Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) was named after the larger of two reservoirs created by the construction of Hoover and Davis dams, becoming the United States’ first national recreation area. Spanning portions of Nevada and Arizona, and covering 1.5 million acres of water, mountains, canyons, and valleys, this NRA offers plenty of opportunities to boat, paddle, fish, scuba dive, waterski, swim, hike, bike, horseback ride, explore scenic drives, learn about the ghost town of a Mormon settlement within the park’s boundaries, and capture photos of wildlife and the gorgeous rugged scenery. There’s so much to do and see here that you can definitely spend more than just one day in the park, if you have the time.
Lake Mead NRA is a hop-and-a-skip from Las Vegas, Nevada. Depending upon which part of the Lake Mead you wish to visit, distances range from 16-29 miles (25.7-46.7 kilometers). If it’s Lake Mojave you wish to visit (located in the southern portion of the NRA), the shortest route is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Las Vegas crossing into and then down the Arizona side of the park.
Because Lake Mead and Lake Mojave are the two main focal points for fun at this NRA, most activities in the park are centered around water. Here, you have some of the best sport fishing in the country, with the opportunity to reel in trout, bass, sunfish, catfish, and crappie for your dinner.
Feel like boating and waterskiing? With 290 square miles of waterway, motorized boating is an extremely popular pastime at the NRA. There are five ramps on Lake Mead and three on Lake Mojave from which you can launch your motorboat.
If you’d rather explore the waters and coves under your own steam, you can launch your canoe or kayak anywhere a boat is allowed and also along shorelines except for those designated as swim beaches.
Lake Mead and Lake Mojave are two of the top freshwater sites for scuba diving, with 10 different dive sites (one of which is only accessible through a guided tour).
If you’d rather stretch your legs on dry land, there are nine hiking trails around the Lake Mead area and seven hiking trails within the Lake Mojave and Black Canyon area. These trails range from easy to strenuous and are anywhere from 1.0-32 miles (1.6-51.5 kilometers) in distance, roundtrip.
The Northshore Road and Lakeshore Road scenic drives allow you to explore and photograph the miles of colorful rock formations seen on mountains and in desert basins and canyons. Here is where you’ll see the area’s geologic wonders created by the machinations of an ancient shallow sea, a desert, faults, cataclysmic volcanic activity, and a river cutting downward through the rocks.
Instead of using four wheels to explore the park’s landscape, you can apply a little pedal power and bike on both park roads and routes designated for bicycle use. E-bikes are also allowed everywhere traditional bicycles are allowed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Own a horse? Many trails and marked backcountry roads are perfect for horseback riding with only a few limitations. Almost 50 percent of the River Mountains Loop Trail is open to equestrian users.
Speaking of four-legged creatures, this NRA is home to around 57 documented mammal species, including the desert bighorn sheep.
Fun Fact: That interesting black spot you see near each eye of a desert bighorn is a scent gland known as a preorbital gland. These glands are used to deposit pheromones on twigs, grass, or rocks, allowing them to communicate and mark their territory.
Fancy a little history? Within park boundaries are remnants of the Mormon settlement St. Thomas. Founded in 1865 and flooded when Lake Mead was created in the 1930s, lowering water levels have once again revealed this ghost town to which you can drive, then hike, to explore the settlement’s remains.
If you feel like spending more than one day in the park (and you probably should, with so much to do and see), a total of 16 campgrounds and RV parks located on Lake Mojave and Lake Mead, as well as three in-park resorts for those of you looking for brick-and-mortar overnight accommodations offer places for you to lay your head at night.
Pack a picnic lunch or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants, snack shops, ice cream counters and bars throughout the park. There’s something to fit every budget.
For interesting side trips near Lake Mead NRA, you can check out Mojave National Preserve in California, 56 miles (90 kilometers) away from Bullhead City at the NRA’s southernmost point; Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 35 miles (56 kilometers) away from the Callville Bay portion of the NRA; Valley of Fire State Park, 46 miles (74 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas; and Las Vegas, itself, if you feel like a little glitz, gambling, stage shows, shopping, and a multitude of dining (and people-watching) opportunities.
Lake Mead NRA is not without its challenges, however, both environmental and human. The Traveler has reported on drought, low water levels, traffic enforcement, and vandalism.
Featured In The National Parks Traveler
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Will Reopen Government Wash
Lake Mead National Recreation Area has completed the removal of long-term encampments at Government Wash and will reopen the area on Saturday, February 7. According to the National Park Service, the project addressed extensive impacts from unauthorized encampments, impaired access routes, abandoned materials, and resource damage caused by unmanaged vehicle movement and prolonged stays.
To read more of this story, head to this page.
Lakes Powell And Mead Are More Than Two-Thirds Empty
Lakes Powell and Mead on the Colorado River are less than two-thirds full, leaving scientists, economists, and water law experts fearful that the reservoirs could soon be useless.
Compounding the water flow problems created by diversions and climate-change impacts are disagreements between the Upper and Lower basin states on how best to manage a dwindling, invaluable, resource.
To read more of this story, head to this page.
National Park Service Seeks Help In Identifying Suspected Vandals At Lake Mead NRA
National Park Service authorities at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are seeking information that could be used to identify two men suspected of pushing over natural rock formations.
The two, captured by video by other park visitors, were supposedly recorded Sunday night pushing the formations from the top of a cliff along the Redstone Dunes Trail. The video gained widespread attention on social media channels.
To read more of this story, head to this page.
Despite these challenges, Lake Mead NRA remains a top spot for outdoor fun and scenic beauty. It’s proximity to Las Vegas makes getting to and stocking up for a visit to the park super easy.
Traveler’s Choice For: Water activities, hiking, geology, photography
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