Kingman Wash•Lake Mead NRA

00:00     Title
00:14     Temple Bar 
03:46     Bonelli Bay
07:00     Meadview
09:29     South Cove 
12:13     Pearce Ferry Crossing
19:16     Kingman Wash
23:19     Fin​

Dispersed camping with majestic views is what the Kingman Wash destination is all about. Those who camp in this mountain dry wash next to Lake Mead will find that there are few other places that offer better scenic views in this entire national park.

The Kingman Wash Road access point is located just a few miles east of ​Hoover Dam on Highway 93 and it is fairly well marked. After getting off the highway, reading the signage at the start of the dirt road is important to do, especially for those who drive an oversize RV camper or trailer hauler. The steep downhill run to the Kingman Wash lakeside end point may be a bit too much for heavy camper rigs, but all is not lost because dispersed camping is allowed in the hills along the way. Because this route traverses a mountain dry wash, it is a flash flood zone, so it is best to cancel the trip if heavy rain is forecasted. 

The Kingman Wash Dispersed Camping Area only offers basic facilities and most of the established campsites are marked with stone fire rings. Boulder City, Nevada is right is on the other side of Hoover Dam and this is the best place to stock up. Drinking water is not available at the campground, so hauling a few extra jugs is advisable since there is plenty to explore at this end of the big lake.

The unique geology surrounding the Kingman Wash is fascinating to see and it is even more exciting to explore on foot. This campground is literally located just around the first bend upstream from Hoover Dam, but this famous landmark cannot be seen from the campground unless a visitor climbs the peaks.

The panoramic views do extend west across Lake Mead to Boxcar Cove and Boulder City Beach, so this shoreline vantage point is an excellent place to be when the sun sets. Many photographers relish the thought of camping at Kingman Wash, because some of the best sunset views in the entire Lake Mead National Recreation area can be captured at this spot. Unfortunately the night sky photography is 100% light pollution, but because this campground is in the Las Vegas flight path, it is an excellent place to capture night sky time lapse jet trails.  

The Kingman Wash Campground certainly is a convenient spot. The cel phone data signal from Boulder City is extra strong, which is like the icing on the cake. Boondocking at Kingman Wash certainly is appealing during the cool weather seasons, so be sure to keep this  spot in mind when planning a winter tour!