Lake Mead National Recreation Area is actually the first and largest recreational area in the United States, but Nevada is its home and lots of people enjoy coming here to play. There are so many things to do here that it’s not hard to find something for everyone. We have been here before, but we decided to take a drive on Lakeshore Road one of two roads that meander through the area. So, I’ll tell you a little about our trip and give you some basic information about the park so you can see if it’s sounds like a place you want to visit. Make sure to get your camera ready for the spectacular views!
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General Park Information
Entrance fees into the park are $25 per vehicle, $20 for motorcycles and $15 if you go in on foot or bicycle. You can also purchase annual passes through the park or look into the America the Beautiful lifetime pass which gets you in all national parks. There are also fees for boats and marina pads, but I won’t go into all of that here. Pets are welcome in the park, but must be on leashes no longer than 6 ft. You also have to check certain areas, like beaches, because pets are not welcome everywhere. Cell phone service is spotty here, so be prepared in case of an emergency. Remember that even though this is a lake you are still in the desert and with the dry heat you want to make sure you stay hydrated. Bring plenty of water with you. As with all parks, leave it as you found it. This means, take your trash with you, don’t move or remove any artifacts or land formations, such as boulders in your path and make sure if you have a fire in an approved area that your fire is completely put out before you leave. Drones are not allowed in the park. Check for NPS website for all rules and regulations.
Things to do here
Being that this is a lake, let’s start with water sports. You can rent boats and paddle craft at park marinas, take a boat tour to the Hoover Dam, book a trip on a motorized raft or bring your own boat. There are a few beaches where you can swim. If you rent a boat, explore some of the many caves that are around the lake or try your luck at fishing ( license is required). There are many picnic areas throughout the park, with not only picnic benches and restrooms, but small charcoal grills. There were some at all of the overlooks we stopped at on our trip. There is plenty of space to hike (1.5 million acres) but be sure to review maps and stay on designated trails as there is little if no help available close by. There are quite a few trails that allow cycling along with all park roadways. There is plenty of wildlife in the park so keep in mind that they are wild. Keep a safe distance from them and don’t feed them.
Scenic Drives
As mentioned above, we did the Lakeshore Road drive which had several overlooks of not only the lake but the Colorado River. We started at the north end of the lake off of Lake Mead Blvd. and it winds down past Boulder Beach and ends near the Visitors Center. It’s a great ride with lots of beautiful views of the lake, plenty of overlooks and if you feel like swimming, you’ll end up right at one of the beaches. Northshore drive is the other scenic drive that takes you between the Muddy Mountains and the Black Mountains. We haven’t done this drive yet, but I hope to soon. If you happen to be closer to the Laughlin area, check out Lake Mojave which is also part of the Lake Mead recreation area. You can rent boats at the marinas here too. Since we’re not big hikers, this was a great way to see different parts of the lake.
Conclusion
As you can see, Lake Mead Recreation Area offers a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy. Since it is a national park area, it’s important to keep in mind all of the rules which mainly are for your safety. For anyone who loves water sports and outdoor activities, Lake Mead is definitely a place you’ll want to check out. As we explore more of this great place, I will do more blogs on specific areas and what they have to offer, but for now I wanted to give you a general overview of the park to help when you’re looking for places to explore. We hope to encourage people to find their own adventures and have fun! Make sure to take pictures and if so inclined keep a journal so you can look back on your trips and the great memories. If interested in our video of Lake Mead click here.