Lake Mead National Recreation Area

National Park · Nevada, 🇺🇸 United States

Area 4,459 km²

Time zone America/Los_Angeles, America/Phoenix

Official website www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm

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Doc Searls / CC BY 2.0

Lake Mead National Recreation Area: The Absolute Essentials

Lake Mead National Recreation Area encompasses 1.5 million acres across Nevada and Arizona, centered on the reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. The area features engineering landmarks like the Hoover Dam and the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, alongside the historical Lost City Museum. Geological highlights include Elephant Rock and the Black Canyon, while multiple overlooks provide perspectives on the Colorado River and the rugged Mojave Desert landscape.

14 places

Scenic Views and Rock Formations

This collection highlights prominent geological features and vantage points within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the surrounding Mojave Desert. It includes natural sandstone sculptures like Elephant Rock, massive limestone cliffs such as the Stewart Cliffs and Hemenway Wall, and elevated overlooks providing views of the Colorado River, Black Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. These sites showcase the region’s arid landscape, volcanic history, and the dramatic intersection of desert terrain with the reservoir's shoreline.

13 places

Kumar Appaiah / CC BY-SA 2.0

Lakes and Water Activities

This collection features the aquatic highlights of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, centered around the massive reservoirs created by the Hoover and Davis Dams. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by capacity, offers an extensive shoreline for boating and fishing. Downstream, Lake Mohave provides access to the narrow walls of Black Canyon. The list includes Belsmeir Beach on the northern Overton Arm and the Roaring Rapids section of the Colorado River, showcasing diverse water environments from still reservoirs to moving river currents.

5 places