Landmark
Cottonwood Crater
A nuclear impact crater east of Searchlight Airport with pools reaching 20 rads per second and a Fat Man on a dead prospector.
- Region
- Southern Mojave
- Faction
- None
- Danger
- High
- Map position
- 14 × 19
Cottonwood Crater is one of the few places where a nuclear warhead actually struck near Vegas. Of the 77 warheads aimed at the city and its surroundings, Mr. House's systems disarmed most and the Lucky 38's lasers destroyed more, but a handful hit the open desert. This crater, due east of Searchlight Airport in the southern mountains above Cottonwood Cove, is one of those impact sites, and its pools reach 20 rads per second.
Golden geckos live in and around the crater, so you will be fighting while soaking up radiation. Along the western edge, a dead prospector lies on a small rock in the water with a Fat Man in poor condition. Getting in takes either some careful jumping along the cliffs or the cave exit from Fire Root Cavern; from the cavern, follow the small peninsula to its end and then go left.
How to get there
Go through Fire Root Cavern from its northern entrance and take the upper exit out onto the crater.
Notable loot
- Fat Man (dead prospector on a rock along the western edge)
Tips
- Use the Fire Root Cavern exit for the easiest way in.
- Wear a radiation suit and take Rad-X; the pools hit 20 rads per second.