Top Desert Parks: Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona and Nevada

Most activities in Lake Mead National Recreation Area take place on the two large lakes (Mead and Mohave) along the Colorado River, but the surrounding land, all part of the Mojave Desert, conceals many interesting locations, even though much is barren at first sight; stony washes, desert plains and low, rugged hills. Various types of roads cross the preserve, though maintained trails are few in number; most hiking is off-trail, so such features as summits, springs, slot canyons, petroglyph panels and old mines. Some easily-accessed areas are often very busy, due to the proximity to Las Vegas, but away from the highways the majority is remote and rarely visited, especially during the heat of summer.

Lake Mead: details, map