Golden beaches, warm turquoise waters, and rugged desert landscapes come together along Lake Mohave, a stretch of the Colorado River often called the Mojave Riviera. The 280-mile Mojave Shores Discovery Trail guides intrepid travelers from Lake Havasu to Lake Mohave, offering a perfect blend of backcountry adventure and lakeside relaxation. Whether you're exploring remote desert tracks or unwinding on pristine sandy shores, this journey captures the best of both worlds.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 282 miles, 3-5 days Season: Generally October thru early May. While summer travel is possible, the head can exceed 115F in the Mojave desert. .
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Alternative Routes
Camping Recommendations
Discovery Points
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
Route Details
With its stunning blue waters and sandy beaches, perhaps it should be called the Riviera of the Mojave. Formed as a result of the completion of Davis Dam in 1951, Lake Mohave covers more than 26,000 acres, with a maximum depth of 120 feet when full. The Colorado River provided a much-needed lifeline in the desert to the original stewards of the land—the Mojave and Chemehuevi—who both called this corner of the Mojave their ancestral home. Today, the states of California, Nevada, and Arizona still rely on the waters of the once-mighty Colorado, drawing from Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave for agriculture, industry, and residential needs.
Lake Mohave is part of the Lake Mead NRA (National Recreation Area), which spans over 1.5 million acres, extending to the greater Las Vegas area in the north. As part of the NRA, many of the beaches and coves along the lake have access roads, and a few even have facilities (such as pit toilets). While crowds tend to flock to the more accessible beaches like Telephone Cove on weekends, if you time your trip right or venture out to one of the more remote coves, you may have the place to yourself.
While the 280-mile track can be driven in either direction, this guide starts in the south and works its way northward. The official starting point is Parker Dam (DP), which holds the waters of everyone's favorite party lake in the American Southwest—Lake Havasu (DP). A few miles from the dam, the pavement gives way to dirt as you veer off into the desert backcountry. Follow the track as it leads toward the lake. These next few miles feature some of the most rugged and scenic trails of the entire route, with the crown jewel being the dramatic Dynamite Canyon (DP), where vertical walls soar well over 100 feet above. If you have a high-clearance 4x4, stopping for photos at Whipple Wash Cave (DP) is always a fun experience. As you make your way out of the canyon, the track slowly snakes northward, following the contours of the desert landscape.
Continue north along Hightower Road until reaching the West Well Archaeological Site (DP). This area not only features a beautiful dispersed camping spot set against craggy desert scenery but also offers a short walk to a rock art panel. Archaeologists believe the petroglyphs to be at least several hundred years old, possibly up to 1,000 years old. Sites like this, scattered throughout the deserts of the Southwest, were often used for religious ceremonies, territorial markers, or astronomical observations.
As you head north from the West Well Archaeological Site, you'll find yourself following the same tracks as the East Mojave Heritage Trail (DP). This iconic overlanding route was developed by Dennis Casebier, the same person who made the Mojave Road famous. Your speed will likely increase significantly, especially as you cross over Highway 95 onto a series of straight, well-graded dirt roads. Once you reach Highway 66, you'll arrive at Goffs, home to the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association. The old Goffs Schoolhouse (DP) now serves as a museum and has a fantastic gift shop featuring Mojave Road and EMHT apparel, along with other memorabilia. Goffs is also the new home of the Mojave Bus (DP), Frog Monument, and various relics that have been relocated from their original spots—mostly along the Mojave Road.
Continuing north, the track slows as you approach the Leiser Ray Mine (DP). With Lake Havasu dozens of miles behind you, you're now closing in on Lake Mohave. Follow the Mojave Road east toward Bullhead City (a great place to refuel) before heading north to Telephone Cove (DP). Given its proximity to pavement and its expansive sandy beach, Telephone Cove is one of the most visited beaches along the Mojave Shores Discovery Trail. With its warm, shallow waters and beautiful coastline, it's a fantastic place to stop for lunch or camp overnight. However, we recommend avoiding weekends if possible, as it tends to get crowded.
Backtrack from Telephone Cove and continue north through the Spirit Mountain Wilderness and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument (DP). As you drive Christmas Pass Road, you'll be captivated by the oddly beautiful rock formations surrounding Spirit Mountain (DP). If you know where to look, there are a few hidden campsites nestled among the rocks and boulders. The road through this section is wide, graded, and relatively mellow.
As you round the northern flanks of Spirit Mountain, the trail drops into Empire Wash (DP). Over the next 10 miles, you'll find at least half a dozen coves and beaches accessible from the main track. While they may not be as expansive or scenic as Telephone Cove, they typically see far fewer visitors, even on weekends. We recommend checking out Astin Cove, Nellis Cove, Nine Mile Cove, and Six Mile Cove (probably the busiest of the bunch).
After crossing the pavement at Cottonwood Cove Road, you're now on the final leg of the route. The track follows a series of rugged trails that wind around the Oro Plata Mine (DP). Take the fun and scenic Powerline Road (DP) to Nelson's Landing, where you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of Lake Mohave at the Blue Water Viewpoint (DP). Placer Cove (DP) is another beautiful beach, offering plenty of shelter thanks to its canyon walls.
As you loop north, be sure to take a quick out-and-back detour to the Oro Plata Mine (DP), where an old mining cabin and several other relics from the mine’s heyday still remain. The route continues northward with a final stop at Burro Wash (DP) and Burro Wash Cove (DP), yet another picturesque cove nestled beneath canyon walls. The journey concludes by backtracking and following the road back to the interstate, just outside Boulder City.
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