Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area [1] is a United States National Recreation Area the is located in southern Nevada and along the northern border of Arizona.

Culture and History

History

Lake Mead NRA contains two large lakes, Lakes Mead and Lake Mohave, which are reservoirs created by the Hoover and Davis Dams. About 96 percent of the water in Lake Mead is from melted snow that fell in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. Lake Mead extends for 110 miles behind the Hoover Dam (completed in 1936), while Lake Mohave extends for 67 miles behind the Davis Dam (completed in 1951).

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

One of the many aspects of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area that continually draws visitors is its good weather. Many people come just to relax in the land of the sun. Refugees from states hit hard by winter's icy clutch often flee to this area to spend a mild winter. Sunbathers and water skiers spend summers here to toast in the 110 °F plus temperatures. The area generally has less than five inches of annual rainfall. Water temperatures may range from 45 °F to 85 °F at different times of the year.

Travel to Lake Mead National Recreation Area - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead NRA is approximately 25 miles from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Other communities bordering and near Lake Mead NRA have smaller airports.

By car

There are nine paved accesses into Lake Mead NRA.

By public transportation

There is no public transportation serving the park, although tour buses operate from many Las Vegas resorts and attractions.

Fees/Permits

Fees for individuals entering the park are $3, good for five days. Fees for vehicles (including all passengers) are $5, also good for five days. An annual pass is available for $20 that allows free entrance for one calander year, and the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is available for $80, allowing free entry to all National Park, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation areas for one year from the month purchased.

Tours and Getting around Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Paved roads lead to all major sites. There are many approved backcountry roads.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area tourist attractions and sightseeing

Lake Mead National Recreation Area city tours

Kayak the Colorado River from Willow Beach. The river is closed to motorized boats on Sundays and Mondays, but expect to find a few motorboats ignoring this rule.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area souvenirs and shopping

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Lake Mead National Recreation Area nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Lake Mead National Recreation Area cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Camping is the best thing you can do.

Lodging

Camping

Backcountry

Stay safe

Get out

• Hoover Dam

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Ryan Holliday, Todd VerBeek, Jani Patokallio and Nick Roux and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license