Overview

Note: None of the photos here represent the current lake level, which is now much lower.

33 Hole Picnic Area sits on a 3-pronged, flat-topped bluff overlooking Las Vegas Bay, and following the road to the right prong is best for birding. The landscape is sparsely vegetated with stunted creosote bush, white bursage, and few other shrubs, and the lakeshore is mud or grown up in saltcedar, depending on water levels.

When the lake level was up, water lapped at the edge of the picnic area, but now the picnic area provides an elevated position for looking down on waterbirds. However, the lake is in the far distance, so it makes sense to walk out the trails, and be sure to bring a spotting scope. Birders can follow fishermen trails down to the edge of the water. Watch for ducks, grebes, cormorants, pelicans, coots, gulls, and the occasional Black-legged Kittiwake.

Link to map.