sun rising on Black Canyon
Visit Black Canyon Water Trail for rafting or kayaking NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area · Arizona · National Park Service

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.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
7022938990
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Archeology · Ruins · Aviation · Dams · Industry · Mining · Native American Heritage · Schools and Education · Science, Technology and Innovation · Transportation · Roads, Routes and Highways · Westward Expansion · Animals · Birds · Cats (wild) · Fish · Tortoises and Turtles · Canyons and Canyonlands · Geology · Groundwater · Aquifers · Freshwater Springs · Geothermal · Hot Springs · Lakes · Mountains · Natural Sounds · Night Sky · River and Riparian · Rock Landscapes and Features · Scenic Views · Trails · Water Trails · Unique Species · Rare · Endangered · Watersheds · Wilderness

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Scenic Driving · Biking · Road Biking · Boating · Motorized Boating · Sailing · Jet Skiing · Boat Tour · Camping · Backcountry Camping · Car or Front Country Camping · Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) · Group Camping · RV Camping · Fishing · Freshwater Fishing · Food · Dining · Picnicking · Flying · Guided Tours · Self-Guided Tours - Walking · Self-Guided Tours - Auto · Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour · Hiking · Backcountry Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Horse Trekking · Horseback Riding · Hunting and Gathering · Hunting · Paddling · Canoeing · Kayaking · Stand Up Paddleboarding · Junior Ranger Program · SCUBA Diving · Snorkeling · Swimming · Freshwater Swimming · Water Skiing · Wildlife Watching · Park Film · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store · Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Photos

  • picnic area at Redstone
    NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
  • power boaters on Lake Mead
    NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
  • people on a tour operated craft exploring the lake.
    NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir
  • A group of bighorn sheep overlooking Lake Mead.
    NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir

Nearby parks

Parks of Arizona

River Island State ParkChiricahua National MonumentCatalina State ParkPipe Spring National MonumentRiordan Mansion State Historic ParkLake Havasu State ParkOrgan Pipe Cactus National MonumentFort Bowie National Historic SiteNavajo National MonumentPetrified Forest National ParkGrand Canyon-Parashant National MonumentGlen Canyon National Recreation AreaSlide Rock State ParkKartchner Caverns State ParkPatagonia Lake State ParkDankworth Pond State ParkWalnut Canyon National MonumentPicacho Peak State ParkLost Dutchman State ParkRoper Lake State ParkCoronado National MemorialSonoita Creek Natural AreaCasa Grande Ruins National MonumentRed Rock State ParkTonto Natural Bridge State ParkOracle State ParkAlamo Lake State ParkMontezuma Castle National MonumentGrand Canyon National ParkCanyon de Chelly National MonumentBuckskin Mountain State ParkWupatki National MonumentHomolovi State ParkSaguaro National ParkTumacácori National Historical ParkJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic TrailOld Spanish National Historic TrailFool Hollow Lake Recreation AreaDead Horse Ranch State ParkHubbell Trading Post National Historic SiteLyman Lake State ParkJerome State Historic ParkTuzigoot National MonumentColorado River State Historic ParkSunset Crater Volcano National MonumentCattail Cove State ParkTonto National MonumentHavasu Riviera State Park

49 parks mapped in Arizona

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12