Big Bend Revival
Big Bend "Revival III"
April 14-15-16 , 2011
On April 14-16 we return to Laughlin to revive our paddled souls and lift our outdoor spirits.
A family friendly trip for all ages.
On Friday April 14 through Sunday the 16th the Las Vegas Canoe Club will be returning once again to Laughlin for the third Annual "Big Bend Revival", meant to revive our winter paddled souls and lift our outdoor spirits.
This is a very family friendly camping and canoeing trip for all ages. Come for a nice day trip or stay with us the entire weekend! We'd love to see you there, and you will be happy you got away from town.
All that joined us for our February and March floats were treated to blubird skies and beautiful weather in the middle of winter. Weather for the "Revival" should be in the 80's, and the water cold and clear.
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area is located just south of Laughlin on the Old Needles Highway. This is a beautiful park with a campground that includes a boat launch and day use area, new clean restrooms with hot showers, covered picnic tables, a bar-b-que grill and firepit, electrical hookups and water. The last time we were there, the firewood was FREE & plentiful... we hope it is again, so we can have a bonfire both nights.
The costs for the campground parking is $25.00 for the site for one vehicle then $5.00 for each vehicle thereafter. It comes to about $15 per vehicle per night and we also share the campsites too. Check us out at either campsite 7 or 12. We're usually pretty hard to miss.
We will arrive at the campground on Friday afternoon to set up camp and reserve all the sites we will need, then come nightfall, some of us will gather 'round the fire while others will walk down to the river to try to catch some big Striped Bass for breakfast.
Saturday morning we will have a quick breakfast, then at 11am Helen from Desert River Kayak, or "Hummingbird" as we call her, will pick us up in her shuttle van, hauling 10 canoes on her trailer, and transport us to the base of Davis Dam where we will begin our 2-3 hour trip.
Th
is is a very, very, easy trip that will take us eight miles downriver, past the Casino Riverfront of Laughlin and the beautiful parks and Riverfront Homes of Bullhead City Arizona, and some great marsh areas where waterfowl can usually be seen.
is is a very, very, easy trip that will take us eight miles downriver, past the Casino Riverfront of Laughlin and the beautiful parks and Riverfront Homes of Bullhead City Arizona, and some great marsh areas where waterfowl can usually be seen. Releases from Davis Dam will vary from about 4,500
cubic feet per second (cfs) to 20,000 cfs during this 24-hour
period. River levels will vary during the 24-hour periods with
the higher levels coinciding with periods of peak hydroelectric
power generation, usually highest
during the afternoon and early evening.
Relaxing and fun, this float usually only takes three hours if we don't paddle.
Even during peak releases from the dam there is no whitewater or any rapids on this trip making it is a very enjoyable float for all.
We will make it back to camp just in time to enjoy a nice picnic lunch, and a quick daytime nap for those who worked or stayed up all night around the fire.
The cost of canoe rental, paddle, life jacket, gear, and shuttle service by Desert river kayak is $25.00 per person. If you have your own, the cost for transporting you and your canoe to the launch site at Davis Dam is only $10.00.
Saturday afternoon we will prepare a dutch oven and grill cookout for our group dinner. Sharing stories and food always makes for a good time.
We usually have Potluck meals and we have members with plenty of 
camping and cooking supplies, so bring your own food and beverages or something to share with everyone.... a large chicken or a big bowl of potato salad go a long way.
camping and cooking supplies, so bring your own food and beverages or something to share with everyone.... a large chicken or a big bowl of potato salad go a long way. Whatever it is you love to cook, chance are, we will probably love to eat.
Since we are setting up camp and then going canoeing, don't forget to bring all your camp gear, chairs, coolers, beverages, food, lanterns, tent, tiki torches, stove, dutch oven (if you have one), hammocks, and any other luxuries you wish since this is going to be a "civilized" camping trip.
If for some unforseen reason, another camper does not have what we need, then the nearest grocery store for extra ice, more booze, batteries, or beer, is only a few minutes down the road so there is no worry about running out of anything.