South Cove

South Cove offers a primary access point to the eastern end of Lake Mead on the Colorado River, located in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near the Arizona-Nevada border. The site features a paved boat ramp, dock/pier, restrooms, and trash facilities. A newly constructed 0.5-mile gravel road provides primitive launching access when water levels fluctuate, ensuring year-round usability for kayakers, canoeists, and small boats. This location is particularly valuable for paddlers accessing the upper lake basin and Virgin Canyon area.

The cove sits at the gateway to Gregg Basin, the uppermost large open-water area of Lake Mead, where the Colorado River widens after flowing through the narrow, faster-moving Virgin Canyon upstream. Paddlers should be aware that conditions vary significantly with seasonal water levels, and the primitive gravel launch may be necessary during lower water periods. Facilities are limited in this remote section of the recreation area—there are no nearby campgrounds or resorts—so plan accordingly. The site is ideal for day trips exploring the quieter upper basin, though paddlers heading downstream toward Pearce Ferry should note that rapids and swift current conditions exist in the narrows beyond this area.