Along the Colorado River: Laughlin and Telephone Cove

A few years ago, we held a garage sale, and promised the kids if they helped work it, we’d take the money and do something fun with it.  With the summer months waning and looking for a budget-friendly vacation to someplace we hadn’t been before, we headed out the Laughlin on the Colorado River.

Colorado River at Laughlin Aug 2012 #5Laughlin is located in Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona is located just across the river.

Colorado River at Laughlin Aug 2012 #4Laughlin, being in Nevada, means casinos, of course …

Laughlin at night Aug 2012 #1

Laughlin at night Aug 2012 #3

Laughlin at night Aug 2012 #5

There were big plans for Laughlin at one time, but destiny had something else in mind ….

Laughlin golf course closed Aug 2012 #7Davis Dam is located just upstream of the city; it forms the modest Lake Mojave.  The dam’s purpose is to re-regulate flows from Hoover Dam and to generate hydropower. The dam plays a unique role here which I wrote about in this post: The Colorado River at Laughlin: Life along a regulated river

Davis Dam Aug 2012 #1While there are a lot of places to play on the river right there in town, …

Colorado River at Laughlin Aug 2012 #1 … we tend to look for the places that are off the beaten path, and so we headed out to Telephone Cove, located on Lake Mojave, upstream of Davis Dam.

To get there, head north on route 163, and at the top of the hill, turn right at the first dirt road that you can.  It isn’t marked (or at least it wasn’t last time we were there), but it truly isn’t that hard to find.  Turn right on to the road and bear to the left.  (Search Telephone Cove Road Laughlin on Google Maps.)

Laughlin Sept 2013 #3The road is completely manageable in a passenger vehicle – we have driven the minivan there without any problems (although in a flash flood, all bets are off).

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #1The terrain as you descend towards the river is colorful, and somewhat reminiscent of Red Rocks State Park in California.

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #3

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #23After a few miles, you will arrive at the beach.

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #22The beach is beautifully flat and even has some trees.

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #18There is a boat launch here.

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #20You can camp here (for free!) but there are absolutely NO services …

Laughlin - Telephone Cover Beach Aug 2012 … except for the one bathroom …  No running water.

Telephone Cove Road Laughlin Sept 2013 #21

I am not sure why it is called Telephone Cove, as there are no phones here, and no evidence of old telephone lines that I saw.  We didn’t even have cell service.

Colorado River, Laughlin Area #3The water is really warm … it is relaxing here.

IMG_4464The boys found a rock they could jump off of across the way …

Aug 2012 Boys on cliff at Colorado River #1There are these beautiful smoke trees here, which are native to the Sonoran desert.

IMG_4454

Telephone Cove Beach Smoke Trees Sept 2013 #1So for a relaxing day along the Colorado River, check out Telephone Cove.

Laughlin Sept 2013 #1So long from Laughlin!