Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a national recreation area run by the National Park Service that spans Arizona and Nevada: about 581,740 acres of it are in Clark County, Nevada. Entrance is $25 per vehicle, good for 7 days. It is open 24 hours a day.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Sept. 30, 2026.
- Closure: Seasonal Trail Closures Due to Extreme Heat May 15 – September 30 Goldstrike Canyon, Arizona Hot Springs, Liberty Bell Arch, White Rock Canyon, and Lone Palm trails will be closed for visitor and first responder safety. Please check the park website, social media, and weather for updates before visiting. Arizona, Goldstrike, and Lone Palm hot springs remain open and accessible by water.
- Closure: Government Wash and 8.0 Mile Road Seasonal Closure May 15 – September 30 The Government Wash campground and 8.0 Mile Road will close on May 15th to vehicle access and overnight camping to assess and manage area improvements and protect visitors and staff from extreme heat risks. The campground is anticipated to reopen for overnight stays on October 1st. It will remain open this summer to non-motorized vehicle access for daytime, non-camping related activities.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the managing agency's own page.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area map
Lake Mead National Recreation Area boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Closures
- Every year from May 15 to September 30: Annual heat closure: Goldstrike Canyon, White Rock Canyon, Arizona Hot Springs, Liberty Arch, Lone Palm, Sugar Loaf. The hot springs stay open by water on Lake Mohave; River Mountains Loop and Historic Railroad trails stay open (as of September 27, 2026). Current notice
Fire restrictions
2 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area Fire Restrictions Rescissions Effective Oct. 1, 2026. Applies to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the National Park Service order for the park unit itself. Listed under Southern Nevada on Nevada Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area Fire Restrictions Effective May 29, 2026. Applies to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the National Park Service order for the park unit itself. Listed under Southern Nevada on Nevada Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
Nevada Fire Info, BLM Nevada's interagency fire site, keeps the Nevada fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Nevada fire map of active fires.
Common questions
- Partly. About 581,740 acres of Lake Mead National Recreation Area are in Nevada (measured from the park's boundary map); the rest is in Arizona.
- Entrance costs $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bicycle, each valid 7 days. An annual pass for Lake Mead National Recreation Area costs $45. Interagency (America the Beautiful) passes are accepted. The park takes no cash: pay by card or buy a pass online.
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day.
- Sites cost $20 to $80 a night. Campsites must be reserved ahead. All NPS managed campsites must be reserved in advance (as of September 27, 2026). Stays are limited to 30 days per campground. Across the whole park, the limit is 90 days in any 365-day period. Each site holds up to 2 vehicles. Park Service sites have no hookups (a concessioner RV park has them).
- Pets are allowed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area on a leash no longer than 6 feet. They are allowed on trails. Not allowed: Designated swimming areas. During extreme heat, consider letting pets relax in the air conditioning at home.
- No. Launching, landing or operating a drone is not allowed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Fees, passes, and hours
Entrance costs $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bicycle, each valid 7 days. An annual pass for Lake Mead National Recreation Area costs $45. Interagency (America the Beautiful) passes are accepted. The park takes no cash: pay by card or buy a pass online.
- Boat (vessel) pass: $16, valid 7 days. Non-motorized vessels do not require a Lake Mead Vessel Pass.
- Annual boat (vessel) pass: $50. Valid 1 calendar year; Senior and Access Pass holders get 50% off lake use fees.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day.
Sources: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-27; nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/hours, checked 2026-09-27.
Entrances and visitor centers
- Boulder Beach Open
- Lake Mead Boulevard Open
- Lake Mead Parkway Open
- Cottonwood Cove Open
- Northshore Road Closed
- Lake Mead Visitor CenterVisitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV 89005702-293-8990National park passport stamp available.
- Lake Mead HQ Visitor Information Kiosk
Sources: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-27; nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium, checked 2026-09-27.
Camping in Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Sites cost $20 to $80 a night. Campsites must be reserved ahead. All NPS managed campsites must be reserved in advance (as of September 27, 2026). Stays are limited to 30 days per campground. Across the whole park, the limit is 90 days in any 365-day period. Each site holds up to 2 vehicles. Park Service sites have no hookups (a concessioner RV park has them).
Campgrounds inside the park's Nevada boundary: Boulder Beach Campground, Boulder Beach Group Campsites, Callville Bay Campground, Callville Bay RV Park camping, Cottonwood Cove Campground, Cottonwood Cove RV Park camping, Echo Bay Campground, Echo Bay RV Park camping, Lake Mead RV Village camping and Las Vegas Bay Campground , each with its sites, fees, season and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Campfires: Fires must be under 3 feet in diameter, above ground, attended, and at least 10 feet from beach logs, structures or vegetation.
Source: nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium, checked 2026-09-27.
Backcountry permits
Limits: 14 nights in one place. Backpackers camp at least 0.5 miles from roads and developed areas.
Source: nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium, checked 2026-09-27.
Pets
Pets are allowed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area on a leash no longer than 6 feet. They are allowed on trails. Not allowed: Designated swimming areas. During extreme heat, consider letting pets relax in the air conditioning at home.
Source: nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium, checked 2026-09-27.
Boating
- Boating is allowed.
- Boats moored or slipped at park marinas must be inspected and hot washed before leaving the park
Source: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/motorized-boating, checked 2026-09-27.
Scenic drives
- Northshore RoadpavedOpen: Year round
- Lakeshore Roadpaved
Source: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/scenic-drives, checked 2026-09-27.
Getting there
- Main access road: paved
- No public transit to the park.
Source: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/directions, checked 2026-09-27.
Trails
- Historic Railroad TrailFive tunnels; level hardpacked gravel; no shade for the first 1.5 miles
- River Mountains Loop TrailPaved; the length inside the park, the full loop is 34 miles
- Redstone TrailSandstone formed from dunes 140 million years ago
- Northshore Summit TrailViews of the Muddy Mountains, Bowl of Fire and Bitter Spring Valley
- Callville Summit TrailSummit views over Callville Bay and Lake Mead
- St. Thomas TrailRuins of a town abandoned in the 1930s; off Northshore Rd past mile post 46
- Bluffs TrailStarts at Las Vegas Bay Campground; overlooks Las Vegas Bay and Las Vegas Wash
- Owl Canyon TrailSlot canyon with 100-foot walls; avoid during monsoon storms
- Goldstrike Canyon closed part of the year
Source: nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/conditions, checked 2026-09-27.
What to see
- Scenic driveNorthshore RoadLeads through areas of brilliant red boulders and rock formations between Callville Bay and Echo Bay
- Historic siteHistoric Railroad Trail tunnelsFive tunnels on the 1931 railroad route that hauled materials to build Hoover Dam
- Hot springGoldstrike Canyon hot springsCanyon closed on foot May 15 to Sep 30; the hot springs stay reachable by water
- Historic siteSt. Thomas ruinsPioneer settlement from 1865, abandoned as Lake Mead rose; the last resident left June 11, 1938
Source: nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium, checked 2026-09-27.
Fishing and water
- Lake Mead fishing (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Lake Mead water level (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its dam and reservoir record on reservoirfinder.com.
- Lake Mohave water level (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its dam and reservoir record on reservoirfinder.com.
- Lake Mohave fishing (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Also inside the boundary: Boulder Beach (swimholesmap.com) , Cottonwood Cove (swimholesmap.com) .
Public lands next to Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Wilderness areaBlack Canyon Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness areaBridge Canyon Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness areaJimbilnan Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness areaNellis Wash Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness areaPinto Valley Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness areaSpirit Mountain Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness area Most of Eldorado Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
- Wilderness area Most of Ireteba Peaks Wilderness lies inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Photos
- https://www.nps.gov/state/nv/index.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/management/superintendent-s-compendium.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/lake-mead-campgrounds.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/pets.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/conditions.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/management/index.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/directions.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/motorized-boating.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/cleandraindry.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/scenic-drives.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/drive-along-northshore-road.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/places/callville-bay.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/places/echo-bay.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-historic-railroad-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-river-mountains-loop-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-redstone-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-bluffs-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-st-thomas-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/historyculture/stthomas.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-northshore-summit-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-callville-summit-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-the-owl-canyon-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boulder_Beach_Lake_Mead_NV.jpg (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Mead_Las_Vegas_Bay_1.jpg (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Redstone_(15023803314).jpg (accessed 2026-09-27)
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cottonwood_Cove_on_Lake_Mohave_at_Lake_Mead_NRA.jpg (accessed 2026-09-27)