Virtual Guidebook to Las Vegas and Southern Nevada
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
East of Las Vegas, Nevada

Most large federal reservoirs are surrounded by a national recreation area. Though intended primarily to foster active recreation (boating and fishing) these NRA's also protect some choice pieces of federal land. Such is the case with Lake Mead, a huge area of prime low elevation desert adjacent to a major population center. Though all parts of the shoreline are easily accessible by boat, the size of the reservoir makes many areas remote in practice.