Lake Mead Boat Ramps

[CP3]

This is for those of you who go to lake Mead or know about it. I just got a New Tige 22V from Boats of Nevada. They told me the best ramp to launch from near Vegas is the Lake Mead Marina, but it is not very steep so I have to back it down until the water is almost at the bottom of the truck door.
Does anybody have any suggestions on other ramps or is this the best one?

[johnbandrews]

It's been over a year since I've launched there, but you might want to try Callville Marina. When we were there it was a nice, wide ramp, and steep enough thta you didn't have to sink the truck to launch. With the lower water levels, it may be different now, but it's worth a shot. You're closer to the Narrows, as well, so if you're headed up the lake it's a quick shot. Good luck!

[CP3]

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll give it a try tomorrow.

[talltigeguy]

I launched at Callville when the lake was about 10 feet lower than it is now and it was Ok, but there was a very narrow gap past all of the docks to get out of the marina. It wasn't much of a problem then, and should be much better now. Echo is very good but is quite a drive uplake, if you are coming from Vegas.

[delongheavyhaul]

hey cp3!

i live in vegas, and go to the lake just abut every weekend. i usually put in at calville. it is a good steep ramp, just a very long walk to the parking lot! ecco bay has a nice ramp, not very wide. ecco is not as busy as calville. dont ever put in at hemmingway. it is very shallow. many props have been messed up there. you should also try willow beach. that is down on the river, south side of hoover dam. you get to drive down river about 13 miles, which is very nice. then you can board from there. the water is a little cold but always smooth!

[damon_anthony]

I've had awesome luck up at Overton Bay. There's never any yahoo's clogging up the boat ramp, and the water is always 100% smoother than south of the narrows. The ramp is a little shallow (again, water to the bottom of your door) but it's a far better ramp experience. Take I-15 north throuh the Valley of Fire ($5 cha-ching) but no Lake Mead Recreation Area fee necessary.

Cottonwood cove is also great. Its about 20 miles south of Willow on the River. Plus you don't have to cross the Hoover Dam...straight shot from I-95 south.

The bottom line is no matter where you go on Lake Meaad, the water is low; and the further you drive away from civilization, the better boating and ramp conditions.

[talltigeguy]

I've done it both ways to Overton, throught the Valley of fire and around it and through overton. I actually think that the time is about the same, just more miles to go through Overton. (Hopefully after spending 50K+ on your boat you can spare the $5 to go throught the valley of fire - it is pretty scenic). Coming from the North, Overton has always been good without a long wait, but is usually shallow.

[CP3]

How far away from vegas is overton. Will the annual pass get me through? I lanch from calvile this weekend and it was nice and ended up going to the other side of the narrows and it was pretty nice. Only one other boat around. Who knows, I might try overton this long weekend.

[damon_anthony]

I live on I-215 and Decautur...it takes about 1+15 from door to the Overton ramp. I usually go 215 West to I-15, then North to the Valley of Fire. It's $5 to get through the Valley of Fire and there is no Lake Mead Recreation Area Ranger station, so your pass is n/a. Calville is great off-peak season but July 4 to Labor Day is extremely painfull. Imagine sitting in line for 45 minutes watching 2 morons jack-knife their $60,000 Hummers into their $100,000 boats and clog a 8 lane ramp. It's funny for the first five minutes...then you just want to punch them in the face.

[talltigeguy]

This time of year I can't imagine it being busy anywhere. You usually have the lake all to yourself.

[wlfnvegas]

I have the same issue - we launch at Overton during the summer and the ramp isn't very steep so the back of my truck is always pretty far in. Lately I've been launching at Callville, since the end of summer, it's not very busy. The ramp is pretty steep, so you won't have to stick your truck un the water. The only problem with Callville is the walk up the ramp at the end of the day - It's steep and Long after a day of wakeboarding.