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Nevada | Clark County / Black Canyon and Lake Mohave

Colorado RiverWillow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina

A long Lake Mohave shoreline trip from Willow Beach through Eldorado Canyon to Cottonwood Cove.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 30 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePlan an overnight or expedition-length day with wind contingency
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Colorado River runs through Black Canyon below Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border.
River contextColorado River in Black Canyon; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Ken Lund via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 30 river milesWillow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina
DifficultymoderateThe Black Canyon National Water Trail is generally Class I, but the Hoover launch security zone, dam and diversion hazards, wind, heat and remote shoreline make logistics and self-rescue planning essential.
ShuttleCar shuttleArrange a permitted downstream shuttle or stage the downstream vehicle at the named access before launching.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm NPS, authorized outfitter, marina and day-use rules before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyPrimitive shoreline camping may require current NPS rules and permits; carry all water and pack out waste.
SeasonJan-DecReservoir releases are controlled but conditions can change with operations, wind and extreme desert heat. Check the direct gauge, NPS restrictions, permits and weather before every launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A long Lake Mohave shoreline trip from Willow Beach through Eldorado Canyon to Cottonwood Cove.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

Willow Beach Marina and launch ramp, Arizona side of trail
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only named public, marina or permitted accesses.

Finish

Take-out

Cottonwood Cove Marina, Nevada
Open mapDirections to take-out

Do not approach Hoover Dam, intakes or diversion structures.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only named public, marina or permitted accesses.
  • Do not approach Hoover Dam, intakes or diversion structures.
  • Plan for extreme heat, wind and no-cell-service sections.

Watch for

  • Reservoir release changes and wind
  • Extreme heat and limited exits
  • Dam, intake and diversion hazards

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Colorado River runs through Black Canyon below Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border.
Colorado River in Black Canyon; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Ken Lund via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY-SA 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
Checking live inputs.

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteColorado River below Hoover Dam, AZ-NV
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range6,800 cfs to 20,300 cfs
Low threshold6,800 cfs
High threshold30,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRiverScout Nevada Colorado River flow and reach guide
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named water-trail reachWillow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina; 30 miles

    NPS identifies the Black Canyon trail access points and published river-mile boundaries for this reach.

    Source

  • Scoring band6,800–20,300 cfs community planning band

    RiverScout ties the band to USGS 09421500. Recheck current telemetry, operations notices and weather before travel.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 09421500 below Hoover Dam

    Direct Colorado River telemetry for the Black Canyon and Lake Mohave corridor; verify live value and trend.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Nevada

All 43 routes
Nevada route guideBrowse every tracked Nevada route.Clark County / Black Canyon and Lake MohaveJump to routes in this region.

More on Colorado River

All 6
Eldorado Canyon to Cottonwood Cove MarinaClark County / Black Canyon and Lake MohaveModerate · About 17 river milesHoover Dam permitted launch to Cottonwood Cove MarinaClark County / Black Canyon and Lake MohaveModerate · About 42 river miles, multi-day expeditionHoover Dam permitted launch to Eldorado Canyon / Nelson LandingClark County / Black Canyon and Lake MohaveModerate · About 25 river milesHoover Dam permitted launch to Willow BeachClark County / Black Canyon and Lake MohaveModerate · About 11.5 river miles

Quick answers

Colorado River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Willow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina route on the Colorado River?

Paddle Today watches Colorado River below Hoover Dam, AZ-NV and treats 6,800 cfs to 20,300 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Willow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina route on the Colorado River start and end?

This route starts at Willow Beach Marina and launch ramp, Arizona side of trail and ends at Cottonwood Cove Marina, Nevada, about 30 river miles on the water.

Is the Willow Beach to Cottonwood Cove Marina route on the Colorado River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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