Places To Go

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is big, it's diverse and it's extreme. Temperatures can be harsh, from 120º Fahrenheit in the summer to well below freezing in winter on the high plateaus.

From the mouth of the Grand Canyon, the park follows the Arizona-Nevada border along what was formerly 140 miles of the Colorado River. The two big lakes-Mead and Mohave- are the big draw here.

Lake Mead is impressive: It's 1.5 million acres, 110 miles long when the lake is full, 550 miles of shoreline, around 500 feet at greatest depth, 255 square miles of surface, and when filled to capacity, 28 million acre-feet of water, about two years' flow of the Colorado River. Sixty-seven-mile-long Lake Mohave, formed by Davis Dam, still retains in its upper reaches some of the character of the old Colorado River.

Although much of Lake Mead must be experienced by boat, the various campgrounds, marinas, lodges, and other facilities clustered around the lake make it possible for non-boaters to enjoy it as well. Literally millions of people use the park each year, and many of these visitors return again and again to find that special cove, hiking trail or campground, or just to sit on the shore and enjoy solitude of a quality that only nature can supply.

Black Canyon

Explore the newest national water trail at Lake Mead NRA — canoeing, kayaking or rafting, through Black Canyon. This canyon is a wonderland of coves, caves, and hot springs.

Black Canyon Water Trail

Learn about a national water trail right here at Lake Mead

Willow Beach

Willow Beach (offsite link)

Black Canyon River Adventures

Off site link.

Overton Arm
The Overton Arm is in the northern region of the park. It’s a tranquil finger of water fed by the Virgin and Muddy rivers. The Overton Arm of Lake Mead attracts the largest concentration of bald eagles wintering in the park.

St. Thomas Townsite

See the once thriving town of St. Thomas, Nevada

Rogers and Blue Springs

Rogers Spring is a fine example of one of the many springs at Lake Mead.

Redstone

Have a picnic surrounded by ancient sand dunes.

Boulder Basin
Boulder Basin is the most recognizeable part of Lake Mead NRA. It is the closest part of the park to the entrances from Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City.