Boxcar Cove Dispersed Camping•Lake Mead NRA

00:00     Title 
00:14     Lakeshore Road Dust Storm 
06:23     Gypsum Point
08:27     Crawdad Cove 
12:36     Boxcar Cove
23:41     Callville Bay 
27:43     Fin​
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Dispersed camping is an option in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and there are several scenic boondocking spots to choose from. This recreation area covers a vast amount of land around Lake Mead and Lake Mojave, so there is plenty of Mojave Desert wilderness to explore. There are a few developed campgrounds near the marinas that are busy during the winter season and back country camping is allowed at existing sites. In between these extremes is the official dispersed camping areas, which offer basic facilities and plenty of elbow room.

Each dispersed camping area at Lake Mead has its own character and just like anywhere else, the ones that are closest to civilization tend to be local weekend warrior destinations. The Boxcar Cove Dispersed Camping Area is located near the east Las Vegas entrance gate, so there is a fair amount local traffic on the weekends. Boxcar Cove is located in a wide dry wash surrounded by ancient ocean bottom mud hills, so this area is a natural playground for high ground clearance 4x4 vehicles. In fact, four wheeling is the primary reason this big cove is so popular with the weekenders and the striped bass fishing is pretty good too.

Camping is allowed on existing bare spots in Boxcar Cove and old fire rings can be found throughout this big dry wash. Driving or camping on virgin ground is taboo, just like anywhere else. On the downside, this is a dry wash, so if rain is forecasted it is best to head for the high ground. Even worse, this area actually is a vast gypsum silt deposit and the dust storms can be brutal when high winds kick up. Everything will literally be covered with a thick layer of gypsum silt powder after a dust storm, so it is best to take preventative measures. Wearing a dust mask is necessary and sheltering inside a vehicle is better than riding it out in a tent.

As far as the four wheeling is concerned, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore in Boxcar Cove and the dirt road trails go in every direction. Some trails even connect with the neighboring Crawfish Cove and several trails go to hidden cozy lakeside beaches. There also is a downside with the four wheeling, which once agains involves the gypsum silt. There are several big silt pockets in this landscape that are deep enough to bury a standard 4x4 vehicle. Even modified Jeeps and 4x4 pickup trucks get stuck in the powdery silt, so it is best to avoid these soft areas altogether. For this reason, it is good to carry a long tow strap in case the vehicle gets stuck.

When the hot summer rolls around, very few people go to Boxcar Cove and this is when the environment returns to being a wilderness area. The grassy dry wash is a good place to watch the raptors hunt and bighorn rams can occasionally be seen grazing in the late evening. Coyotes sing at night in the hills and they are bold enough to stroll through occupied campgrounds. Plenty of kit foxes can be seen in this area too, but they tend to only come out after the sun goes down. None of these wild animals are dangerous, but it is still best to give them plenty of room.  

Long term campers and content creators will be happy to know that a strong data signal bounces across Lake Mead from Boulder City, so it is easy to catch up on communications.  This is a good spot for free camping at Lake Mead and stocking up is easy since Las Vegas is nearby.