This campground is a great stop for boaters, anglers, and anyone who just wants to enjoy beautiful water with a desert backdrop. Cottonwood Cove is shared between a campground, a marina and a motel. There are many other coves to explore as you walk the shoreline if you’d like more privacy. As dogs are not allowed in the designated swimming area of the public beach you might want to utilize these if you have a furry tag along.
The campground was well maintained and everything functioned with the exception of the dump station but the ranger said it was being fixed. The beach had steel canopy structures and charcoal grills so you can spend your days grilling on the beach after you go fishing in the morning.
I hiked the ridge a couple hundred yards north of the campground to take this video. That shows the area.
This campground is an easy few miles outside of the suburbs of Las Vegas. So easy in fact, I needed cell service and was able to drive five minutes to an Albertson’s grocery store parking lot to make a phone call and use the internet browser on my iPhone. As a local I was opposed to this new construction so close to Red Rock for this reason. The park doesn’t feel like a getaway as much as other parks.
The campground is closed during the summer months when it reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit by 7 AM. We camped in January and it reached the low 60s in the day and dipped to the 30s with rain at night. Spring or fall weather is much better fro tent camping. We were comfortable in an RV.
Most sites had steel roofed canopies and all had a fire ring and grill. The driving paths are pea gravel and the roads are gravel and desert dirt. They are well maintained and a few years ago benches and railroad timber barriers were installed. Bathrooms were very clean with a bunch of sanitizer and toilet paper. Drinking water spigots were also clean and had good water pressure. No hookups are available for RVs.
Overall, this campground earned 4 stars because the views weren’t as impressive as the actual park. The park is a very short drive down the road but waking up with beautiful views is something I look for. And the proximity to the city didn’t offer the feeling of isolation I like in a camping trip. It was convenient but the city lights could be seen glowing over the hill and the sky wasn’t as dark for stargazing as I prefer on a camping trip.
If going here, the park is a world class rock climbing destination and bike riding or driving driving the scenic loop are my recommended activities.
Navajo Lake Campground fits the idyllic image of camping by a lake. The farthest sites would be a five minute walk to the shore from the upper campground. The nearest sites only require a walk of a minute and are adjacent to a primitive and boat dock. The lake contains natural and stocked trout. This secluded retreat does have quick access to a small general store for ice, food, tackle, and very reasonable boat rentals at the Navajo Lake Lodge about a mile down the road by the rental cabins. Firewood can be purchased from the camp host on site as well but inventory was very low during our stay. And you will want firewood to stay warm because evenings and mornings are crisp and cool due to the almost 10,000 feet of elevation. When we visited in the middle of September, days were still in the mid 70’s and nights fell to about 30 degrees.
The Upper Campground is separated from the Lower Campground by the two lane highway. The Lower Campground sites are more accommodating for RVs and our site was pretty level. While there is no sanitary dump here (expect to dry camp if bringing an RV) there is one at the Duck Creek Campground for a fee a short drive away. We visited the last week of the season and the campground was completely functioning and clean after a busy 2020 camping season so kudos to our friendly and attentive camp host for their great work. Good luck fishing. I will be back next summer so I hope to see you there!
The McWilliams Campground, recently renovated and well maintained is my go-to campground when visiting the Mount Charleston area. When the Las Vegas heat smothers the Vegas Valley it is usually over 25 degrees cooler in the mountain, so it seems appropriate that it is referred to as a “sky island” because as a Las Vegas local it feels like an island getaway within an hour drive.
If your navigation app can’t find it try entering the Lee Canyon Ski Resort because that is less than a mile up the road. The campground sign will be on your right heading up the mountain just past the Lower Bristlecone Trail . The even number sites are first-come while the odd numbers are reservable but go quickly when released. My trip this week saw a full campground but it was a family crowd and no rowdy campers. They designed sites for tent or small trailer camping on the back loop and a lot of fairly level sites for RVs dispersed throughout. RV hookups won’t be found here so be prepared to dry camp.
Mule deer grazed in the woods behind my camp site in the early morning. Wild burros and horses also inhabit the area. Wild horses congregate a short walk away at the Meadows in cooler parts of the day. Blue birds and hummingbirds are a common sight as well for birding.
The camp host was friendly and helpful. There were a few drinking water pumps out of order so he helped me find one down the road and offered to drop my 5 gallon jug back at my site up the hill so I didn’t have to carry it.
Droughts affect the mountain and campfire restrictions are common in the summer months. Waterfalls and creeks dry to a trickle. Majestic Bristlecone Pines well adept to the climate provide shade for many sites.