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Camper submitted image from Upper Cottonwood Cove Campground - CLOSED — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Upper Cottonwood Cove Campground - CLOSED — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Upper Cottonwood Cove Campground remains closed indefinitely due to ongoing flood control monitoring by the National Park Service. Located near Lake Mohave within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, this established campground featured picnic tables and trash service before its closure. The site sits in a flood zone that requires heightened safety assessment, particularly given the desert's susceptibility to flash flooding during brief rainstorms when dry ground cannot absorb water quickly.

Campers planning visits to this area should check the official NPS website for current closure status, as the timeline for reopening remains uncertain. For immediate camping needs, Cottonwood Cove Lower Campgrounds provides an alternative option nearby.

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Location

Public Campground

Upper Cottonwood Cove Campground - CLOSED — Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in Nevada

Coordinates

35.487627844011314 N
114.69494137659451 W

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Last on 3/26/26
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Connectivity

T-Mobile
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Verizon
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Verified by 1 user
Last on 3/26/26
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Access

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Site Types

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Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time

1 hr 29 min from Las Vegas, NV
1 hr 59 min from Lake Havasu City, AZ
2 hrs 58 min from St. George, UT
3 hrs 47 min from Prescott Valley, AZ

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2 Reviews

Crystal C.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2018

Temporarily Closed

I tried to check out this campground when I was there in April, it was one of the last places I attempted to check out only to find out that it was in fact closed. A lot of the Lake Mead area has seasonal closing however this was unrelated to the heat and instead was closed for camping because of a flood control zone they are monitoring.

It is positive to know they are raising a heightened awareness to the area and working toward making sure those visiting are safe. Flash floods are something you don’t think of often when in the desert however they come out of nowhere with a short rain and because of the dry conditions and since the ground is so dry it does not absorb quickly.

I would love to go back and rerate this at a later time when it is open however for the time being there is not much positive which can be said for the site in way of camping.

TIP:

Check the lake mead website before traveling to this site to see if closure has lifted:

https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/news/cottonwood-cove-upper-campground-closed-to-overnight-camping.htm

Month of VisitApril