Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a spectacular destination offering a perfect mix of water, mountains, and desert landscapes. The lake itself is beautiful, with crystal-clear waters ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming, while the surrounding areas provide excellent hiking and camping opportunities. The scenery is breathtaking, especially during sunrise and sunset, with dramatic cliffs, rocky formations, and wide-open desert views. Wildlife is abundant, adding an extra touch of nature’s charm. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or simply a place to enjoy the outdoors, Lake Mead has something for everyone. It’s also family-friendly, with plenty of spots for picnics, short walks, and enjoying the fresh air. Overall, it’s a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience both natural beauty and outdoor recreation in one stunning location.

Gorgeous views, copious clean bathrooms and fantastic staff. Stayed fire the full week. I think Jason was our camp host in Callville Bay and he was awesome too.

Have not been back to Katherine's Landing since the mid-90s! The out houses are a nice addition! Regular maintenance! The launch ramp is a little crowded at times, and the boom box speakers on the boats tied to the beachs were too loud! At 73, I guess I'm getting too old! In the 70s it was quiet! Great memories though. Bring back the "River Rat" logo on the T-shirts!

We used Veterans Kayaking Tours with Griff and went 4 miles on the river. The area was beautiful and very well kept. Recommend a stop in. Boulder City on the way!

An amazing and scenic area in Nevada! It is my first time in Nevada and Arizona and the Lake Mead NRA was on top of my list to visit. The drive is stunning with plenty of scenic overlooks. Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area!

Kinda stinky. But the best outdoor place with water and halfway decent people. Watch out for dead animals.

Endless opportunities for discovery and recreation. I stayed at boulder beach campground, just a few miles from the incredible Hoover Dam. Just before the dam, a short but very challenging hike, Goldstrike Canyon, leads to natural hot springs—a must see. I even caught a few striped bass from the marina docks!

Great place to go for hiking, boating, swimming or fishing. I personally don't boat but love to swim and fish in my private locations. Plenty of places to go but make sure you're not in any protected area. The cost of entry is going up every year and now it's going up again. Don't be speeding around on those roads, it's tempting but the BLM patrol the roads and don't play nice most of the time.

Lake Mead is pretty awesome. Although the water level is decreasing with time, the lake itself is still very pretty. When I visited, it wasn't too busy for some reason, so I was able to walk around the lake shore without bumping into many people. The drive around the lake was especially enjoyable without the traffic. There are so many scenic areas right off the road, and the sky was impossibly blue and huge as it reflected off the lake. It was very hot though, so I didn't hike the Owl Canyon Trail like I originally planned. I'll definitely be back though!

We stopped at Lake Mead on our way back from Hoover Dam and again on the way back from Valley Of Fire both locations were beautiful. Did you know Lake Mead is the size of the state of Delaware? A ranger gave us that info. We stopped at the Visitor Center so I could get my National Parks passport book cancellation stamps. They also have the Tule Springs stamps here since there's no welcome center at Tule Springs. Very informative rangers and a nice visitor center with bathrooms. They also have a store and I got a few things like a Christmas ornament and a T-shirt. Not enough staff so they're allowing everyone in for FREE at the time we were there. It's normally $25 for a vehicle. The water felt great after the 116° temp at Hoover Dam. Campgrounds looked nice as we were driving by but we didn't check them out.

4.4 stars Lake Mead didn't exist before the Hoover Dam was built, so its history is tied to the successful completion of the dam. However, the area's cultural history is rich with evidence of prehistoric hunter-gatherers and animals living in the area about 8,000-10,000 years ago when the area was wetter and cooler than today. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the first National Recreation Area established in 1964. Millions of visitors come here annually, but the lake remains an artifical one and maintaining water levels was never expected to last. Unfortunately, Lake Mead isn't without it's secrets...some of which have come to light recently. Bodies in barrels have been found and is suspected to be tied to the Mob when they controlled Las Vegas. Hidden items like the crashed B-29 Fortress is a popular scuba diving site and, because water levels are receding, the Mormon ghost town named St. Thomas can be accessed via a dirt trail. There's much more to see and do at Lake Mead. It's worth visiting the visitors' center for a map and to see the museum. Restrooms are available and kept pretty clean.

My friends and I took a boat down to the Willow Beach Marina and went for a cruise to Hoover Dam. It was about 117 degrees outside and the water was pretty frigid. Views were gorgeous. The boat launch area seems to be a bit chaotic and we got there around 9:30AM Before the parking lots were completely full. Each car costs about $20 without a National Parks pass. Next time, I'll plan to go when the weather isn't so hot. There were a lot of paddle boarders and kayakers so make sure to pay attention to the signs that indicate when to turn off your motors and slow down so as to share the narrower areas with other visitors.

Wow what a landmark within driving distance from the vegas strip. From vegas strip we made our stop at lake mead visitor center. There are plenty of parking spots, well maintained restrooms, gtreat friendly park staff. The park rangers were very patient in addressing the kids and answering the questions. We learnt lot of history about Lake mead during this 1 hour stop. Great place to visit and collect stamps !!!

Such a beautiful place to spend time and enjoy. The drive through it is scenic and gorgeous. The is a boat where you can go out on the lake such a great experience. There are kayaks to rent and good fishing. The views are breathtaking and inspiring. There's also a very good restaurant with fantastic food. There are campgrounds that are well maintained and very pleasant great views. There are many view points that are well worth exploring.

We decided to come out to lake Mead because we havent come out here in years, the water level has dropped so much but it's such a beautiful lake! Weather was perfect and we went down to the marina to walk around. Saw some fish and ducks- enjoyed ourselves for about an hour then headed for a drive to the lookouts around the lake. Highly recommend it, we left at 1130 because it started getting too hot

Just a great hike, most of the hike is flat, going towards the dam there is an incline, so when walking back you will have that up hill trek. My only complaint is if you take you dog pick up the crap! That means Don't leave you crap in a bag on the trail, DO BETTER

Lake Mead, Boulder basin. America's first national recreation area, Hoover and Davis Dam completed 1935 and 1953 respectively. 892 feet tall.It tamed the Colorado river and created Lake Mead and Mojave in the mist of the Mojave desert elevation is 517 feet at Davis Dam to 7072 feet on the Shivwits plateau. Inside the visitor center we met Taylor, Art and John, fabulous. Taylor was the best, ask her about her private stash of the stamps, she gave me a box. I WOULD RECOMMEND

This place is always beautiful and there are so many relaxation spots and views to enjoy. The water levels are low right now but that doesn't change the fact that this place is still pretty and there are many birds around the lake that I enjoyed watching. After all, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as the famous saying goes. Come enjoy a hike, followed by a picnic overlooking the lake, and some peaceful decompressing time. This place will not disappoint :)

I came out here for a weekend trip because I wanted to hike the Hot Springs. At first the camp rates a little confusing but once you get the hang of it, it's easy Peezy. The campsites are clean. The views are beautiful and I definitely recommend coming. I'm sure I will be back soon.

Great National park to visit on nice autumn weather. It is bit far out but still close enough to go and feel the nature and out of city life.

Amazing view! Had a great time and hubby and I caught a couple fish. Get there earlier to get a good spot.

Lake mead offers a serene escape from the bustling city life. It's a wonderful spot to unwind and recharge. Make sure to pack essentials like water, snacks, and mosquito repellent to fully enjoy your time there.

The park ranger was a toatl Karen it is a good place but they give you attitude and she mentioned, 'I don't care." Ok well care about this here is your well-deserved one star review Karen.

This review was for the Callville Summit which was a ~2.9 mile total round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Beautiful views of the lake at the end; even better with the sunset. Bugs started coming out during sunset though. No shade; a little rocky. There was also a campground right next to this hike. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/LUdwsIzh7mg

Living in area since 1972. My hs govt teacher Dennis White was a ranger out there so we'd all gather up and go see him.. best teacher ever! Went fishing and boating even dove off the Cliffs when there was water.. gr8 memories. I have my lifetime Natl Park pass, but don't lose it bc you'll have to pay 100.00 again. Much safer these days ...

I should be ashamed of myself... I only live about 30-Minutes away from Lake Mead, and this was my first time visiting this National beauty that people travel from all over the world to see. We were looking to escape the city for the afternoon and decided to take the scenic back road entrance to Lake Mead. We hold an annual National Parks pass, so we had nothing to lose by going to see what the hype was all about. "Why haven't we done this sooner?" I asked myself as we turned the first corner into the park. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Literally, every step you take gives you a different view, colors, and shades... it's just a magical place that has so much to offer. I must say, the low water levels make me very sad to see. I can only imagine how much more beautiful the surroundings were when the lake was at its full potential. Hopefully, water-levels will rise again. However, if Lake Mead is on your bucket list... this is definitely the time to come and see the lake before your opportunity to see it dry's up. Oh, if you do make it out to the lake, be careful of the wildlife around you. We did end up seeing a huge tarantula, a couple of scorpions, and even a wild lone coyote. Just beware! We plan on coming back frequently. I highly recommend you come and see it for yourself.

The last time I visited Lake Mead, I was an angsty teenager forced to go along with a family vacation and boating excursion on the water. Poor me, huh? Of course, now that I'm an adult, I can appreciate the beauty that is this place and regret not enjoying the moments when I was here before. Oh well, can't live in the past. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the overlook and take in the beauty from a distance. There's some great views and perfect spots to watch the sun set. I'd like a do-over of my family vacation. This time I'll enjoy it. Promise.

It is always great to visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area, especially now Spring time, when the weather is so nice! Since I live in Las Vegas more than 35 years, I had my fair share of fun coming to the lake. Lake Mead is more than just the marina! If you drive on the North Shore, it's a completely different experience than the other side of the lake. From the North Shore Drive, you can enjoy many different hiking trails, many hot springs, and if you drive along, long enough, you actually end up in Valley of Fire State Park. Recently, we hiked on the Redstone Dune Trail ... and as always, we enjoyed it very much! Never get bored of it! At the entrance of this trail, there is a nice size of parking lot with a restroom. Then further up, you can find tables with benches and bbq area for picnic. The landscape is amazing! Then driving further north on North Shore Road, we stopped at Roger's Spring. This is one of the largest desert springs in the area! Surprisingly, even on weekdays, there were people bathing in the hot spring! The roads are very well maintained throughout the park. When you go off the road, you may find some secondary roads, not paved roads, and if you don't have 4x4 vehicles, it may be difficult to drive to certain areas. Keep in mind that the park entrance requires a $25 payment, which is good for 7 days of use. You can also purchase the yearly pass for $80, which is good in all national parks in the country!

Pros: We had such a fun time hiking this area. Would totally recommend to anyone wanting to get away from the strip. Cons: we definitely came during the right time of year. I can imagine it being very uncomfortable here in the summers. Parking was a pain. Just another lot wax available at the top of the road.

BEWARE of the staff at Lake Mead national recreation center! If you are a disabled senior you are eligible for a FREE access pass to ALL the national parks. They must get some kick back or "incentives " to selling a "forever senior pass" for $80. First, I thought I was buying a senior ANNUAL PASS! (That was SUPPOSED to be $20 and actually should have been FREE since I am a DISABLED SENIOR but they "neglected to tell me that. I did have my disabled placard displayed at the parking entrance) I stupidly didn't look at what they charged until I got home. We thought we we're getting a good deal getting an ANNUAL PASS for $20, seeing as we were road tripping and each national park is about $20 entrance fees. They charged my credit card for a LIFETIME senior pass $80!!! I can't afford that in my fixed income! Look out for Sylvia McMartin. She actually told my she could only refund my card if I actually purchased ANOTHER PASS! (The senior annual pass for ANOTHER $20! What a racket! And to add insult to injury, I would have to come to the office ( I live 300 miles away from lake Mead) or send my physical pass, original receipt AND the receipt for the NEW PASS to her attention.

this place quiet peaceful and amazing. Relax with the fish and ducks right on the dock. Lake Mead $25 entry fee unless you have an annual pass.

Nice view, plenty to explore and let the little ones get out some energy. Including your fur babies. Trails and roads to walk around. Old train track reminisce and tunnel. We did not explore or adventure over to the tunnel. There are benches along the paced trail. There were no porta potties. Best times to go morning, winter, late fall and spring. Otherwise take water and a snack with you on your hike it gets a bit draining.

Came on a trip to Vegas and couldn't leave without coming to see this landmark and the dam lovely tour and trip!

This place is soooooo beautiful! The views and mountains are beautiful to drive around and even stop and look at. The you could see the water at the bottom but the clay//sand kicks up into a smoke when walking. I'd suggest water shoes and floats. There is a fee to get to the beach/water area. It's pretty reasonable and you can use it for up to 7days.

It was beautiful and very shocking. Can't believe the water dropped so much. A 1200 ft or more water drop! I understand how they are finding bodies now but it was still so beautiful to see.

If you live in a place that is not the desert and you want to experience with us might be like, going to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area will give you that experience. It's the desert. The sun is blaring, and it's dry and hot. Even in the last days of October. We enjoyed it for what it was which was a change of scenery from what it's like in Michigan. The hiking is good, but it's hard because we just came from Zion which was spectacular. But if you're in the area it's definitely worth a few hours of time checking it out.

We drove through LMRA last weekend and we're told if we came back within a week we could pay the difference to upgrade to a yearly pass. So we drove all the way down there today to pay the difference so we would have the annual national park pass. The guy at the pay booth was soooo rude. He told us this isn't a thing and told us we would have to pay the full price. So who's lying? Why lie? Why so rude today? After today I don't think we'll go back. He should be fired! If I could give zero stars I would.

Had a fun day at the lake at cottonwood cove. They have wheelbarrows there to wheel your stuff to the dock. Restrooms were clean. They have these cool houseboats that you can rent there for 12 people. The guy let us look at them. Thinking about renting one sometime

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY! Amazing out here on the water and a great place to spend some time on the water recreating. Launched at Boulder harbor and even on a busy holiday weekend it wasn't that bad waiting to get in or out. It is the desert Southwest so don't forget to drink plenty of water even if you think you don't need it.

Lake Mead seems like an ethereal oasis amid the desert. Such sharp contrast of the blue water amid the orange backdrop of the desert mountains. One hour drive from Las Vegas was sweltering hot, under the scorching summer sun. We visited in August, and almost got fried in 119 degree desert heat. Be prepared with tons of water and spare clothes. Or travel during a different season. Warning, you WILL lose cellular signal and internet connection while driving here and back, so make sure you know how to get back without navigation.

Maps for camping use website not app. Visitor center was super helpful clean restrooms.

This review can easily be summed up in one word...gorgeous! Definitely make sure to stop by the visitors center and chat with the rangers. Make sure to grab a map of the area trails. We came here specifically for the historic rail trail and weren't disappointed. The views were stunning. The trail was well maintained. The entire area is absolutely beautiful. Go!!

National Parks store at Lake Mead was excellent thank you to all the staff for the educating experience.

There is something so calming and beautiful about Lake Mead National Recreation Area! It's an oasis in the desert! It's captivating since you normally look at brown most of the time. The minute you enter the park, lay eyes on the turquoise blue water, you instantly can't believe you are seeing what your eyes are staring at! The lake is huge, but not as big as it was 20 years ago, and it offers anything imaginable! From boating, hiking, swimming, camping, fishing, and water skiing, Lake Mead National Park is worth the visit any time of the year!

My first time at Lake Mead and it is so beautiful! We came out very early to avoid the afternoon summer heat. The water was flat, light green and the views are breath taking. I had a blast wake-boarding until we left around 1pm as the heat became unbearable. Nice about a weekday: pretty much nobody out here!

Lake Mead is a man made lake that is 24 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. It was created in September 30, 1935 by the completion of the Hoover Dam. It has a maximum depth of 535' and is 112 miles long. Lake Mead National Recreational Area is federal land. Lake has many access points and offers a wide variety of recreational activities. There is a fee to enter the area. An annual fee is $45 while a daily fee is $25 for a single private non-commercial vehicle and it's occupants. Since it is a National Recreational area they recognize "America The Beautiful" pass, military pass, Every Kid Outdoors Fourth Grade Pass and Senior pass. Some of the areas provide different recreational opportunities. At Callville Bat you can rent watercraft, ski boats, pontoons or a houseboat. Echo Bay offers fishing. Boulder Beach has a mile of shoreline and swimming. Hemenway Harbor has a boat launch for your personal craft or you can rent a boat. A nice scenic drive is the drive along the entire Northshore Road which affords views of the beautiful desert landscape and turquoise waters of Lake Mead. There are pull-outs and restaurants along the way. Near Henderson entrance you will find the Wetlands trail head. It is an easy hike to the river with an optional cliffside overlook. Other hiking trails include Owl Canyon, Railroad Tunnels, Callville Summit and the Bluffs. Things can get crazy on the lake especially on the weekends. Some young people like to party hardy. Alcohol, nudity and associated activities are not entirely uncommon so if you have young kids choose your location carefully.

Mood - missing water Upon entering the Lake Mead area, you go thru a ranger station and pay a fee unless you have the annual pass. For a daily vehicle price it is $25.00 and valid for 7 days. Keep your receipt, should you choose to go back within timeline. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States formed by the Hoover Dam September 30, 1935. This lake serves Arizona, California, Nevada, and even some parts of Mexico. Since the drought in 1983 the lake has been below full capacity. Even in 2019 the lake was only at 40%. There are several areas around the lake that you can entertain, from the beach, marina, hiking trails, and cruises. At the beach area there is a loaner life jacket station. I thought this was good, there are no lifeguards on duty, so your swimming at your own risk. Please be mindful of others and remember to clean up after yourself. As we want to preserve this land for many to enjoy. There are several trash receptacles at the beach area & restrooms with wheel chair accessibility. Would def recommend- pricing is typical, however I would suggest obtaining the annual pass as you recoup your initial fee after 2 visits. Location is Boulder City, less than an hour from Vegas- ample parking

A great place to appreciate different views of lake mead. Bits and pieces of information sit around the viewing area At different times of the day the views of the water are amazing. Great place for a rest stop and appreciation of nature, water and historic pieces.

Stewart's Point at Lake Mead National Recreational Area is a really nice place to visit. There is a fairly long dirt road which leads you here. When you get really close to the lake you can find dozens of little roads which bring you closer to the shore. The landscape here is very much shaped by the water. It's clear that over time dirt has been collapsing resulting in the spots closer to the lake being lower than those further away. The ridged landscape looks really nice from close and far away. Take off your shoes and walk barefoot down to this man made lake. We actually were able to put our feet in the water. Great place to escape from Nevada's heat.

Awesome views, the weather was great today really nice place to take a boat ride well-maintained

Get the season pass! Just a second visit will justify the price (one day pass $25, season pass $45)!!! Veterans and active duty military get free entry. The water is clearer and the sand is soft. The water is cold but on a hot day, what more could you ask for? This is my fave spot to lounge and soak up the rays.

A must see if in vegas, great way to burn off all calories from buffets at rhe strip. Nice place to unwind and be with nature.. off strip relaxation and not to mention its free

Paid $25 to get in the gate. There was no shade anywhere. Make sure to bring plenty of sunblock and a canopy if you come. The water was warm. Like being in a tub! It was weird/slightly gross. There doesn't seem to be parking. Most people drove down to the shore and parked there on the rocks. We stayed about 30 minutes and left.

I've been coming to this place since I was a kid. It's so pretty and peaceful. Kept very clean. Love love love it. It's a great place to go after a hectic day in the city. Besides taking a boat out lake. There are many hiking trails throughout this place and also biking paths. Something for everyone. Only downfall is that it cost $25 to enter ( which is good for 7 days ) You can always check out their website before visiting to purchase annual passes which are about $80 or less. Military, seniors, people with disabilities etc have discounted/free rates. Go to their website for details. FYI: I've entered the park for FREE after 8pm because the fee booths were closed. Not sure if this is everyday. But worth a try if y'all wanna save $25.

This review is for the marina and lake. If you have a boat and want to launch in Lake Mead you can access the launch either through Boulder City or Lake Las Vegas. You will have to pay $20 to gain admission to the park. An annual pass is $40 but it is worth paying $80 for the annual National Parks Pass which gives you admission to all parks across the country. There is ample parking at the launch. There are two ramps. It did not take long to launch to go out into the lake but it took forever coming in. Other boaters were picking up their boats and not being considerate of others. We had to circle around the harbor waiting nearly a half hour. As far as the lake goes it is beautiful. The water is refreshing and clean. TIP: do wear water socks because the lake is very rocky on the bottom. There are a few rocky beaches and coves you can access by boat around the lake. You can even go to the back side of the Hoover Dam. We had a wonderful day on the water and the scenery was breathtaking.

I have mixed thoughts on Lake Mead. On one hand, it's manmade. Lake Mead is ultimately a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. On the other hand, it's the closest large body of water from Las Vegas for some fun water excursions. By no means is Lake Mead one of the sparkling beautiful lakes found out in other western states like California, Oregon, Washington. But it's probably the best thing we've got in proximity to Vegas for convenience sake. With that being said, it satiated by urge to go kayaking one day. It was only a 40 minute drive from Vegas, and I was shortly paddling away to my heart's content. The waters are more choppy because there are so many boats and jet skiers. That makes for an interesting ride. Not good for those who get sea sick easily. But fun way to work out those muscles or just to drift. Be careful of boaters because they might not see you. Especially when people are busy getting drunk on the lake. While I've been to many better national recreational areas and lakes in general, Lake Mead is not bad with all things considered.

Lake is ultra beautiful. I would put it at top 5 in all the lakes I've seen. Not that I've seen a lot of lakes, but I've seen my fair share. Didn't know it was a national park. When I think of national parks I think of Yosemite, Yellowstone, Smokies...but not Lake Mead. In fact, just learned of it recently. LOL. Apparently this ranks as one of the most dangerous national parks in all of USA. So careful guys.