Entry Points:
About Lake Mead
In 1935 the construction of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River was completed and Lake Mead formed in the desert southeast of Las Vegas. With the recreational opportunities of the blue lake and the scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains, Lake Mead became the first National Recreation Area on October 8, 1964. It covers 1,495,664 acres.
Three desert climates of the southwest can be found at Lake Mead, the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran Deserts. This provides a great venue for becoming familiar with the plants unique to these ecological niches. Numerous side roads provide access to remote areas for exploration, hiking and four-wheel driving. State Highway 169 parallels the northwest shore of the lake from Henderson to Logandale.