Boulder Wash facts for kids
Boulder Wash is a special kind of stream in Clark County, Nevada. It's called an ephemeral stream, which means it only flows with water after heavy rain or snowmelt. Most of the time, it's dry.
This wash starts high up in the Black Mountains at about 2,841 feet (866 meters) above sea level. Its path takes it through a canyon and then into the Pinto Valley. From there, it flows southeast until it reaches Lake Mead.
The place where Boulder Wash meets Lake Mead is called Boulder Wash Cove. When Lake Mead is full, this meeting point is about 1,276 feet (389 meters) above sea level. However, because the lake's water level changes, the exact spot where the wash meets the lake can move. Today, it's found around 36°10′07″N 114°33′07″W / 36.16861°N 114.55194°W.
History of Boulder Wash
Boulder Wash has an interesting history, especially because it was once part of an important old travel route.
Part of the Old Spanish Trail
Back in 1829, Boulder Wash was a key part of the original Old Spanish Trail. This famous trail was used for trade and travel between New Mexico and California. The section of the trail that went through Boulder Wash was known as the Armijo Route.
Travelers used Boulder Wash to get around a very deep and narrow canyon called Boulder Canyon. This canyon, located in the Black Mountains, was too difficult to pass through directly. So, the trail went through Boulder Wash, then Pinto Valley, and past Cottonwood Spring. From there, it followed Callville Wash down to the Colorado River. This route helped people avoid the dangerous parts of the river's gorge.
Before Lake Mead
Before the Hoover Dam was built, Boulder Wash flowed directly into the Colorado River. But when the Hoover Dam was completed, it created Lake Mead. This huge reservoir changed the landscape, and now Boulder Wash flows into Lake Mead instead of the Colorado River.
