Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

[AngelC]

What's up my fellow boaters!

Does anyone know how long the run from Katherines Landing to Hoover dam is? miles/hours? at cruising speed? I going to laughlin next weekend and want to put in at Katherines and cruise down to Hoover Dam. I plan to put in early am and just make the run on a full tank. Also is there anywhere to fuel up on the way up that way or marina's? As always any info is much appreciated.

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

It's 70 miles (140 round trip) and plan on there and back taking a whole day although you could do a quick turnaround in less. Stop at Cottonwood Cove to break it up and top up fuel. The wind blows out of the south almost every day and the main basin in the middle can be REALLY nasty on the return. Generally fun going with the wind in the morning. It is spectacular up at the Dam. Be careful around Willow Beach as it is a Speed trap and it is easy to miss the bouys!!

Also check here for restrictions! Confusing, so read carefully . . .

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Hey QC!! How you doing?? I knew you would be the one to have the info I was looking for, thank you. I plan on making it a day trip, being that it will be just the wife and I, it's going to be real nice! No kids on this trip!! I want to get a pic like the one you have in your avatar, but with my luck I'd ask someone to take it for me and they start up and head out with my camera. lol QC how is the ride? is it like going to Topock from Havasu? Where you go from 20ft to 2ft really quick, or is it a nice smooth sailing kind of ride? Is it real senic or just real dry? As you can tell I'm real excited, Thanks again!!

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

I don't like the Katherine end much, but from Cottonwood up it get's prettier and prettier every mile. WAY further than Topock to Havasu. That's like 20 miles, but it does look like Devils Elbow in the Gorge some. There are even hot springs up there. Kids have been in but not me.

My experience is that the ride is too long for 'da wimins . . . but that's my woman, although she liked seeing it once. The basin is huge and ugly IMHO and the ride back can be wet and slow. Good luck!!

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

QC...I'm staying in Laughlin, I wonder if I towed to cottonwood and put in there. Do you know if I have to be staying there to use their ramp or is it for public use too? How long would it take me to drive over to cottonwood from the casinos at Laughlin??

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

A little more than an hour ride as you have to go all of the way out to 95 and then up to Searchlight and then down to Cottonwood. 56 miles. The ramp is a public ramp, but you have to pay just like you do to get into the park at Katherine, Mead, Willow, etc. I buy an annual pass every year. It pays if you go in and out 3 times I think. Check with them at the gate.

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Oh I'll probably just make the 70 mile run on water, there's nothing better than a ride on the water, even a looongg ride. lol Thanks QC for your help once again.

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

No prah. I obviously love these questions and am seriously considering doing charters as a retirement gig someday on Havasu, Mohave and Mead. I agree on the long rides, stop in Cottonwood for lunch, or we usually get ice cream for the kids etc. Have fun, be safe

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

QC...that would be the perfect gig for you when you retire, I'd pay for the ride!! QC how long do you think it would take me to get to the dam at cruising speed with a quick stop at cottonwood in the morning? I want to get down there quicker then the ride back, so I can take my time coming back and take in the scenery.

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

How much fuel can you hold? I'd figure an average of 30 MPH, so 2.5 hours minimum if you do not stop at Cottonwood. If you can do 90 miles, I 'd go to the Dam straightaway, refuel at Willow and then stop at Cottonwood too just for fun. Good luck, check on the wind first too. If you have big rollers in the basin on the way up, then I'd make sure you are okay with a somewhat scary ride back. You will know very quickly and right in front of Cottonwood about the ride as the worst part is right there . . . Worst case, tie up in Cottonwood and sleep in the boat.

Take a look at this map, and this one and this one.

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

QC...I'm not sure what my miles per gallon is, but I have a 35 gallon tank on a boat that's going to be very lite this time around, but again I have a 220hp V-8 305 thirsty engine. lol I will top off before I put her in and see how the gauge looks at around cottonwood if needed then I can fuel there or at willow, right?? I think I'll be fine making it all the way up to the dam, but we'll see. Wish me luck!!

Thanks again...

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Conservatively you should figure on 3 MPG, so I am not real comfortable with the dam and then back to Willow, so splash a little at either one on the way up. You'd make it, but that's not the way to think . . . Good luck, wish I was going. I'll be on Parker the weekend of the 17th and then Mead/Temple Bar around the 5th or so.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

QC alluded to this, but don't go up to Hoover Dam on Sunday or Monday, it's closed to all powered boats these 2 days all year. (other restrictions apply in the fall, winter and spring)

You need to pay attention to the river above Willow Beach as there are reefs and sand bars, some of them coming out into the river farther than you might expect. The one I really pay attention to is somewhere around MM 56, Big Sand Bar on CQ's map, where I hug the AZ shore right next to a rock outcropping (yeah I know, the big rock, right around the bend from the cove full of brush, where big horn sheep hang out every 3rd full moon of the year ) Also Ringbolt Rapids where I hug the NV side. I haven't torn up anything, but have seen a few people at Willow inspecting their handy work. As long as you pay attention you will be fine.

I'd make a fuel stop at Willow on the way up and then Cottonwood on the way back. Cottonwood MM22, Willow MM52, Hoover, MM62, or close to that.

When you are in Black Canyon, keep your eyes peeled as there are bighorns and desert sheep that you will miss if you are not looking hard. I was 10-15 yards off a heard last spring, first light, crept around a bend with the trolling trolling motor and there they were drinking in a rocky cove. The sheep, my son and I checked each other out for a good 5 minutes, pretty cool.

As QC suggested, check the weather. I've been in snotty 3-4' stuff many times on Mohave, 5-6' waves once (and hopefully the last), south winds were at 50-60MPH that day.

Have fun!

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Thanks alot fellows...Dan I will be making this run early Sat morning, but thanks for the heads up. QC, I'm not going to chance it and stare at the guage the whole way, I will gas up at cottonwood. I'd rather stare at the scenery than my guage. I will be trying out my new camera so I will post some nice picks when I get back. Thanks again fellows.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Early as in what time Sat morning? I've heard Katherines can be a real cluster on summer weekends.

You'll want to fuel at least once at Willow since it's 30 miles between there and Cottonwood, Cottonwood to the dam and back to Cottonwood is an 80 mile run. Actually, the fuel dock is easier to approach at Willow so it would be more convenient to hit it going up and then coming back, maybe forget about fueling at Cottonwood unless you need it on the way back.

Oh yeah, Cottonwood has a restaurant but not at Willow,,, unless Willow added something in the last few months.

 

[hvachillbilly]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

be sure to check those restricions that qc talked about early and have fun boat safe and sober enjoy the veiws and post pics for us when you return

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Thanks fellows...I'm going to try and head out as early as possible maybe 6 or 7am, depending on how fast I can get my wife out of bed and into boating mode! lol Dan thanks for the tips I will definately be stopping in at Cottonwood for lunch and fuel. I'm really looking forward to this run. I will post pics when I return.

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Funny thing, but Dam to Dam feels like a great achievement once you are done. Making me itch for that run like I said earlier.

There is one better though, but the water level makes it near impossible now, also 70+ miles, length of Lake Mead and powering into the Grand Canyon. We've been 16 miles in, I'll see if I can find an old pic.

 

[QC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

Here's one:

I think this was August 2000.

 

[AngelC]

Re: Katherine's Landing to Hoover Dam??

WOW that pic above is NICE!! To bad the water levels are so low now otherwise I'd be asking for info on that run for next weekend Like I tell my wife if you have an itch it's got to be scratched! I can't wait for this run I'm excited and even more because the kids are not going to tie me down with the tube and constant horse playing. It's just gonna be a nice long cruise with no worries or hurries!! lol I can't wait