Lake Mead is located just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. It provides a significant amount of recreation on land as well as on the water.
The Recreation
You will be able to spend hours at Lake Mead hiking, biking, and going out on the water. There are 1.5 million acres of valleys, canyons, and mountains to explore here. Plus, the recreation area spans two large lakes.
You can choose to bring in as much as you want in the area. This includes a kayak or canoe, fishing poles, as well as picnic tables. You will find that there are tables and fire grills located all over the area so that you can enjoy a meal in the great outdoors.
If you plan to do any hiking, you will want to check out the designated backcountry areas. These areas are also identified on maps of the area. You should always make sure to hike with at least one other person and check-in with the ranger station before you get started. It’s also a good idea to bring plenty of extra water.
You can download an informational PDF from the NPS website for the various areas you may wish to explore.
The cost to enter is based per vehicle and is $20. You can also choose to get an annual pass if you plan on visiting for an extended period of time, which is $40.
The recreation center can be found at:
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
Once you get to Lake Mead, you can then get maps of the entire recreation area to determine the areas you want to see.
There are a few notable places to see:
- Black Canyon Water Trail
- Willow Beach
- Boulder Basin
- Rogers and Blue Springs
- Redstone
- Lake Mead Marina
Campgrounds are on-premises. These will include restrooms and running water. Whether you set up a tent or bring in an RV, there are options for you to explore. There are backcountry campsites as well as those at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. The cost per night will vary based on where you’re going. There are details that will tell you how many sites are present at each campground and if there are RV hook-ups available.
Hoover Dam
Lake Mead is actually the by-product of Hoover Dam. You can see the dam from the lake itself and it’s hard to miss. You won’t want to miss out on taking a tour of the Dam while you are in the area.
The dam is approximately 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. It is found directly on the Nevada-Arizona border. Another fun thing to do is park and walk so that you can stand on two states at once.
Most of the dam tours provide you with a guided tour of the powerplant as well as admission into the Visitor Center. It’s where you can learn more about the dam operations and get your dam souvenirs (all of the tour guides like to use “dam” as often as possible during their presentations).
Reservations cannot be made in advance. Instead, the cost is $30 per person. No children under the age of 8 are permitted on the tour.
The tours begin at 9:30 am and go until 3:30 pm on every half-hour. The tour lasts approximately one hour.
You can go to the website to learn more about the dam as well as the tours.
The Dinner Cruise
Taking the dinner cruise out on Lake Mead provides a romantic atmosphere. You can enjoy a plated dinner and mingle with other guests. Throughout the two-hour boat ride, you will get to see a significant amount of Lake Mead and learn about some of the history.
The cost per person is $61.50 and runs Mid-March through October. You can make reservations online or by calling 866.292.9191.