OVERVIEW

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, administered by the U.S. National Park Service, is located just over the mountains that border the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley. The primary feature at Lake Mead is, not surprisingly, the lake. Hoover Dam blocks the Colorado River, forming a lake that floods some 60 miles of the Colorado River Valley (from Boulder City to the lower end of the Grand Canyon. The Virgin River Valley, which comes in from the north, is flooded to the town of Overton, adding another 25 miles to the lake (referred to as the Overton Arm).

Activities at Lake Mead primarily are orientated around the water (e.g., boating, fishing, and swimming). However, the lake only takes up about 13% of the park area, and the remaining 87% is mostly wild land that offers some amazing hiking opportunities. The geology of this sandstone-limestone-volcanic-metamorphic faulted-twisted-contorted-eroded land, while nearly impossible to comprehend in total, is stunningly stark and beautiful, and three of the four North American desert ecosystems (Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran, but not the Chihuahan) meet here, providing for a varied and diverse flora and fauna.

This is relatively low desert (the elevation of the lake surface is about 1,200 feet), and temperatures often are about 10 degrees higher at the lake than they are in Las Vegas. Thus, dry-land activities at Lake Mead generally are restricted to the cooler months (e.g., October through May).

GETTING TO LAKE MEAD

Link to map.

At the nearest point, Lake Mead (or simply "the lake") is located about 30 minutes east of Las Vegas. There are three main ways to get to western portions of the lake from Las Vegas: Lake Mead Boulevard from downtown Las Vegas, Lake Mead Parkway from Henderson, and Highway 93 from Boulder City. The Gold Butte region is located at the northeast end of the lake, about 3 hours northeast of town.

From Las Vegas. From the intersection of Interstate-15 and Highway 93/95 (the Spaghetti Bowl; Table 1, Site 800), drive north on Interstate-15 for 1.5 miles to Lake Mead Blvd, East (Site 801). Exit right on Lake Mead Blvd and drive east, over the mountains (passing between Frenchman Mountain to the south and Sunrise Mountain to the north) to the park entrance station. Pay the entrance fee ($5 per car or an annual pass), and proceed to the T-intersection with Northshore Scenic Drive (Site 653). This puts you on the north side of the lake between the Callville Bay and Las Vegas Wash marinas.

From Henderson. From the intersection of Highway 93/95 and Lake Mead Parkway (Site 723), wind through the construction zone and drive east on Lake Mead Parkway over the hills to the park entrance station. Then continue east on what is now Lakeshore Scenic Drive. You will shortly pass the intersection with Northshore Scenic Drive (Site 654) and arrive at the Las Vegas Wash Marina area (Site 720).

From Boulder City. From the stoplight in downtown Boulder City where Highway 93 turns north (Site 802), drive east on Highway 93 for 3.7 miles to Lakeshore Scenic Drive (Site 803). Turn north (left) onto Lakeshore Scenic Drive and into the park. The first building on the right is the Lake Mead (Alan Bible) Visitor Center. However (Site 655), if you are this close to the dam, you ought to drive the remaining 4.2 miles to the dam (7.9 miles from the turn in Boulder City) and check it out (Site 812). The dam is an engineering marvel (726 ft high), a testament to the determination and drive of the bosses who made it happen, and a testament to the desperation of the workers trying to feed their families during the Great Depression. OSHA regulations and labor unions were spawned from projects like this. Be sure to stop at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center to learn about the dam history.

Getting to the Gold Butte Region.

The Gold Butte region is located at the northeast end of Lake Mead and includes a large block of land outside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This wild and remote country offers outstanding wilderness experiences, but make no mistake, this is wild and remote country where you are on your own. Be prepared to take care of yourself out there.

To get to the Gold Butte region from Las Vegas (Table 4, Site 800), drive east on Interstate-15 for about 70 miles to Highway 170 (Exit 112 towards Bunkerville) (Site 684), which is shortly before getting to Mesquite. Turn right onto Highway 170 and drive south for about 3 miles to the Virgin River Bridge (Site 461).

Cross the bridge and immediately take a hard right turn onto Gold Butte Road (Site 686). Watch for a Meadowland Farm sign. The slope of the road makes the turn look like a pullout rather than an intersection. Follow the paved Gold Butte Road southwest along the river until it abruptly turns southeast and leaves the river (Site 687) just past the Meadowland Farm. Stay on the rough paved road for another 14 miles and follow it until the pavement ends at Whitney Pockets (WP) (Site 462). At Whitney Pockets, the dirt road forks; continue straight on the graded dirt Gold Butte Road (the right fork).

From Whitney Pockets, continue south on Gold Butte Road for 7.0 miles to the Devils Throat turnoff (Site 807). Take the time to go see Devils Throat; it's only 0.25 miles out.

HOURS

The Lake Mead (Alan Bible) Visitor Center is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, 7 days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. There are seven ranger stations around the lake (generally at the marinas), but these seem to be open only when people are working in the office (as opposed to being out on patrol or giving nature walks). The rest of the recreation area is open 24 hours, although some picnic areas are designated as day-use only.

There are a variety of concessions (e.g., food, marinas, and boat tours, but no gasoline for vehicles) in the recreation area. Most concessions are open during regular business hours or longer.

ENTRANCE FEES

CAMPING

Car camping inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area is permitted only in front-country campgrounds and in designated backcountry campsites. However, BLM land borders much of the park, and camping on BLM land is wide open and free. You should, however, choose an existing site and practice Leave-No-Trace skills.

For the most part, backpackers may camp anywhere in the backcountry, which is defined as anywhere farther than 0.5 miles from a designated road. The exceptions are that certain areas are posted "No Camping," and you must stay at least 100 ft from springs or other water sources. Backcountry permits are not required. Plan to cook with a stove, as collecting wood (including dead or down wood) is prohibited.

WATCH OUT

Other than the standard cautions about hiking in the desert, ...this is a pretty safe place, but several people die at the lake every year. Most of these deaths result from mixing alcohol with driving cars or boats. Remember: friends don't let friends drive drunk in cars or boats. Also, Northshore Scenic Drive is popular place to race high-performance cars and motorcycles, so drive carefully and look both ways before crossing the road.

Much of this land is wild and remote, and even under the best of circumstances, help would be long in coming. Given that, exercise extra caution when hiking and give yourself a little wider margin of safety. Don't push it.

SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS

This is a National Recreation Area, which is almost like a National Park. One obvious difference is that some hunting is allowed here. Other than that, act as if you were in a National Park. Do not collect or otherwise disturb plants, rocks, fossils, or artifacts, and do not disturb the wildlife (except during hunting season with the proper license). Pack it in, pack it out.

Drive only on designated roads. All motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles, must be street legal, and all drivers must have a valid license in their possession.

Pets are allowed, but not on designated swimming beaches or in public buildings. Pets must be on a leash (six-foot maximum) and under your physical control at all times. Never leave pets or kids in a vehicle because temperatures inside a car parked in the sun can exceed 120 degrees in just a few minutes, quickly cooking them.

For details on these issues and other information, visit the Lake Mead website. Maps are available online.