Lake Mead National Recreation Area Nevada Arizona - miles of trails for hiking and biking

Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona

Lake Mead National Recreation Area has almost 800 miles of shoreline making a welcoming and startling contrast of desert and water, mountains and canyons, primitive backcountry, modern technology, and countless opportunities to explore. Almost all of the water in Lake Mead is from melted snow from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and as far away as Wyoming. The water in Lake Mead is used for homes and businesses in southern Nevada, Arizona, southern California and northern Mexico as well as farms.

Visitors are attracted to Lake Mead and Lake Mohave in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area mostly for recreational boating. But more than 87% of the park protects the eastern Mojave Desert. There are remnants of an ancient city, petroglyphs, and other traces of prehistoric Native Americans found within the area. The petroglyphs show how the Native Americans survived years ago by what they ate and grew in this area. Canyons and washes within Lake Mead National Recreational Area are plentiful offering a challenge to most hikers. The safest and best months for hiking is from November through March. The temperatures during the summer months can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Less than five inches of rain fall annually, and water temperatures range from 45 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because of the 290 square miles of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave used mostly by boating, sailboats, houseboats, and fishing, it can seem like you are alone on the water. There are many coves formed by fingers of the desert that jut into the water and many of these coves are bordered by sandy beaches. The states of Arizona and Nevada share jurisdiction over both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, so it is best to check with the marinas for fishing license specifics. The most popular fish seen in the lakes are the largemouth bass, rainbow trout, striped bass, channel catfish, black crappie and bluegill.

There are more than 1,000 desert bighorn sheep that make the recreation area their home. You could even see some bighorn sheep walking along the rocky ledges to drink from the shores of Lake Mead. Bighorn sheep are one of the few desert animals that are active during the extreme heat of the summer months. Antelope ground squirrels which are often confused with chipmunks, are more tolerant of the heat and may be seen scurrying around. You can can see lizards, squirrels, jackrabbits and other animals in the cool hours of the day.

Presently, there have been more than 240 different kinds of birds recorded in the area. This is due to the varied habitats and the fact that the recreational area is on a north-south migration route for many birds. Both resident and migratory geese, ducks, egrets, herons, cormorants, and pelicans fish the waters of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave along with red-tailed hawks, ospreys, and golden eagles.

After dark the snakes, spiders, and scorpions are more active. The Speckled rattlesnakes are common but are not as aggressive. Black widow spiders are most often found around man-made structures. Scorpion stings are no more harmful than a bee sting unless you are allergic to bees. Fortunately, most of the lizards and snakes in this region are harmless, however there are two types of poisonous reptiles and they are the five kinds of rattlesnakes, and the Gila Monster.

The popular Hoover Dam at Lake Mead spans between the steep canyon walls of the Black Canyon. The Dam took over 5,000 men working for five years to complete. The Hoover Dam was the first major dam to span the Colorado River. At Lake Mead you can walk or bicycle along the elevated railroad trail that was used to haul supplies and materials for the Hoover Dam construction. There are some desert hikes that take you past sandstone formations. There are few maintained trails so careful planning is a must to not get off the trail and get lost. Backcountry camping is allowed in designated areas along the shores of the lakes which can be reach via unpaved backcountry roads. Swimming is allowed in the lakes.

The park headquarters is at the intersection of Nevada Way and Wyoming Street in Boulder City, Nevada. The Alan Bible Visitor Center for the Lake Mead Recreation Area is four miles from Boulder City on U.S. 93. There you can collect and buy information, books, maps, and nautical charts. Park ranger stations have information as well. The park newspaper is free and has maps, information and phone numbers about boating, fishing, hiking, camping, concessionaires, marinas, and more. You can find out about fees, weather, safety, and regulations in the free park newspaper or at any visitor center or marina.

Jason's thoughts - A truly fantastic place for boating enthusiasts. Hundreds of thousands of acres of water, shoreline, spectacular views of surrounding city lights and mountain ranges, huge fully staffed marinas for support and boat rentals, restaurants, and live entertainment some times of the year at bars on the water. We enjoyed biking the surrounding hills on dirt roads and through the tunnels. Water is crystal clear and if you take the kids to the marina there are hundreds of giant 20 - 30 pound fish swimming all around begging for food you can throw to them.
Kelly's thoughts - I seriously had fun on the trails around the lake. I'm sure all months except summer are fun to explore. Because of the dry heat, you can really feel the life being sucked out of you during the summer months. I can't wait to explore the area at greater lengths in the future. The water around is such a beautiful color and clear and around the marina catfish are swimming all around and begging for food.

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