What to do in Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
This article is about Lake Mead, a National Recreation Area in the U.S. how to reach Lake Mead, things to do in Lake Mead, and paces to stay nearby Lake Mead national recreation area.
A National Recreation Area is a place for recreation, relaxing, and fun. The United States Federal Government has ingeniously earmarked as many as 40 National Recreation Areas (NRA) all over the country.
Who else can care for their citizens more than the United States?
All the National Recreation Areas are governed by the National Park Service that manages all the national parks, preserves, sanctuaries, monuments, and natural reserves.
NRAs are ideal hideouts for a weekend escape. Some smaller NRAs are good for a day trip from the nearest town.
Consider national recreation areas that are protected by the U.S. Federal Government for sheer recreational purposes.
National Recreational Areas are located in places surrounding a :
- River
- Lake
- Canyon
- Beach
- Mountain
In this blog post, I am going to take you to Lake Mead recreational area.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, U.S.A
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Location of Lake Mead in the U.S.
It is located in the states of Nevada and Arizona.
How to reach Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
Well, the nearest city to Lake Mead is Boulder City, Nevada.
If you are living in Boulder City, you can reach Lake Mead in about 10 minutes.
If you are touring Las Vegas, hire a cab and reach Lake Mead in about 50 minutes. The distance covered is 50 km.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area comprises two lakes namely:
- Lake Mead
- Lake Mohave
I believe both the lakes are fed by the Colorado River and two reservoirs namely Hoover Dam and Davis Dam.
Things to do in Lake Mead national recreation area.
As the place is centered on lakes, there are quite a few water sports that you can enjoy with your family.
- Swimming
- Boating
- Angling
- Canoeing
 Lake Mead cruise;
The cruise is on a rather large yacht that can seat more than 25 tourists. Enjoy an hour and a half cruise on the lake that will take you up to the beautiful Black Canyon.
Your sunny cruise package includes something to eat and drink!
Hoover Dam:
The cruise ship guide will point out to the Hoover Dam, one of the must-see tourist spots in Lake Mead.
Hoover Dam
What else can you do once you reach Lake Mead?
Go for a long nature walk to appreciate the flowers and trees. You will find some hiking trails so that you don’t get lost.
Desert Walk:
There are three deserts in the vicinity of Lake Mead. They are:
- Mojave Desert
- Great Basin Desert
- Sonoran Desert
Grand Canyon tour:
The mighty wonder Grand Canyon is not very far from Lake Mead national recreation area. The distance between the two is about 160 km only. You can finish your tour of the Grand Canyon and come to Las Vegas for a stay.
Wilderness areas near Lake Mead National Recreation Area:
If you are fascinated by the vast wilderness that begs you to explore the area, you will not hesitate to take a trip to one or all the five wilderness areas that include:
- Black Canyon Wilderness
Black Canyon Wilderness
The river you see in the deep gorge is Gunnison River.
- Bridge Canyon Wilderness
Bridge Canyon Wilderness
- El Dorado National Forest
El Dorado National Forest
- Spirit Mountains Wilderness
- Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area
Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area
Places to stay near Lake Mead National Recreation Area:
You can either opt to stay in Las Vegas or Boulder City which is very close by. You can find hotels in Boulder City.
Alternatively, you can choose to stay in a camp pitched up on the banks of Lake Mead. I think a camp stay will be more exciting than getting lodged up inside the four walls of a hotel room.
RV Parking
Yes, if you hire an RV (recreational vehicle) from Las Vegas, you can park it on the lake’s bank.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Tours:
I read some people arranges as many as 45 different tours in Lake Mead recreation area such as:
- Cruise
- Tour in an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
- Helicopter tour
- Mountain biking tour
I am sure this informative article on touring Lake Mead National Recreation Area will make you think twice before spending time and money in the casinos of Las Vegas.
