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Colorado River: Eldorado Canyon and Lake Mohave

A great place to get out of the big city and cool off.
Trail Uses
Paddling Motorized watercraft
Location
Clark County
Length
40.00 miles (Open Area)
Difficulty
Easy
Towns
Boulder City, Laughlin, Searchlight
Surface
Lake/Pond, River/Stream
Pets
Permitted
Fees
Yes
Wilderness Areas
Bridge Canyon Wilderness Area, Eldorado Wilderness Area, Ireteba Peaks Wilderness Area, Nellis Wash Wilderness Area, Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area

Description

There are three main segments of the Colorado River, south of Hoover Dam:

  1. The Black Canyon Segment goes from below the dam down to Willow Beach Marina & Campground, and then on to the Eldorado Canyon access point.
  2. The Eldorado Canyon Segment goes from Eldorado Canyon through Lake Mohave and down to Davis Dam.,
  3. and the last segment goes from the bridge in Laughlin down to Avi Resort

The Eldorado Canyon to Davis Dam / Lake Mohave segment of the Colorado River is a popular spot for all types of water recreation, both motorized and non-motorized. This portion of the lake is full of many small inlets and coves, creating over 200 miles of shoreline.  There are several launch sites, and two full-service marinas and campgrounds.  Licensed vehicles only are allowed within the Recreation Area, and there are many dirt roads that provide access to the lake and campsites.

At the Eldorado Canyon put-in point, paddlers will need to carry their craft about ¼ of a mile down a sand wash from the parking area. Placer Cove is another put-in spot just downstream from the Eldorado Canyon Access Point.  The steep, high rock walls make this a popular spot for cliff jumping.

There are many nice campgrounds in the Lake Mohave area, along with full-service marinas and other amenities. See vendors websites for launch, camping and rental information.

Other Information

City of Laughlin’s tourism website for places to stay, eat and recreate.

Nevada Division of Wildlife’s website on the Colorado River.

To visit TravelNevada’s webpage on the City of Laughlin, click here.

Trail Manager

See the National Park Service website for current information and important notices.

Visit the Nevada Division of State Lands website for information on Nevada's navigable waterways.

National Park Service: Lake Meade Natl. Recreation Area

National Park Service: Lake Meade Natl. Recreation Area
Lake Mead Visitor Center
10 Lakeshore Rd
Boulder City, Nevada 89005
Phone: 702-293-8990
View website

Nevada Division of State Lands

Nevada Division of State Lands
901 S. Stewart Street, Ste. 5003
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 684-2720
View website

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Plan Ahead and Prepare
Be prepared for emergencies. Pack extra clothing, food, and water and also a flashlight, first aid and repair kit, matches/fire starters, whistle, signaling mirror, and pocket knife.
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Trailhead Information

The Eldorado Canyon Access point is at the end of SR 165, on Old Nelson’s Landing Rd.  Paddlers will need to carry their craft about ¼ mile down a sand wash from the parking area.

Lake access is available from many dirt roads into the recreation area – licensed vehicles only.

Cottonwood Cove is a full-service campground and marina at the northern end of the lake.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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