Lake Mead is most famous for boating but did you know there are tons of hiking and other activities nearby? Keep reading for my top 5 Lake Mead activities!

LAKE MEAD ACTIVITIES

This blog post will go over some of my favorite Lake Mead activities! Lake Mead is such an underrated outdoor spot and I can’t wait to share details with you!

WHERE IS LAKE MEAD

Lake Mead is a man made lake right east of Las Vegas. It’s super popular in the summer, when locals and tourists alike take their boats out and entire the nice water in a hot summer day. There are tons of other activities in Lake Mead including fishing, hiking, camping, biking, and more!

When I was first looking up what to do in Lake Mead, I didn’t find a ton of good resources available except boat rental sites. After exploring it a couple of times, I can definitively say that it’s an outdoor heaven and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a boat.

Lake Mead is part of the National Park service so you will need to pay a $25 entrance fee to get in or have the annual park pass

WHEN SHOULD I VISIT LAKE MEAD?

Lake Mead is so much fun year round! There are fun things to do depending on when you go.

• Spring: The perfect in-between time to visit Lake Mead because it’s a little warmer than winter but not 100+ degrees yet. I think the best Lake Mead activities are done in the shoulder seasons like spring and fall.
• Summer: Most popular for boating. You can do anything from a houseboat to a smaller sport boat. It does get a little pricey so I suggest splitting with a group. See more about Lake Mead boat rentals here
• Fall: Boat season starts to wind down late fall but hiking opportunities around Lake Mead become more popular
• Winter: Visiting Lake Mead in the winter is underrated in my opinion. It’s a little colder around 45-50 degrees, but on the sunny days it feels like 60 and is perfect to go kayaking or hiking without the summer crowds

IS LAKE MEAD DOG FRIENDLY?

Yes yes and yes!! One of my favorite parts of Lake Mead is that it is incredibly dog friendly. You can take your dog anywhere! Just remember the guidelines for being a responsible pet owner:

B.A.R.K:

• Bag your pet’s waste (and dispose of it properly)
• Always leash your pet (leashes must be 6 feet / 1.8 meters or shorter)
• Respect wildlife
• Know where you can go

And do not leave your pet unattended in a vehicle!!

5 BEST LAKE MEAD ACTIVITIES THAT AREN’T BOATING

1. Swim at Boulder Beach

Description: Rocky beach that stretches for 1 mile
Recommended Time: 1-3 hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/KG8ybNuYMewaJYqX6

Boulder Beach is a great place to start your Lake Mead day. The entrance is on the West Side and makes for a good starting point if you want to move clockwise around the lake. The beach itself is rocky so don’t expect to lay down a towel and take a nap, but it makes for a great spot to do some swimming and boating. My dogs loved to play in the water here!

2. Hike White Owl Canyon via 33 Hole

Description: Fun, relaxing 3.5 mile hike that wanders through the beautiful desert landscape, with a surprise view
Recommended Time: 2-3 hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/NAk8jbGQ1sVLSu9a8

This hike was a great surprise. We didn’t expect much because there isn’t a lot written about it online, but it became one of our favorite hikes in Las Vegas and definitely one of the best Lake Mead activities you can do (especially with your dog).

The hike is fairly straightforward and wanders through the desert landscape of Las Vegas – you don’t get any views of Lake Mead. However we wandered off a little bit off trail to follow sounds of water and came across this beautiful river and viewpoint for lunch.

The best part of this hike is that we didn’t run into anyone else on a Saturday! Wild 🙂 Don’t forget to download offline maps for White Owl Canyon via 33 Hole.

3. Hike the Gold Strike Hot Springs Trailhead

Description: This 7.5 mile hike is HARD but super worth it. You need to descend 7 ropes with a 10-20 ft drop each so wear good, grippy shoes!
Recommended Time: 5 hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Axfg9mfCmYJ6qC3n8

This hike is one of those cool hikes that is both about the journey and the adventure. The Gold Strike Hot Springs Trailhead is right off Lake Mead, and takes you through 7 ropes to hot springs. The springs itself aren’t that hot and can be a little crowded with folks hanging out and drinking beer, so start early if you want more peace & quiet!

The coolest part of this hike in my opinion is not the hot springs but the fact that it takes you all the way to the Colorado River! It is a great place to have lunch with a view.

While most Lake Mead activities are dog friendly, dogs are not recommended on this hike because of the ropes. You can also kayak to these hot springs (read more below)

4. Kayak the Colorado River

Description: Start from Willow Beach (technically in AZ) and kayak along the Colorado River through the Black Canyon
Recommended Time: 3+ hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Axfg9mfCmYJ6qC3n8

Kayaking the Colorado River and through Black Canyon. We rented kayaks from Desert Adventures for the entire day and had a great time! Many people will do the tour but if you are a confident paddler, renting your own kayaks is a great option because you can go at your own pace.

Start at Willow Beach and kayak for as long as you want (or can), and then turn back. If you want to do a one-day kayak from Willow Beach to the Hoover Dam, you will have to make arrangements for a pickup. See the NPS map here for more info.

5. Watch Sunset over Lake Mead

Description: Aptly named Sunset View Overlook, this is a great place for sunset with minimal work (walking) required
Recommended Time: 1 hour
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/rQp3J9LCpdneFjjX9

Sunset View Overlook is a great place to have a romantic sunset picnic! Pack a few snacks and enjoy the sunset here. It’s especially nice in the summer when it is finally cooling down. The best part is, it’s not SUPER famous so not super crowded (yet) and it requires minimal effort to get there after you park your car.

If you’re looking for something a little bit different, Northshore Summit Trail is also a beautiful spot for sunset, although the views will be more of the ~golden hour~ landscape

What is your favorite Lake Mead activity?