Trail Overview
Mid Basin Cove is an easy 3.6-mile trek ideal for beginners, families, and offroaders looking for a scenic drive down to the shores of Lake Mohave in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This route gradually descends about 818 feet from an elevation of 1,475 feet down to 657 feet at the water’s edge, offering stunning desert vistas that open up to a beautiful waterfront cove. While the trail is technically rated a 1 out of 10, the unpaved surface consists of loose sand in several sections, making a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle highly recommended to prevent getting stuck. Street-legal vehicles, OHVs, and SxSs can all enjoy this route, but drivers must stay on the designated trail as offroad travel is prohibited in this limited-use desert environment.
In addition to the sandy terrain, travelers should remain alert to the weather because the route crosses active wash areas that are prone to flash floods, water crossings, and deep mud during the rainy season. Camping is permitted at the cove with a 15-day limit, making it an excellent spot for large groups to set up camp, swim, or fish along the shoreline. Accessing the area requires a Lake Mead National Recreation Area pass or fee, which can be purchased at park entrance stations or online. To reach the trail, head east from Nevada State Route 163 or US Route 95 onto the designated dirt access roads leading towards the reservoir.
