Continent
North America
Country
Nevada (USA)
Next Big City
Las Vegas
Next Town
Crawdad Cove
 
Type:
Lake
Rider Ability:
Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Camping, Parking

Water

Type:
Chop
Hazards:
Swimmers, Ships, Jetskis, Buoys, Stones, Shells
Quality:
Clean
Best Tide:
Tide independent

Crawdad Cove is an excellent place to kite. Water is not filthy. It is somewhat close to the wash where the water is fully treated and cleaned and filters back into the lake. Right now Lake Mead is filling up so Crawdad Cove is looking better than ever with several nice flat beach launches and now it's a wide open bay. Takes a while for the winds to build and when it does it brings the big swells and and loads of fun to play on. Water level is expected to reach another 30ft or so and that means a flatter shore area to kite out of.

Beach

Type:
Sand, Pebbles, Rocks, Stones
Size:
Medium
Hazards:
Rocks, Stones, Shells, Bystanders, Cars
Beach Users:
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Beach is looking better and better and with the water level rising every day Crawad has it's huge bay again, less rocks and more flat beach. Sand in some areas but pebbles and small stones. Water covered up all the cliff areas so it's a huge flat area now and water is still rising through the summer months. Beach looks great and much safer for kiting. Obstacles weekends, campers, people fishing, etc.

Weather

Spring:
Shorty, Normal
Summer:
Shorts
Fall:
Shorty, Normal
Winter:
Thick

Year round kiting but cold winters with water in mid 40s°F. Need a rescue boat or jetski on North winds. Super strong and flat water during the winter months. Must be expert or stay safe and have an observer with a jetski nearby. Summer easy SE winds sideshore. No worries on the SE winds.

Wind

Best Months:
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Wind Type:
Thermal, Frontal
Best Direction:
ESE, SE, SSE
Main Direction:
ESE, SE, SSE

From light to full gale and all points in between. Can shift directions with no warning. Since it is a bay many wind directions can work, but be aware of gusty winds and kite wisely. When in doubt don't go out. Gusty winds on the SW direction. SE is nice and steady with big swells. SE is the best direction. SW is onshore, NW is offshore strong and small chop. Need a jetski there just in case of break down otherwise you are out in the middle of the lake. Best winds to look for a good day there is 15-25 gusts to 35 and it's a fantastic kite session for Crawdad. Saying 40 that day go to Crawdad Cove. Winds to funnel through there on the winter NW breezes. It's strong there on NW and can be strong on SE and SW days during a storm front approaching. Winter it's windy but offshore there. Spring best winds and hit and miss in August to October.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
No walk

On Lake Mead: Northshore road to Boxcar/ Crawdad turn off. You will see a fork in the road one says Boxcar and the road to the right says Crawdad. Stay on Crawdad and follow the dirt road up a hill then down to Crawdad Cove. Check the grounds as some areas have soft sand so you don't want to get stuck in the sand out there. Dirt road to get there but not very far. People bring their motor homes there, camp all winter, summer jetskiers, boaters, fishermen.

Extra information

Rules
Fees, Other

Kite safely and be aware of innocent beach goers and beach/wind hazards. $30 Season pass into the park or pay per week which is $10 for 1 week sticker. It's a good place to go, camping is free yet primitive camping.

Nightlife

Great nightlife in Las Vegas. Hotels, food, entertainment, gaming super cheap!