Eagerly anticipating an exciting day at the lake, the boater pulls up to the Lake Mead Recreation Area tollbooth. The kids are frantic with excitement, mom is smearing sun block on the kids and everyone in the truck is electric with anticipation of the first boating day of the year. The toll is paid, everyone is ready to hit the water, and they all arrive at the boat ramp … only to find a two-hour wait to launch the boat. One of the growing frustrations for people living in the Southwest is finding the proverbial “nice, quiet, place to get away from it all.”

Limited water resources, especially in places like southern Nevada, send an increasing number of boaters crowding into the same boater hot spots. It doesn’t have to be that way, and boaters do not all have to crowd the same “hot spots” at the lake. There are literally dozens of boating opportunities in southern Nevada waters that see little or no boating even during the most popular boating months of the year.

First, there are some places to avoid.

The Boulder Basin of Lake Mead is a prime example. For some reason, most people who go boating in southern Nevada seem to focus activities on that particular Basin.

Perhaps it is because this part of the lake, which lies between Hoover Dam on the south and The Narrows on the north, is most easily accessible to the Las Vegas community, its resort hotels and casinos.

Located just north of Callville Bay, Sandy Cove is also a place to avoid. On any given weekend, and more particularly on the holiday weekends, the beaches at Sandy Cove look more like a parking lot than a sandy playground. Week after week, one can see the same boats and the same people crowded onto the beach.

Lastly, besides Lake Mead’s crowded spots, there are a couple places to avoid on Lake Mohave. The heaviest use area is near Katherine Landing just north of Davis Dam, only 10 to 15 minutes out of Laughlin. Speaking of Laughlin, the Colorado River at Laughlin is also an area with heavy use and congestion, especially during the warm months of the year.

The key to boating privacy is avoiding these areas. As stated above, there are great numbers of out of the way boating opportunities at all these waterways. “On Lake Mead, I recommend going somewhere besides the Boulder Basin. Simply driving as little as 45 minutes further away from Las Vegas can make all the difference in the quality of your boating experience,” said David Pfiffner, game warden supervisor covering Lake Mead.

The Virgin Basin is growing in popularity, according to Pfiffner, but still offers boaters a wide selection of remote coves and beaches. Boaters can even have those areas all to themselves. This area is easily accessible by boat from Callville Bay Marina, Echo Bay Marina and Temple Bar. Vehicle access is extremely limited, making it a secluded spot for great boating.

North of the Virgin Basin is the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. Vehicle access is better here than in the Virgin Basin, but this also means the use is a little heavier. Overton Landing on the north and Echo Bay Marina on the south both provide launching facilities, groceries and fuel. Echo Bay also offers camping for those who desire formal facilities.

For those willing to make the drive across Hoover Dam, Temple Bar opens the door to the upper most reaches of Lake Mead where the Colorado River drains the Grand Canyon. Simply driving the extra hour to get here will open up a new world for boaters. Boat numbers are low making easy access to nice beaches and quiet, secluded coves. Overnight accommodations, groceries and fuel are available at the marina.

Another area made accessible by crossing the dam is the north end of Lake Mohave. Boaters can launch at Willow Beach and travel upriver toward Hoover Dam or south toward Cottonwood Cove. The water temperature here remains about 52 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year so you need to be careful of hypothermia. By traveling south toward Cottonwood Cove, boaters can access warmer water.

According to the National Park Service, Black Canyon from Willow Beach upstream to Hoover Dam does have seasonal restrictions in place. On Sunday and Monday, year round, only non-motorized vessels are permitted on this stretch of water. The only exception is given to boats using electric trolling motors. Between Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends, Tuesday through Saturday, the area is open to boats with motors of 65 horsepower or less. And finally, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturday, there is no restriction on motor size.

Cottonwood Cove is centrally located between Willow Beach and Katherine Landing. This is a full-service marina and provides access to miles of remote shoreline offering boaters a large selection of quiet coves and beaches.

Most of these areas are somewhat remote, so prepare accordingly.

• Let a responsible friend or family member know where you are going, when you’re leaving and when you’re coming back, and who is going with you. If something unexpected does happen, this will go a long way toward helping searchers find you.
• Bring enough drinking water for the day, because there is none available outside of the marinas. Temperatures reaching 120 degrees are common during the summer months and dehydration sets on quite rapidly.
• It is not enough to carry water; you need to drink it regularly throughout the day.
• In addition, a quality first aid kit should be a priority on your list, as should a marine band radio or a cell phone.
  

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