There are more than 500 miles of shoreline at Lake Mead, so it's no surprise that boating, water skiing, and jet skiing are quite popular. Every person on board a motorized vessel must have access to a life jacket, and all children under 12 must wear a life jacket at all times. All those driving a boat or other motorized vessel must have proof of a boating education course. Visit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area website for more details about boating and motorized vessel rules. At publication time, there was a $30 yearly boating/motorized vessel fee and a $16 fee for 1-7 day passes.
Non-motorized water sports at Lake Mead include swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Visitors can only swim at designated swimming areas such as Willow Beach and Boulder Beach, and you'll need a launch pass if you plan to kayak or canoe. A B-29 bomber and other aircrafts crashed into Lake Mead, making the lake a popular scuba-diving spot. Fishers will need a valid fishing license and can expect to find fish such as largemouth bass, trout, striped bass, catfish, and crappie.
Although Lake Mead is best known for its water sport opportunities, most of the park is actually land consisting of the eastern Mohave Desert. Although paved and back-country trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding are open year-round, the best time for land-based activities is between November and March, when temperatures are cooler. In summer, temperatures can reach as high as 120 degrees, so if you do plan to participate in outdoor activities in the summer months, stick to the early mornings or late evenings. Visitors can expect to see desert bighorn sheep, antelope, ground squirrels and perhaps even snakes, spiders and scorpions.
Campgrounds at Lake Mead include Boulder Beach, Calville Bay Resort, Echo Bay, Las Vegas Bay and Temple Bar Campgrounds. All campgrounds are open year-round and advanced reservations are encouraged. Full RV and tent hookups are available. There are also two additional campgrounds available at nearby Lake Mohave in case Lake Mead campgrounds fill up.
