well to see whats out there. You can download a map from Google earth and save it to your phone to use when you dont have cell service.

 

[Spudsbud]

Amazing pix. Mom & dad of the Year shots there!
What is that "Fire Tube" thing? Very cool. I want one !

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Usually Thanksgiving is my first trip to Havasu of the year. There is normally an RDP meet up on Wednesday that has been well attended that last few years that @Outdrive1 kinda spearheads. Thanksgiving dinner for me is at the Springs, they do a great job! Hopefully going to get a chance to meet up with Bully or Walt this year at some point that week and put some miles on.

 

[Meaney77]

Amazing pix. Mom & dad of the Year shots there!
What is that "Fire Tube" thing? Very cool. I want one !

Thank you!

That is called a smudge pot and they work awesome!! They were used back in the day in the orchards to keep crops from being destroyed due to the cold weather. They burn on diesel, used motor oil, fryer oil, etc.. and put out amazing heat. They can be found on craigslist and there was also a member here selling them.

 

[Bigbore500r]

We've spent quite a few Thanksgivings in the Needles and Topock area...probably the better part of the last 20. Boating is usually pretty good, but a bit cooler for the water sports. Offroading is great. Usually not too windy, but enough to keep the dust moving so not following into clouds. We typically do a fair amount of shooting that weekend...especially now that we're on the Az side. Usually just cool enough for evening bonfires too.

Do they usually run the water high enough to use the docks along the river? I know mine ends up in the mud in December - January, but i've never checked it in Nov.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Do they usually run the water high enough to use the docks along the river? I know mine ends up in the mud in December - January, but i've never checked it in Nov.

My dock used to be low, but not gounded. It also helped my boat was/is a shallow jet. I think I would have pulled if I had the OD deck boat in. It's nice though. From your place south would be perfect, only the shallow by Smith and the one sandbar north of Pirate's