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JD's Wilderness and Water Page

I'm John Davis, this is my site about paddling through the wilderness.

You'd better make sure you have all these things otherwise you could get in trouble.

LAMP
 		Light is a very important thing to have wherever you are since you can't see without it.
 
 
STRING
 		You should carry at least 50 feet of high quality very strong string. You can use this to make a shelter or to trap small animals for food. But mostly it's always something you need for the most unforeseen reason.
 
 
FOLDING TOOL
 		You need to have a very good heavy duty knife. Bringing a Leatherman Tool or a Swiss Army Knife is fine but you have to bring a real knife as well.
 
 
LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE
 		The Stratus Trailstove is not your grandpa's wood stove. It is a wood stove but it's an ultra light very cool stove. It weighs less than your current gas stove plus gas which in itself is reason enough to switch.
 
 
FOOD
 		Rice is a perfect emergency food. Very light weight and full of energy. In an emergency you just need lots of energy, don't worry so much about vitamins. Bring about 3 cups of rice per person per day you think you will spend in worst case.
 
 
CAMPING SAW
 		A lot of people don't bring a camp saw when they go paddling, but they really should. It comes in very handy in an emergency to make a shelter or to cut some wood for a fire.
 
 

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CAMP FIRE

1. COLLECT WOOD. You should have about 20 to 30 very thin twigs, and 10 to 15 small sticks to get the fire started and as many larger pieces you need to keep the fire going for as long as you need it.

2. BOTTOM BRANCHES.  If the ground is covered with snow you can break dry branches off the bottom of a tree.

3. STARTER MATERIAL. You will need some material that ignites very easily to start the fire. There are a number of things you can use for this. Dry leaves, dry grass, bark, or chips from a dry semi-decomposed dead tree. Paper works fine too if you have some with you.

4. FIRE RING. Find a good location for your fire, there should be nothing nearby that could catch fire such as dry vegetation. Make a ring on the ground with rocks.

5. STARTER MATERIAL. Place the starter material in the center of the fire ring. Make sure there's plenty of air around each piece of material.

6. TWIGS. Make a teepee around the starter material using the thin twigs you collected earlier.

7. STICKS. Put the larger sticks around your twig teepee. Finish off with some more massive pieces.

8. LIGHT. Light the starter material.

9. WAIT. In about a minute the starter material has started to ignite the small twigs.

10. FIRE. After a few minutes your fire will be in full flame. Soon the teepee will collapse into a shapeless collection of burning wood, don't worry this is all normal and good. By now you fire is stable and will keep burning for as long as you feed it wood.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Boulder City, NV

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) offers a wealth of things to do and places to go year-round. Its huge lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers, and roadside sightseers. Three of America's four desert ecosystems--the Mojave, the Great Basin, and the Sonoran Deserts--meet in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area contains a surprising variety of plants and animals, some of which may be found nowhere else in the world.

   

CONTACTS

Email - LAME_Interpretation@nps.gov

Fax- 702-293-8936

Write to
601 Nevada Highway
Boulder City, NV 89005

Phone
Visitor Information - (702) 293-8907
Visitor Information - (702) 293-8990
- (weekends)

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Open year-round, 24 hours, 7 days a week. Visitor center: The visitor center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.

Getting There
PLANE - Lake Mead NRA is approximately 25 miles from Las Vegas International Airport. Other communities bordering and near Lake Mead NRA have smaller airports.

CAR - We have nine paved accesses into Lake Mead NRA.For the directions most convenient for you please click on more information.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - None, although tour buses operate from many Las Vegas resorts and attractions.

Weather & Climate
Sturdy shoes, brimmed hats, and a good, protective sunscreen are recommended year-round. Always carry water with you.

Accessibility
Alan Bible Visitor Center off U.S. Highway 93 near Boulder City, NV. Information stations are located on Lake Mead at Overton Beach, Echo Bay, Callville Bay, Las Vegas Bay in Nevada, and Temple Bar in Arizona. Contact stations on Lake Mohave at Cottonwood Cove in Nevada, Katherine Landing and Willow Beach in Arizona.

Getting Around
Paved roads lead to all major sites. There are many approved backcountry roads. Please pick up or download a backcountry road map. Click on more information.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
INDIVIDUAL
$3 for 5 Days
$20 for Annual

VEHICLE
$5 for 5 Days
$20 for Annual
Lake Mead National Recreation Area has entrance and lake use fees. Daily and annual passes can be purchased at the entrance stations.

CAMPING

All Campgrounds
Open All Year
Lake Mead NRA: National Park Service campgrounds offer restrooms, running water, dump stations, grills, picnic tables and shade. RV's, trailers and tents welcome. See individual campgrounds below. Concessioner campgrounds, including recreational vehicle hook-ups are also available within the park.

Boulder Beach
Open All Year
Boulder Basin area. 154 sites, 30 day limit.

Callville Bay
Open All Year
Boulder Basin area. 80 sites, 30 day limit.

Cottonwood Cove - lower campground
Open All Year
Lake Mohave area. 49 sites, 15 day limit.

Cottonwood Cove - upper campground
Open All Year
Lake Mohave area. 100 sites, 30 day limit.

Echo Bay
Open All Year
Overton Arm area. 166 sites, 30 day limit.

Katherine Landing
Open All Year
Lake Mohave area. 173 sites, 30 day limit.

Las Vegas Bay
Open All Year
Boulder Basin area. 89 sites, 30 day limit.

Temple Bar
Open All Year
East Lake Mead area. 153 sites, 30 day limit.

LODGING

Cottonwood Cove Resort
Open All Year
For More Information on this lodging please call (702) 297-1464

Echo Bay Resort
Open All Year
For More Information on this lodging please call (702) 394-4000

Lake Mead Lodge
Open All Year
For More Information on this lodging please call (702) 293-2074

Lake Mohave Resort at Katherine Landing
Open All Year
For More Information on this lodging please call (520) 754-3245

Temple Bar
Open All Year
For More Information on this lodging please call (520) 767-3211

FACILITIES

COTTONWOOD COVE RESORT AND MARINA
Open All Year
Phone - 1 (800) 255-5561
Location - Callville Bay area. Mailing address: P. O. Box 1000, Cottonwood Cove, NV 89046, (702) 297-1464
Available Facilities - Cafe, marina, boat rentals, houseboat rentals, auto/boat gas, dry boat storage, store, showers/laundry, motel, trailer village, RV sites, and NPS campground and launch ramp.

LAKE MEAD FERRY SERVICE
Phone - (702) 293-6180
Location - Boulder Beach area. From Alan Bible Visitor Center approximately 3.5 miles down Lakeshore Road, on your right. Mailing address: PO Box 62465, Boulder City, NV 89006-2465, (702) 293-6180
Available Facilities - Lake Mead Cruises & Desert Princess: Scheduled sightseeing tour boat service to and from Hoover Dam, breakfast and dinner cruises. Also has charter boat service.

LAKE MEAD RESORT
Phone - 1 (800) 752-9669
Location - Boulder Beach area. Mailing address: 322 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV 89005, (702) 293-3484. Motel: (702) 293-2074
Available Facilities - Restaurant/lounge, marina, boat rentals, motel, store, dry boat storage, boat gas, personal watercraft rentals, limited boat/motor repair and NPS launch ramp.

LAKE MOHAVE RESORT
Open All Year
Phone - 1 (800) 752-9669
Location - Katherine Landing, AZ (520) 754-3245
Available Facilities - Restaurant/lounge, store, motel, auto/boat gas, marina, boat rentals, houseboat rentals, trailer village, RV sites, showers/laundry, dry boat storage, personal watercraft rental, NPS campground, boat/motor repair and NPS launch ramp.

LAKESHORE TRAILER VILLAGE BOULDER BEACH
Open All Year
Phone - (702) 293-2540
Location - Boulder Beach area. Address: 268 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV 89005
Available Facilities - Within walking distance of Boulder Beach. Dry storage, shower and laundry (only available to tenants). Call for more information.

LAS VEGAS BAY MARINA
Phone - (702) 565-9111
Location - Las Vegas Bay area. Mailing address: PO Box 91150, Henderson, NV 89009, (702) 565-9111
Available Facilities - Restaurant/lounge, marina, boat rentals, dry boat storage, store, boat gas, boat/motor repairs and NPS campground and launch ramp.

OVERTON BEACH RESORT
Phone - (702) 394-4040
Location - Overton Arm area. Mailing address: Overton, NV 89040, (702) 394-4040
Available Facilities - Snack bar, marina, fuel dock, auto/boat gas, store, showers/laundry, trailer village, RV sites, dry boat storage, personal watercraft rental, limited boat/motor repairs and NPS launch ramp.

TEMPLE BAR RESORT
Open All Year
Phone - 1 (800) 752-9669
Location - Mailing address: PO Box 545, Temple Bar, AZ 86443-0545, (520) 767-3211
Available Facilities - Restaurant/lounge, motel, rustic cabin rentals, trailer village, RV sites, dry boat storage, store, marina, boat rentals, shower/laundry, boat/motor repairs, personal watercraft rental, auto/boat gas and NPS campground and launch ramp.

WILLOW BEACH HARBOR
Phone - (520) 767-4747
Location - Willow Beach. Mailing address: HC-37, Box 12; Willow Beach, AZ, 86445; (520) 767-4747
Available Facilities - Small store, boat rentals, boat gas, NPS launch ramp.

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