Continent |
North America |
Country |
Arizona (USA) |
Next Big City |
Las Vegas |
Next Town |
Bullhead City, Katherine |
Type: |
Lake |
Rider Ability: |
Expert |
Features: |
Rooms, Camping, Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Type: |
Flat, Chop, Small wave |
Hazards: |
Swimmers, Ships, Jetskis, Buoys, Reefs, Rocks, Stones, Shells |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
The water is flat to small chop up to 2'. Entire beach is filled with rocks and boulders and it is wind shadowed. This location is more set up for windsurfing than kiting due to big shifting gusts, no sand and a very rocky beach. If a kiter breaks down he's heading into the steep walls of the canyon w/ very minimal exits so be prepared to be on top of your game and have a rescue plan in effect should SHTF.
Type: |
Pebbles, Rocks, Stones |
Size: |
Small |
Hazards: |
Rocks, Stones, Bystanders |
Beach Users: |
April, May, June, July, August, September |
Very rocky launch and beach not user or gear friendly. This beach is not kite friendly as it is boulder ridden and very gusty and shifty winds due to mountains just up wind of launch that makes it constantly change wind directions and strength. If kiting rent or bring a boat and find a safe un-shadowed launch as Katherine's is very sketchy and dangerous even for expert kiters and when it blows best it is winter/cold so dress accordingly. Be careful to hide valuables well in car as break-ins are not uncommon as nearby Bullhead City has a heavy meth and drug problems. Important: please be safe as there have been many kiter related Flight For Life emergency medi-vac's on Lake Mohave and one experienced kiter death. 15 to 20+ thousand dollars for the flight alone.
|
Spring:
|
Thick |
|
Summer:
|
Shorts |
|
Fall:
|
Thick |
|
Winter:
|
Thick |
Water temp 40's to 50's °F during peak wind season. Air temps vary in Laughlin Bullhead City from 20's to low 60's in windy season. Water temps do not get warm till summer when wind dies.
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, October, November, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal, Frontal |
Best Direction: |
N, NW, NNW |
Main Direction: |
N |
It's very windy and gusty here during the winter months and winds can exceed easily over 40-50mph and possibly to 60 mph whiteouts. This beach is like Kansas Dorothy so safely secure you're gear and small pet's or they will become dust in the wind which there is plenty of.
Transport |
Car, Boat |
|
Access
|
Short walk |
From Las Vegas drive south on 95 to Laughlin/Bullhead City. The drive north to Katherine's into Lake Mead National Recreation area. Rangers enforce/ticket the "no vehicles on beach" rule and force everyone to park way up in the dust bowl above stinky outhouses. If rangers saw vehicles in pics above there is a 99.9% chance they got a hefty ticket for not obeying the obvious signs. Respect the rules and suggestions or please stay home.
Rules |
Zones, Time, Fees, Other |
Be safe and respect the rangers and other fisherman and beach goers. $30 for a 1 year pass into Lake Mead Recreational area or $10 for 1 week pass. No camping on the beach.
Laughlin has gaming, hotels, shows, entertainment, Laughlin Harley River Run, Raft Regatta, boating and jet ski, ATV and motocross, camping avail. Along the river near Laughlin.
