Lake Mead National Recreational Area

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Back to Las VegasLake Mead National Recreational Area

Under the auspices of the National Park Service, 1.5-million-acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area was created in 1936 around Lake Mead (the reservoir lake that is the result of the construction of Hoover Dam) and later Lake Mohave to the south (formed by the construction of Davis Dam). Before the lakes emerged, this desert region was brutally hot, dry, and rugged -- unfit for human habitation. Today it's one of the nation's most popular playgrounds, attracting about nine million visitors annually. The two lakes comprise 291 square miles. At an elevation of 1,221 feet, Lake Mead itself extends some 110 miles upstream toward the Grand Canyon. Its 550-mile shoreline, backed by spectacular cliff and canyon scenery, forms a perfect setting for a wide variety of watersports and desert hiking.

The Alan Bible Visitor Center, 4 miles northeast of Boulder City on U.S. 93 at Nevada 166 (tel. 702/293-8990), can provide information on all area activities and services. You can pick up trail maps and brochures here, view informative films, and find out about scenic drives, accommodations, ranger-guided hikes, naturalist programs and lectures, bird-watching, canoeing, camping, lakeside RV parks, and picnic facilities. The center also sells books and videotapes about the area. It's open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

For information on accommodations, boat rentals, and fishing, call Seven Crown Resorts (tel. 800/752-9669; www.sevencrown.com).

You can also find info on the Web at www.nps.gov/lame.

In May 2000 the park service began to charge entry fees for the first time. Fees are $5 per vehicle, which covers all passengers, or $3 per person if you're walking or biking in.

Outdoor Activities

This is a lovely area for scenic drives amid the dramatic desert landscape. One popular route follows the Lakeshore and Northshore Scenic drives along the edge of Lake Mead. From these roads there are panoramic views of the blue lake set against a backdrop of the browns, blacks, reds, and grays that make up the desert mountains. Northshore Scenic Drive also leads through areas of brilliant red boulders and rock formations, and you'll find a picnic area along the way.

Boating & Fishing -- A store at Lake Mead Resort and Marina, under the auspices of Seven Crown Resorts (tel. 800/752-9669 or 702/293-3484), rents fishing boats, ski boats, personal watercraft, and patio boats. It also carries groceries, clothing, marine supplies, sporting goods, water-skiing gear, fishing equipment, and bait and tackle. You can get a fishing license here ($69 for a year, $18 for 1 day plus $7 for each additional day; discounts for children under 15 are available; additional fees apply for special fishing classifications). The staff is knowledgeable and can apprise you of good fishing spots. Largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill are found in Lake Mead; rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and striped bass in Lake Mohave. You can also arrange here to rent a fully equipped houseboat at Echo Bay, 40 miles north.

Other convenient Lake Mead marinas offering similar rentals and equipment are Las Vegas Boat Harbor (tel. 702/565-9111), which is even closer to Las Vegas, and Callville Bay (tel. 702/565-8958), which is the least crowded of the five on the Nevada Shore.

Camping -- Lake Mead's shoreline is dotted with campsites, all of them equipped with running water, picnic tables, and grills. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, they are administered by the National Park Service (tel. 702/293-8990; www.nps.gov). There's a charge of $10 per night at each campsite.

Canoeing -- The Alan Bible Visitor Center can provide a list of outfitters who rent canoes for trips on the Colorado River. There's one catch, however: A canoeing permit ($10 per person) is required in advance for certain areas near the dam and is available from the Bureau of Reclamation (Attn.: Canoe Launch Permits), Box 60400, Boulder City, NV 89006-0400 (tel. 702/293-8204). You can apply for and receive the permit on the same day that you plan to canoe.

Hiking -- The best season for hiking is November to March (it's too hot the rest of the year). Some ranger-guided hikes are offered via the Alan Bible Visitor Center , which also stocks detailed trail maps. Three trails, ranging in length from .75 mile to 6 miles, originate at the visitor center. The 6-mile trail goes past remains of the railroad built for the dam project. Be sure to take all necessary desert-hiking precautions.

Lake Cruises -- A delightful way to enjoy Lake Mead is on a cruise aboard Lake Mead Cruises' Desert Princess (tel. 702/293-6180; www.lakemeadcruises.com), a Mississippi-style paddle-wheeler. Cruises depart year-round from a terminal near Lake Mead Lodge . It's a relaxing, scenic trip (enjoyed from an open promenade deck or one of two fully enclosed, climate-controlled decks) through Black Canyon and past colorful rock formations known as the "Arizona Paint Pots" en route to Hoover Dam, which is lit at night. Options include narrated midday cruises ($20 adults, $9 children), cocktail/dinner cruises ($44 adults, $21 children), sunset dinner/dance cruises with live music ($54 adults, children not permitted), and Sunday Brunch cruises ($33 adults, $15 children). Dinner is served in a pleasant, windowed, air-conditioned dining room. There's a full onboard bar. Call for departure times.

Scuba Diving -- October to April, there's good visibility, lessened in summer months when algae flourishes. A list of good dive locations, authorized instructors, and nearby dive shops is available at the Alan Bible Visitor Center . There's an underwater, designated diving area near Lake Mead Marina.