Overview

Cranes Nest Campground is a primitive, backcountry campground off Highway 93 in Lake Mead National Recreation Area south of the dam in Arizona. There are no amenities other than a flattish place to park and pitch tents and campfire rings, but it is quiet and far from the incessant drone of RV generators. The campground is small, probably too small for more than one party, or perhaps two small, quiet groups.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this area is pretty safe; so far as I know, without cliffs, mine shafts, or too many cactus. Access to this campground should only be done in a 4WD vehicle because of deep and loose gravel.

While out and about, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. If campers wander too far, nobody will find them, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials. Cell phones don't work.

Getting to the Campground

This primitive campground is located in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 1-1/4 hours southeast of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Hoover Dam, then continue south on Hwy 93 for 7.4 miles (just past Mile Marker 8) to Cranes Nest Road. Drive down Cranes Nest Road for about 4 miles to the campground at the end of the road.

For details of the road and GPS waypoints, see the Cranes Nest Road page.