As the Colorado River exits the Grand Canyon it enters the massive Lake Mead created by the Hoover Dam. The river line through Lake Mead is about 70 miles to the dam. Side canyons to explore are numerous and interesting. Once below Hoover Dam, the river flows through canyons for some 45 miles before reaching Lake Mohave, created by the Davis Dam.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area includes these waters as well as 1.5 million acres surrounding them. The recreation area provides a wide variety of unique outdoor recreation opportunities ranging from warm-water recreation to exploration of rugged and isolated backcountry.
Visitors to Lake Mead NRA will find spectacular scenic vistas from park roads, the lake surface, and non-structured walks. Striking backdrops for all recreational activities include deep canyons, dry washes, sheer cliffs, distant mountain ranges, the lakes, colorful soils and rock formations and mosaics of different vegetation. Take a Lake Mead houseboat vacation and cruise Lake Mead in the bright sun, or head backcountry for some serious desert hiking.
Lake Mead NRA is located along the western Arizona border. Lake Mead itself is in the northwest corner of Arizona, 25 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. Lake Mohave is located north of Bullhead City / Laughlin NV just below Lake Mead. Hoover Dam is in the middle of the recreation area on Hwy 93 about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
To learn more about Lake Mead National Recreation Area, select another topic of interest from the left-hand column.
