Part II - Winter Road Trip January to February 2022

From January 28 > February 14, 2022 we continued our winter excursion down the Colorado River by first camping in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area at the lovely Callville Bay Campground and then visited the Hoover Dam and Boulder City region east of Las Vegas, including a side trip to the Red Rock Canyon area west of Las Vegas where we also camped a few days.  Driving down along Lake Mead toward Callville Bay we saw some beautiful red rock outcrops in the Valley of Fire State Park.

We then continued down the Colorado River toward Laughlin Nevada and Bullhead City Arizona eventually going back west from Needles California to end up in the lower desert areas around Palm Springs California.  

Select Photos from Valley of Fire State Park Nevada:

 

 Camping at Callville Bay in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area:

Our campsite at Callville Bay Camprground and Ranger Station.

The Lake Mead water levels have declined so much due to the drought that the boat ramp at
Callville Bay has receded such requiring creation of a new access road and ramp leaving some
old boat docks high and dry.

 

Reflection Bay in Lake Las Vegas near Boulder City Nevada

Hoover Dam near Boulder City Nevada.

Historic Downtown Boulder City Nevada near Hoover Dam.

The Colorado River looking across from Bullhead City Arizona to the Hotels and Casinos in Laughlin Nevada

(Left) an Indian Goods Store near Boulder Dam (Right) a statue of a tortoise in Bullhead City Arizona

 

Red Rock Canyon and its great Campground west of Las Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon camping and desert vegetation.

View of Red Rock Canyon entrance from a hilltop near the Red Rock Campground.

On our way to the Palm Springs area and Southern California we went through Barstow California
on February 14 on the Old Route 66 which has been beautifully restored with many old buildings and art to commemorate earlier eras of transcontinental auto travel.

NEXT:  Part III will explore sights around the Salton Sea, the Coachella Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, as well as Anza-Borrego State Park.  Much of that exploration during this phase of our trip was based from the lovely Sky Valley Resort in the outskirts of Desert Hot Springs and Palm Desert, California.