Lake Mead

Created by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, Lake Mead is located about thirty miles southeast of Las Vegas. It is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States and, extending 110 miles behind Hoover Dam, covers parts of both Nevada and Arizona. Named for Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Elwood Mead who served during the dam’s construction, Lake Mead is part of the larger Lake Mead National Recreational Area. Visitors enjoy sunbathing, boating, fishing and skiing, but with desert landscapes and rugged cliffs that offer stunning contrast to its deep blue waters, the area is home to much more than just water sports. Hikers, wildlife photographers, and sightseers here regularly enjoy an abundance of plant and animal life.

Other things to do include exploring the rocky cliffs and beaches as well as the several small- to medium-sized islands that appear or disappear depending on the water levels. Cyclists and walkers traverse the elevated railroad bed originally used during the construction days of Hoover Dam to enjoy spectacular lake and desert views from above. The Alan Bible Visitor Center offers visitors a botanical garden and exhibits, plus information, maps and nautical charts. And for specific offerings, the park’s headquarters, ranger stations and newspaper, the Desert Lake View, can provide details of park goings-on.

The area that surrounds Lake Mead has a rich history, with early desert Indian cultures residing here centuries before the lake’s 1930’s formation. Early explorers also traveled through here in the 1800’s on their way from Utah to California. A short time after, with the advent of railways and the discovery of silver and gold in the southern Nevada mountains, even more settlers arrived. Today, Lake Mead welcomes millions of visitors to the area every year.