Lake Mead National Recreation Area Overview

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada/Arizona (Bruce Heinemann/Photodisc/Getty)

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Contact Details
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
Visitor Center: 702-293-8990

Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, was created in the 1930s when the Hoover Dam was constructed on the Colorado River. The recreation area isn't only about the lakes, though. In addition to swimming, fishing, and boating, you can also do some hiking or just plain laze about and admire the spectacular views.
Katherine Landing is at the southern tip of the National Recreation Area, just across the Colorado River in Arizona. The National Park Service campground there has 173 sites for tents and RVs. It's a good place to lounge on some of the only grass within miles.
Sport fishers flock to the lakes for a top-notch fishing experience—and the fact that it's open season year-round on all species doesn't hurt either. Striped bass are the prize catch on Lake Mead, while Lake Mojave's greatest temptation is rainbow trout.
A popular driving tour follows the Lakeshore and Northshore Scenic Drives along the edge of Lake Mead. From these roads there are panoramic views of the blue lake set against a backdrop of the browns, blacks, reds, and grays of the desert mountains. Northshore Scenic Drive also leads through areas of brilliant red boulders and rock formations.

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