Overview

Las Vegas Wash is a place to seek refuge from the desert and watch waterfowl, herons, grebes, shorebirds, pelicans, and other birds associated with water. These are the same species found throughout the west, so visitors from beyond the desert may prefer birding in places with more desert species. If you are from the desert, however, this is a scenic area to look for waterbirds and hope to see something unusual (such as the Parasitic Jaeger and Sabine's Gulls seen in October 2004).

Description

There are several places to bird in the Las Vegas Wash area, but with the lake level so low, the water and the birds are getting pretty far away from the convenient birding spots. Conditions are changing by the week, so you might need to just search out the best place to see the lake. Until the water level comes back up, be sure to bring a spotting scope.

Las Vegas Wash Campground. The campground is located on a flat-topped bluff overlooking the lake. The landscape is sparsely vegetated with stunted creosote bush , white bursage, and a few other shrubs. In contrast, the campground is landscaped in large eucalyptus trees and oleander bushes, with several cottonwood, Russian olive, and California fan palm trees mixed in. The surrounding desert is almost barren, so the trees and shrubs provide the only green habitat for birds in this dry area. The landscaping is watered, and the water attracts birds and other wildlife. Las Vegas Wash, which drains the entire Las Vegas Valley, flows down the canyon on the east side of the bluff. Shrubs and Saltcedar grow along the stream.

When the lake level is up, the end of the campground road provides a nice, elevated position for watching waterbirds in the arm of the lake that extends up Las Vegas Wash. However, with the lake level so low, the campground overlooks Las Vegas Wash, and water flowing down the canyon has formed an extensive delta on the edge of the lake where the marina used to be.

Las Vegas Wash Marina. The marina provides access to the edge of the lake for viewing waterbirds and access to trees and shrubs around the Ranger Station and picnic area for finding landbirds. An elevated parking area above the boat ramp gives good views out over the lake. However, the water level is so low that the marina is closed, the boat slips have been removed, and the end of the boat ramp is hundreds of yards from the water. With the ramp closed to boating, park at the end of the ramp and use a spotting scope to bird over the delta and out onto the lake. If the water level keeps dropping, the lake might be too far away to bird from here.

Las Vegas Wash Scenic Overlook and Picnic Area. This picnic area is located on a flat-topped bluff that overlooks the lake and the marina from the west. The vegetation is sparse, stunted creosote bush, and the only shade is on the picnic tables. This is a good, elevated position for looking down on the water, but you have to walk out to the edge of the bluffs. With a scope, you can look over the same general area as can be seen from the marina, but from an elevated position.

33 Hole Scenic Overlook and Picnic Area. This picnic area is located on three, flat-topped bluffs overlooking the lake. The vegetation is sparse creosote bush, and the only shade is on the picnic tables. Several picnic tables provide good views out over the lake, so you can rest in the shade, eat a picnic meal, and use a spotting scope to identify birds on the water.

Location

Las Vegas Wash is located east of Las Vegas on the western shore of Lake Mead. The easiest way to get there from downtown Las Vegas is to drive south on Highway 93/95 to Henderson. Exit the highway and turn left (east) onto Lake Mead Drive (Table 1, Site 723), which becomes Lake Mead Parkway. Drive east on Lake Mead Parkway for 8.5 miles (out of town and over the hills) to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area entrance station.

At the campground, drive all the way to the end of the campground road where a parking area overlooks the lake (Site 453). For birding in the campground, use the parking areas by the restrooms. If the campground isn't crowded, it is OK to stop briefly in an unoccupied campsite, but don't park in a campsite if most are occupied.

The Las Vegas Wash Scenic Overlook (Site 722) is located about 0.3 miles south of Las Vegas Wash marina on Lakeshore Drive, and the 33 Hole Scenic Overlook (Site 721) is located about 1.7 miles south of Las Vegas Wash marina on Lakeshore Drive.

Hours

Always open.

Fees

It costs $5 per vehicle to enter the Recreation Area (annual passes accepted); after that, there are no extra fees for using the area.

Specialties

This is an excellent place to view a variety of waterbirds including ducks, Clark's, Western, and other grebes, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, Forster's Terns, Great-blue Herons, Great Egrets, Brown Pelicans, and shorebirds. Although not the best, passerines can be seen here too. In the campground, check the trees for migrant warblers and look for residents such as Verdin, Greater Roadrunners, and Gambel's Quail. Keep an eye out for unusual species too, such at the Parasitic Jaeger, Sabine's Gulls, Caspian Tern, Inca Doves, Peregrine Falcon, and Cooper's Hawk that showed up during fall migration, 2004. Keep an eye out for Coyotes, Black-tailed Jackrabbits, White-tailed Antelope Squirrels, and Side-blotched Lizards in the area too.