This vast desert reservoir near Las Vegas draws visitors for swimming, boating and fishing. Home to bighorn sheep and ancient petroglyphs along 550 miles of shoreline.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area covers 1.5 million acres of desert, lakes, and canyons along the Colorado River in Nevada and Arizona. Walk the Historic Railroad Trail through 1930s railway tunnels, take a kayak to hot springs in Black Canyon, or see the sun-dried remains of St. Thomas, a town abandoned when Lake Mead formed. Two large reservoirs—Lake Mead and Lake Mohave—give you 750 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, or swimming. Located 30 miles from Las Vegas, the park lets you swap city lights for desert skies where three distinct desert ecosystems meet. Bring plenty of water, sturdy shoes, and expect summer temperatures above 100°F.
Lake Mead’s water spans 186,000 acres, with marinas like Temple Bar and Willow Beach renting houseboats, kayaks, and fishing gear. Paddle through Black Canyon’s narrow channels to find hot springs along the shoreline. Anglers catch striped bass near Hoover Dam or rainbow trout in Lake Mohave’s deeper, cooler sections. Trails range from easy walks like the 7.5-mile Historic Railroad Trail—a flat path tracing an old railway—to steep routes like Goldstrike Canyon, where you’ll climb over rocks to reach warm springs. Bring a map, as trail markers can be sparse in remote areas.
Summer temperatures here often reach 110°F, with limited shade and dry air accelerating dehydration. Drink one gallon of water per person daily, wear wide-brimmed hats, and plan hikes for early mornings. All boats must have life jackets on board; afternoon winds create choppy waves, especially on Lake Mohave. Check the National Park Service website before visiting for alerts on closed roads, low water levels at boat ramps, or fire restrictions. Drive below speed limits—desert tortoises cross roads near Boulder Beach, and curves on routes like Northshore Road require slow turns.
The park has 900 campsites, from full-hookup RV spots at Boulder Beach to basic tent areas at South Cove with lake access. Many sites sit directly on the shoreline, letting you fish at dawn or watch the sunset over the water. Use the National Park Service app to check which campgrounds have showers, dump stations, or picnic tables before arriving. Groups can reserve sites near Callville Bay, where flat terrain and nearby coves work well for larger gatherings. Between October and April, reserve sites months ahead, but smaller areas like Las Vegas Bay Campground often have same-day availability.
St. Thomas, a town flooded in 1938 after Hoover Dam’s construction, reemerged as Lake Mead’s water levels dropped. Follow the 2-mile trail through its crumbling foundations, including a gas station and post office. Volcanic rock formations dominate trails like Liberty Bell Arch, where a 50-foot sandstone arch towers above the Colorado River. Near Redstone Dunes, orange and white sandstone layers reveal shifts in ancient desert climates. Join ranger talks at the Alan Bible Visitor Center to hear about Indigenous tribes who lived here and how engineers built Hoover Dam during the Great Depression.
The Alan Bible Visitor Center runs partially on solar power, reflecting the park’s push for sustainable energy. Download maps and trail guides on the National Park Service app before entering—cell service is unreliable beyond main hubs. Learn about the Mojave Desert’s ecology at the visitor center, including the endangered Devils Hole pupfish found in nearby springs. Review fishing rules: Nevada licenses apply on the lake’s western half, Arizona licenses on the eastern side. Subscribe to the park’s email updates for details on joining beach cleanups or tracking bighorn sheep populations.
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