Here is a small write up of a day outing in Nevada, near Searchlight.
Lake Mohave is a quieter and smaller body of water situated on the Colorado River between two dams, the Hoover and the Davis. All in all, it is approximately 120 feet deep and covers an area of 41+ square miles. The river is the boundary between Arizona and Nevada, Bullhead City & Laughlin are near the Davis Dam. A small town, Searchlight, is near the center about a 20 min drive from the lakeside.
At Cottonwood Cove Campground, camping is limited, sites are predominately back-in, close together, and small. Amenities are few and the fees per night are kind of steep for what is available. Some facilities at the private campground have not been repaired in some time. The sites were so unappealing, I didn’t even snap a picture.
The views along the road from Searchlight to Lake Mohave are very scenic. The moody gray clouds provide better definition of the varied rock compositions. They in turn provide excellent contrast for the desert flora in the foreground.
The pups love being new places. Finding new places to go explore with them and with KrisP is one of my favorite things to do as well. KrisP likes libraries, local stores, old cafes, and the visitor centers that appear when you cross state lines. Both of us also love arboretums, old graveyards, and good ice cream.
The local NPS office and day use areas are closed. Google tells me that this happened in 2024. It seems that this has been replaced by the concession run system. So Cottonwood Cove Campground is the only choice.
I'm still learning about the various flora that grows in these micro climates. Sometimes you find unusual things growing on their own in unexpected places. This plant might be a salt cedar.
A few hardy folks braved the winds and grey skies and took to the water in their craft. It reminds me of the old adage of how it’s better to be the willing friend of a boat owner. Also of the saying ‘a boat is a hole in the water surrounded by wood or fiberglass into which you pour money’. I can imagine how busy this place must be in better weather.
There were lots of flying fauna out and about. None were as cooperative as this redwing blackbird patiently perched on the signage. She or he posed for me for quite a while. I do miss all the variety of East Coast birds, however the desert has its share of lovelies.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area includes Lake Mohave. It is fun to consider a boating adventure on the Colorado River, I do have a foldable kayak. Maybe a houseboat or motorboat rental would be an option if more than two wanted to come along. See the map below for the size of the area. The Lake Mohave NPS station is closed and everything seems a bit rundown. Maybe the cloudy day and cool weather makes a difference. I think there is a camp host or ranger around, we saw a vehicle but no one was outside.
That is the way I drove north!
I hear that those are the best dogs ever!