In most states some portion of beaches are public land and all members of the public have a right to use that portion of the beach. The ability to walk along the beach is known as lateral beach access.

But the land between where people can park or walk to the beach and where they can enjoy the beach is often private property, making it difficult to provide access to the public while protecting personal property rights. The ability to reach the beach is known as vertical beach access.

Laws regarding public access to beaches vary from state to state but many states recognize the public trust doctrine, a legal doctrine that certain natural resources such as beaches are owned or held by the government in trust for the public’s use and enjoyment and that the government has an obligation to protect and maintain these resources for the public.

In Arizona, the issue of beach access is not as prominent as in coastal states due to its landlocked geography. However, the state does have riverbanks and lake shores where access can be a concern. Arizona follows the public trust doctrine to some extent, which implies that certain natural resources are held in trust by the state for public use and enjoyment. While Arizona does not have ocean beaches, the principles of lateral and vertical access can still apply to its public trust lands, such as the shores of the Colorado River and other water bodies. The state ensures public access to these areas while balancing private property rights. Specific regulations regarding access to these areas would be governed by state statutes and local ordinances, which may delineate the extent of public access and the rights of private property owners adjacent to these trust lands.