Callville Wash facts for kids
Callville Wash is a special kind of stream in Clark County, Nevada. It's called an ephemeral stream because it only flows after heavy rain or snowmelt. Most of the time, it's dry! This type of dry streambed is also known as a wash.
The wash gets its name from an old settlement called Callville. This town was founded in 1866 and was once a busy riverport – a place where boats could load and unload goods on the Colorado River. Callville Wash originally met the Colorado River right where Callville was located.
Today, the mouth of Callville Wash is at Callville Bay. This bay is part of Lake Mead, a very large reservoir. When Lake Mead is full, the wash meets the bay at about 1,234 feet (376 meters) above sea level. Because Lake Mead's water level changes, the exact spot where the wash meets the bay can move.
The source of Callville Wash is high up in the Muddy Mountains. It starts on the southern side of Muddy Peak, which is about 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) tall. The wash begins at an elevation of about 3,510 feet (1,070 meters).
Callville Wash used to have a smaller stream flowing into it, called the West Fork Callville Wash. This smaller stream also flowed into the Colorado River. Now, because of Lake Mead, this stream flows into Callville Bay and is known as West End Wash.
A Journey Through Time: Callville Wash's History
Callville Wash has a really interesting past! It was once an important part of the Old Spanish Trail. This famous trail was used for trade way back in 1829.
The Old Spanish Trail Connection
The original route of the Old Spanish Trail, known as the Armijo Route, followed the Colorado River. It helped travelers get around a tough part of the river called Boulder Canyon. This canyon is very deep and narrow, cutting through the Black Mountains.
Instead of going through the canyon, the trail went a different way. It passed through places like Boulder Wash, Pinto Valley, and Cottonwood Spring. From there, it reached the upper part of Callville Wash. Travelers would then follow Callville Wash all the way down to the Colorado River.
Later Roads
Later on, a road was built that connected the towns of St. Thomas and Callville. This road also followed Callville Wash for part of its journey, heading northeast towards St. Thomas. So, Callville Wash has been a pathway for people for a very long time!
