• Sunset at Lake Mead's Boulder Basin

    Lake Mead

    National Recreation Area AZ,NV

Black Canyon Wilderness

Adventurer in the Black Canyon Wilderness looking over the Colorado River below Hoover Dam

John Tesar

Michelle Zuro-Kreimer end of AR58A looking into Black Canyon

Home to the picturesque and rugged Eldorado Mountains, this wilderness unit is a maze of peaks and side canyons with vertical cliffs extending to the edge of the Colorado River. Much of the terrain was formed by volcanism. This scenic area contains some remnants of past mining. Water is scarce and the summer temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Archeological resources include petroglyphs, lithic scatters and an intaglio. Mountain lions, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and jackrabbits are among the many creatures that inhabit the area. Watch closely for the side-blotched lizard, rattlesnake, or desert tortoise caught sunning itself in the afternoon sun.

Did You Know?

Lake Mead Exotic Plant Management Team

In order to manage invasive plants on park lands, 16 Exotic Plant Management Teams (EPMT's) have been deployed throughout the country. The teams are a new weapon to combat exotic plants. The first test of the EPMT concept was made in 1996 at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. More...