Overview

Cleopatra Wash Campground is a primitive, backcountry campground off Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There are no amenities other than a flattish place to park and pitch tents, but it is quiet and far from the incessant drone of RV generators. The campground stretches for about 200 yards, so there is plenty of room for several quiet groups, but there is little evidence of use. Access requires a 4WD vehicle.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this area is pretty safe; so far as I know, without cliffs, mine shafts, or too many cactus. Access to this campground requires a 4WD vehicle to get there and to park in the soft sand.

While out and about, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. This site is sandwiched between the Jimbilnan and Pinto Valley wilderness areas, so pay particular attention to respecting the land. If campers wander too far, nobody will find them, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials. Cell phones don't work.

Getting to the Campground

This primitive campground is located in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 1 hour east of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Lake Mead. From the intersection of Northshore Road and Lakeshore Road, drive north on Northshore Road for 30.0 miles to Boathouse Cove Road, which is just past Mile Marker 30. Turn right (east) onto Boathouse Cove Road and drive south 3.1 miles to the campground, on the right at a wide spot in the sandy road.

For details of the road and GPS waypoints, see the Boathouse Cove Road page.