Lake Mead Questions

[Tremor Therapy]

Okay all you Hot Boater's,
We all know other boaters, and after some holiday parties, a couple of my friends have recommended that I give Lake Mead another try this summer. They have told me that there are canyon runs that make the Topock Gorge in Havasu look like a kiddie carnival ride, and that there are expanses of sandy beaches that rival anything you can get upriver.
So my questions to youz guys are, if you were planning a 4-5 day trip to Mead, where would you go? Where do you stay? What do I have to look out for as far as water and weather coniditions, and how long of a haul would it be from San Diego?
Any other info would be greatly appreciated as I have not actually taken my own boat to Mead in 15 years!
Thanks!

[kevnmcd]

TT - You might get more info over on LVHB. :idea:

[Craig]

Went there this past June for the first time in a long while. We stayed in Henderson at one of the Casino's. Lots of boat parking! Towed a little less than an hour and launched from the upper Overton arm. Great running, came all the way down. I'd like to do it again and explore a little more. I know they say the water by the dam can get real nasty, so we didn't go there with our little boat! Anyway, I'd do it again, boat during the day and casino's at night! You can access different portions of the lake without a long boat drive.
Craig

[dicudmore]

Okay all you Hot Boater's,
We all know other boaters, and after some holiday parties, a couple of my friends have recommended that I give Lake Mead another try this summer. They have told me that there are canyon runs that make the Topock Gorge in Havasu look like a kiddie carnival ride, and that there are expanses of sandy beaches that rival anything you can get upriver.
So my questions to youz guys are, if you were planning a 4-5 day trip to Mead, where would you go? Where do you stay? What do I have to look out for as far as water and weather coniditions, and how long of a haul would it be from San Diego?
Any other info would be greatly appreciated as I have not actually taken my own boat to Mead in 15 years!
Thanks!
Alan,
If you don't care about going into LV for the night-life.... Try staying at either Echo-Bay (they have a hotel and you can get a slip) or Temple Bar (same deal)
Both areas of the lake are quiet. Pull out of the Temple Bar marina and make a right, follow the canyon back and you'll get up to Meadview. Awesome beaches back there, and the flattest water I have EVER seen :D

[mmered8299]

I wouldn't camp out longer than 3 nights. The summer heat will beat you up. And if it is windy, stay at camp or in a Casino. I usually camp out in the spring or fall when it is cooler. Just watch the wind conditions.

[Holland]

We have plans on being there june 4 thru june 11ish... or until we say we are done. I figure a couple of days will be in vegas. and others on the water...
Let me know your dates... My ice chest is always full :D

[Raisin Wake]

Alan,
If you don't care about going into LV for the night-life.... Try staying at either Echo-Bay (they have a hotel and you can get a slip) or Temple Bar (same deal)
Both areas of the lake are quiet. Pull out of the Temple Bar marina and make a right, follow the canyon back and you'll get up to Meadview. Awesome beaches back there, and the flattest water I have EVER seen :D
That's Gregg Basin and I agree. Awesome water!!!! I'll try and find a picture.

[VelocityDriver]

Mesquite is about 20 miles from Echo Bay, 3 casinos there and during the week the rooms are cheap.

[Raisin Wake]

Here's a picture of my 76 Dimarco running on Gregg Basin, Lake Mead.

[HOOTER SLED-]

Temple Bar. Mead's best kept secret. Especially if you head up towards the area these guys are talking about. Even if you stay at the casino up near Henderson. Make the 30-40 mile drive and launch at Temple Bar. It's always so NON crowded out there. Be careful when the winds pick up out there.

[THOR]

Here's a picture of my 76 Dimarco running on Gregg Basin, Lake Mead.
TVwebguy,
you dont see water as flat as it gets on Mead. At least I never have. But, I have never been on a lake that has been rougher either.

[dirty old man]

Temple Bar will get a lot closer to LV and Boulder City when the new bridge is opened in '07 or '08.

[DaveTic]

Temple bar only has 89 octane so if you need 91 you have a ways to go for fuel. Gregg Baisn is great and so is the ride getting there, we usually lanch out of Lake Mead Marina and most of the time will head that way.
Dave

[a catered life]

Here's a picture of my 76 Dimarco running on Gregg Basin, Lake Mead.
how old is the picture?

[Raisin Wake]

how old is the picture?
That was August 2003. We we're there for a week. Great weather and water. But, like Thor said, it can get very rough when a storm hits. We had a great week with only to short storms. They did pack a punch. (see the attached picture) The nice thing was that the storms only hit while we were moving the house boat. Nice you say? We had great water the rest of the time to ski, and tube, and swim, and boat in.

[burtandnancy]

Yes, Lake Mead can get rough in the Monsoon season, but that picture of so called rough - isn't. When it really kicks up you'ed see nothing but white caps. When that happens the best place to be is back on your trailer...

[Raisin Wake]

Yes, Lake Mead can get rough in the Monsoon season, but that picture of so called rough - isn't. When it really kicks up you'ed see nothing but white caps. When that happens the best place to be is back on your trailer...
Agreed. It's the only picture I had of rough water. It got so windy that I had to tack the houseboat like a sailboat just to make headway towards our destination. All things said, it's still an awesome lake.

[burtandnancy]

T & B, I know how cold it gets there, no wonder you're thinking summer already, but you've got a while to wait yet. I bet you're hoping all that water from St G and Mesquite are heading for Lake Mead. Have any guesses how much longer Overton will be open?

[burtandnancy]

We saw that last month. Why don't you run over there and see if its doing it again? We need to keep current here. If Powell stays at or near current levels (-136') will you still go there more than Mead?

[burtandnancy]

I've been to Powell at record highs, been so far back in canyons that we even saw a PTERODACTYL.(you may want to look that one up). Saw it two years ago as it dropped and of course have seen water going over the spillways at Mead ('83). Have also been 64 miles up the Grand Canyon in a big boat. They are both great lakes with a lot of offer. Naturally, Powell has to come way up to allow plenty of water to be dropped to Mead. I've got that famous graph of Lake Mead that shows all its ups and downs since 1938, and it will definately come back (just when, who can tell). We're seeing first hand what a bit ch month nature can be anywhere in the world...

[cola]

We did Temple Bar last summer and had a blast. Meet some of the nicest people. The rooms are not 5 star, but nicer then a tent. We are going back this summer for sure.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1268111_1162_WEB-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1268111_1163_WEB-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1268111_1174_WEB-med.jpg

[phebus]

From Havasu, what is the bst way to go to Mead and launch? Looking at the route to Meadview on the map, but I'm not sure if that is the best way/place to go.

[cola]

From Havasu, what is the bst way to go to Mead and launch? Looking at the route to Meadview on the map, but I'm not sure if that is the best way/place to go.
I don't think you can launch from Mead View ? Stay on the highway from Kingman - LV past the Meadview turn off and drop in to Temple Bar. I think it's 73

[phebus]

I don't think you can launch from Mead View ? Stay on the highway from Kingman - LV past the Meadview turn off and drop in to Temple Bar. I think it's 73
How long do you think it would take to get there from Havasu towing?

[burtandnancy]

From Havasu towing would be thru Boulder City, then launching at either Hemminway or Lake Mead Marina, depending on the size of you boat.

[cola]

How long do you think it would take to get there from Havasu towing?
I keep my boat in Havasu & we went to Kingman about 60 miles & Kingman to Temple Bar another 60 or so.
I will look it up.
Mike :cool:

[Raisin Wake]

From Havasu, what is the bst way to go to Mead and launch? Looking at the route to Meadview on the map, but I'm not sure if that is the best way/place to go.
I would launch at either Temple Bar or there's a launch near Meadview called Sandy Point or South Cove. I forget exactly, but we camped out there and had a blast.
http://www.nps.gov/lame/pearce.pdf