Cottonwood Cove East

Located near Dolan Springs and cutting through the Black Mountains to Lake Mohave, Cottonwood Cove East is an out-and-back dirt road providing access to many spur roads with abundant recreational opportunities. The road begins as Cottonwood Road at Highway 93 and travels east into the Black Mountains, ascending to 3,800 feet. The road is a 5-vehicle-wide gravel road into the mountains and well-maintained. As it descends nearly 3,500 feet and enters the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, Cottonwood remains a graded road with occasional washboard sections to its terminus on a peninsula between the Colorado River and Arizona Bay. Several magnificent campsites at the end of the road vary in size from a single vehicle to several vehicles or even trailers. The drive offers incredible views of Lake Mohave, the Black Mountains, El Dorado Mountains, the Newberry Mountains, and tons of desert flora.

Cottonwood Cove East passes many spur roads, such as Pot Cove, Carp Cove, Willow Tree, and Restoration Point. These spur trails lead to great camping and river/lake access points for water sports. A bathroom and trash receptacles are located along Pot Cove Road but nowhere else along the route. Users must pack out everything they pack in. Although this road is within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area fee area, there are no entrance stations along the way to obtain a pass.

This road is suitable for any vehicle in dry conditions but is prone to washouts after heavy rains, and 4WD is recommended during potential adverse weather.