Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Designation: National Recreation Area
Location: Arizona, Nevada
📘 Park Overview
Experience outdoor thrills, striking landscapes, and brilliant blue waters. This year-round recreation area spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast reservoirs. Visitors come here for scenic drives, biking, hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and much more.
🌤 Weather Information
Spring (April, May and June): Daytime highs 80 °F to 98 °F. Nighttime lows 50 °F to 66 °F Summer* (July, August and September): Daytime highs 89 °F to 103 °F (It can get up to 117 °F.) Fall (October, November and December): Daytime highs 59 °F to 83 °F. Nighttime lows 32 °F to 50 °F. Winter (January, February and March) Daytime highs 57 °F to 69 °F. Nighttime lows 30 °F to 40 °F. *Summer can be a dangerous time due to excessive heat. Some trails are closed for public safety.
🚗 Directions
By car you can drive to one of the park's many entrances. The six main entrances to Lake Mead are as follows: Northshore, Lake Mead Boulevard, Lake Mead Parkway, and Boulder, Temple Bar, and Meadview. For the southern sections of the park, near Lake Mohave, there are entrance stations at Willow Beach, Katherine Landing and Cottonwood Cove.
Images
Visit Black Canyon Water Trail for rafting or kayaking
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
There are many picnic areas at Lake Mead NRA
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
Boating is a popular activity at lakes Mead and Mohave
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
There are many tour operators to provide you with an excellent visit to Lake Mead NRA.
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
With wilderness comes wildlife. Bighorn sheep can be spotted at most areas of the park.
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
Visit Black Canyon Water Trail for rafting or kayaking
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
There are many picnic areas at Lake Mead NRA
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
Boating is a popular activity at lakes Mead and Mohave
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
There are many tour operators to provide you with an excellent visit to Lake Mead NRA.
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
With wilderness comes wildlife. Bighorn sheep can be spotted at most areas of the park.
Credit: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
Entrance Passes
3-Day Weather Forecast
Thursday, Jul 23
Sunny
High: 111.2°F | Low: 89.4°F
Humidity: 19%
Wind: 9.6 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 11.1
Sunrise: 05:38 AM
Sunset: 07:50 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (74%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 85.3°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Friday, Jul 24
Sunny
High: 112.1°F | Low: 92.1°F
Humidity: 20%
Wind: 18.3 mph
Rain Chance: 1%
UV Index: 11.4
Sunrise: 05:39 AM
Sunset: 07:49 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (82%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 87.1°F
Cloud Cover: 1%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, Jul 25
Sunny
High: 114.4°F | Low: 90.6°F
Humidity: 15%
Wind: 12.1 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 11
Sunrise: 05:39 AM
Sunset: 07:49 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (90%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 86.2°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (1)
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 23 at 2:47AM PDT until July 27 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Effective: Jul 23, 2026 5:47am
Expires: Jul 24, 2026 8:00am
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions expected. Afternoon temperatures
in the desert valleys will climb into the 108 to 114 degree range,
and may exceed 115 along the Colorado River Valley and 120 in Death
Valley. Overnight lows generally 80 to 95 degrees.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest Arizona, southeast California, and
southern Nevada including the Greater Mojave Desert region.
* WHEN...From 10 AM PDT /10 AM MST/ this morning to 8 PM PDT /8 PM
MST/ Monday.
* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
extreme heat events.
Park Alerts
Park Events
Hubbell Trading Post Road Show
Browse beautiful, handcrafted Navajo rugs and fine silver jewelry, featuring turquoise and other gemstones, from the oldest continuously operating trading post in the American Southwest. Join Diné (Navajo) Trader Wallace James Jr at 10AM and 2PM daily for rug talks, and enjoy weaving demonstrations throughout each day from Diné weaver Tonita Yazzie.
For details, visit wnp.org/events.
Location: Lake Mead Visitor Center, 10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV 89005
Date: Apr 4, 2026 12:00am to Apr 5, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Jr. Ranger Day
Join us for Junior Ranger Day on April 25th from 9AM to 1PM at the Lake Mead Visitor Center, right off of the Highway 93 on Lakeshore road!
Kids of all ages can earn their Junior Ranger badges, take part in hands-on activities, and learn what it means to protect their public lands. Almost 30 activity booths will have lots for kids to do and learn.
This free event is open to all and no park entrance fee is required to attend if entering the park on Lakeshore Drive via Boulder City/Highway 93. An entrance fee is required (except for current park pass holders) to visit the rest of the park or if entering the park via Lake Mead Parkway.
Location: Lake Mead Visitor Center, 10 Lakeshore Road Boulder City, NV 89005
Date: Apr 25, 2026 12:00am to Apr 25, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Trash Blitz Cleanup at Six Mile Cove
Come out to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles and how trash impacts our park. Help NPS Park Rangers in keeping Lake Mead National Recreation Area clean. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Date: Jun 26, 2026 12:00am to Jun 26, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Trash Blitz Cleanup at Nelson's Landing
Come out to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles and how trash impacts our park. Help NPS Park Rangers in keeping Lake Mead National Recreation Area clean. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Date: Jul 11, 2026 12:00am to Jul 11, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Trash Blitz Cleanup at Arizona Telephone Cove
Come out to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles and how trash impacts our park. Help NPS Park Rangers in keeping Lake Mead National Recreation Area clean. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Date: Jul 18, 2026 12:00am to Jul 18, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Volunteer Seed Cleaning at Bullhead City Library
Join NPS Park Rangers from Lake Mead National Recreation Area to learn about native seeds from the Song Dog Native Plant Nursery. Participants will help clean seeds for future restoration projects. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Location: Bullhead City Library
Date: Jul 24, 2026 12:00am to Jul 24, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Volunteer Seed Cleaning at Water Safety Center
Join NPS Park Rangers from Lake Mead National Recreation Area to learn about native seeds from the Song Dog Native Plant Nursery. Participants will help clean seeds for future restoration projects. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Location: Water Safety Center
Date: Jul 25, 2026 12:00am to Jul 25, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Trash Blitz Cleanup at TBD
Come out to learn about the 7 Leave No Trace principles and how trash impacts our park. Help NPS Park Rangers in keeping Lake Mead National Recreation Area clean. All events will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Date: Aug 29, 2026 12:00am to Aug 29, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
Lake Mead Visitor Center
10 Lakeshore Rd
Boulder City, NV 89005
🏤 Mailing Address:
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
📞 Voice Phone: 7022938990
📞 Fax Phone: 7022938936
✉️ Email: LAKE_information@nps.gov