NPS - A. Cattoir With more than 290 square miles of waterway to navigate, boaters can enjoy the thrill of open water or relax in a private cove. But boating also has its rules and regulations. This page covers everything you need to know to have a fun and safe time boating on the lakes, along with details about the park's many launch ramps and boat rental locations. Information on the Hemenway Harbor boat launch extension project in Boulder BasinBoating InformationTo boat at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, you will need a vehicle pass to enter the park and a vessel pass for each vessel to launch. These can be purchased at park entrance stations. The Black Canyon and Willow Beach area of Lake Mohave below the Hoover dam have additional regulations. If you would like to explore this dramatic area in the recreation area click this link.
In Nevada
In Arizona
Before you launch, make sure that your vessel meets the federal requirements below.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are located in both Nevada and Arizona. As a boater, you are responsible for complying with the laws for both states.
View the Superintendent's Compendium for park-specific boating laws. All vessels, except sailboards, must have at least one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed. This includes paddlecraft. Marinas on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave rent a variety of boats, including sports boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, houseboats, personal watercraft and paddlecraft. They also rent water sports equipment, such as waterskis and wakeboards. For full details and to make a reservation, contact the marinas directly. Lake levels change regularly. Visit the Bureau of Reclamation website to see hourly elevation levels of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. No one may operate a personal watercraft that does not meet the 2006 emission standards set by EPA for the manufacturing of two-stroke engines. A person operating a personal watercraft that meets the EPA 2006 emission standards through the use of direct-injection two-stroke or four-stroke engines, or the equivalent thereof, is not subject to this prohibition and will be allowed to operate as described in this section. Marinas on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave offer both on-the-water and dry boat storage. For full details and to make a reservation, contact the marinas directly. See this page for more information on using nonmotorized vessels in the recreation area.
Open Boat Ramp Information
TAKEOUTS ONLY: Pearce Ferry is located at the eastern most end of Lake Mead in Arizona and is the final exit point for Colorado River rafting trips from the Grand Canyon. Access to Lake Mead downstream of the launch is closed due to extremely dangerous rapids exposed by declining lake levels. The Pearce Ferry Rapids (accessible to view via short walk down stream) is a rapidly changing and violent rapid. It is closed to all boaters including kayaks and river rafts.
The park has expanded and improved this ramp in 2024 and is developing a river camp for boaters in 2025. Lake Mead Boat Launch FAQs for Low Water Levels Since 2000, there have been many changes to boat ramp access on Lake Mead due to fluctuating water levels in the reservoir. When the reservoir was full, there were 10 boat ramps and 6 marinas in operation. As water levels declined over the last 25 years, the National Park Service (NPS) has had to move, create new ramps, and sometimes abandon ramps because of topography and available funding. For example, the Government Wash boat ramp had been in operation until September 2001, when water levels declined below 1,178 ft and the topography made the cost of extending the boat ramp unfeasible.
Currently, there are 5 launch ramps and 3 marinas in operation on Lake Mead which are anticipated to remain open and operational for water-based recreation services through the calendar year. They provide access to 200,000 acres of water and nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline around America’s largest manmade reservoir. The two primary limitations to extending boat ramps are topography (a land area’s physical features) and funding. The NPS constructed and maintained concrete boat ramps when the water was higher, and funding and operational access was more easily attainable.
When water levels declined at unprecedented rates, some boat ramps could not be extended because the topography changed dramatically, and the construction of extensions was either not possible or cost prohibited. The park found new areas to provide lake access for motorized boats but in each of these cases, that meant constructing new roads and utility systems, as well as moving entire marinas. With extensive public input, the NPS developed a recreation plan to maintain motorized recreational boating access and associated amenities at five priority launch ramp locations on Lake Mead. In November 2023, the NPS signed a “Low Water Plan” that plans water access down to approximately 1,000 ft, where funds and topography allow. Below that, and in areas where topography allows and future funding is available, the NPS would attempt to maintain boat ramp access to 950 feet, which is minimum power level for Hoover Dam. The plan also sought to ensure recreational resources and services are provided for a safe, responsible, and enjoyable park experience for other visitors.
The five launch ramp locations are: Hemenway Harbor, Callville Bay, and Echo Bay in Nevada; and Temple Bar and South Cove in Arizona. The launch ramps, water and land based recreational services, and concession amenities are unique at each site based largely on the topography of each location. You can learn more about this planning effort on our website’s “Planning” page.Sustainable Low Water Access Plan - Lake Mead National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) The park has removed some original ramps where they had funds and were environmentally and operationally able to do so, including sites like Echo Bay and Government Wash. However, the removal process takes significant time, money, and resources and the park’s current priority is maintaining and improving the ramps that are still accessible.
The NPS does not control the water management of the Colorado River. Lake Mead NRA is dedicated to the safe and responsible access to the reservoir for water-based outdoor recreational enjoyment. Operational water decisions are made by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) under several interstate agreements and a treaty with Mexico. The BOR must balance the needs for power generation, flood control, navigation, water storage, and power generation.
Legacy (Currently Closed) Launch Ramps and Information Las Vegas Bay is located at the western edge of Lake Mead, near Henderson, Nevada. Historically, it featured a marina and public campground, serving as a popular spot for boating and recreation. Declining water levels rendered the marina inoperable, resulting in its relocation to Hemenway Harbor in October 2002.
Government Wash was a popular area within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area that once provided boat ramp access to the lake. Rapid water level decline revealed topographic challenges to extending the boat ramp or constructing a new one, which led to the boat ramp’s closure in September 2001. In August 2024, park officials temporarily closed the area due to a significant increase in crime and natural resource damage. The park intends to reopen the area for renewed land and water based recreational use for a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. Click here to learn more.
Boulder Harbor was once a popular launch site for boaters on Lake Mead, given its close proximity to Boulder City, NV. After several years of launch ramp extensions to “chase the water,” the ramp was closed In June 2021. This was because the harbor became too shallow and there were not enough resources to continually dredge and extend the boat ramp over the uneven and flat terrain. Boulder Harbor remains a popular and accessible scenic spot for fishing, hiking, and enjoying the lake.
Overton Beach launch ramp was the park’s northern most marina and launch ramp, providing recreational services to visitors from the Valley as well as Southern Utah and the Overton/Logandale area. Due to rapidly declining water levels, portions of the marina were moved to Callville Bay Marina and Temple Bar Marina in February 2007 before the ramp closed in April 2009.
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Last updated: June 1, 2025