Historic Railroad Trail | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

The Historic Railroad Trail is about a 10-mile out and back adventure in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. This trail is a side trail branching off from the 31-mile River Mountains Loop Trail and spans the distance from the Lake Mead Visitor Center to Hoover Dam. You could combine this trail with a tour of Hoover Dam and a walk across the old memorial bridge. The well-graded path, with it’s very gradual inclines and descents makes for an easy hike or run. Route details: 5 mi RT | 200ft Elevation Gain/loss; **Wide, Graded Railroad Bed** Click image or title above for more…

Hamblin Mountain, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Though Hamblin Mountain in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area of Nevada is only 3312ft in elevation, it is positioned in a location that provides an incredible view hard to match anywhere else in Southern Nevada. This is in part due to it having 849ft prominence and being the highest point within 2.72 miles. The summit affords one of the best views of Lake Mead down to the Hoover Dam area and up towards the Overton arm. Route Details: 7mi | 1,965 > 3,291ft; **Some Trail, Some Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…

Northshore Road | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Though Lake Mead National Recreation Area includes a few commercial developments, it is largely an untouched wilderness rivaling places like the Mt. Charleston Wilderness, the La Madre Mountains Wilderness and the Sheep Range. Here’s a quick tour of Northern Lake Mead NRA. Our overview adventure begins at the East entrance to Valley of Fire State Park. We note landmarks by the mile markers on Northshore Road which begins at mile 45.1 and ends towards Hoover Dam at mile 0. Route details: 45.1-mile tour of Northshore Road and various waypoints. Click image or title above for more…

Callville Summit Trail, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Callville Summit Trail is a great way to experience the area around the Lake Mead shoreline in a brief 1-2-mile excursion. You’ll get an idea of hiking conditions in desert terrain without committing yourself to a more extensive remote adventure. Hiking conditions include navigating loose rock, sudden drop-offs, high desert heat and other conditions unique to low desert adventures in the Southwestern U.S. Route description: 2-3mi | 1,229 > 1,500ft; ** Rabbit Trails – Take Your Pick** Click image or title above for more…

Southern Bowl of Fire | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

You can stand in the midst of the Bowl of Fire and see the entire Bowl of those beautiful Aztec formations in one of the most incredible 360 degree vistas available anywhere. And then proceed through a gentle valley to the North surrounded on both sides by more formations. Route details: 5-6mi | 1,965 > 1,905ft; ** Some Trail, Some Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…

Northern Bowl of Fire | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

The Northern Bowl of Fire is a massive Aztec red rock cliff system rivaling any other red rock formation in Nevada. The red rock is composed of frozen sand dunes from the Jurassic era, and the red coloring is caused by iron that leached up through the sand before it solidified into rock. The route I describe here offers spectacular 360 degree views of the Overton Arm of Lake Mead, the Hamblin Mountain area, portions of Lake Mead, the Southern Bowl of Fire, Anniversary Ridge, and the Muddy Mountains. Route details: 8mi RT | 1,887 > 2,568ft; ** Some Trail, Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…

Black Mesa, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Black Mesa in Lake Mead National Recreation Area has a huge relatively flat summit over a mile in length from North to South. From the Southern Summit one can see one of the best views of Lake Mead to be had from any point in the area (except Fortification Hill). Black Mesa has no real marked and established trailhead. However, the route I took started at a pull-out about mile 10.5 on Northshore Road in Lake Mead National Recreation Area just a few hundred feet before the crossing of the major wash that skirts the West side of Black Mesa. Route details: 4mi | 1,538 > 2,198ft; ** Wilderness, No Trail** Click image or title above for more…

Frenchman Mountain Overlooking Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

There is no more commanding view of both the Las Vegas Valley and Lake Mead National Recreation Area than the summit of Frenchman Mountain, Nevada. From the summit one can look down on the Las Vegas Strip, across to the West to the Rainbow Mountains on the far side of Red Rock National Park, the La Madre Mountains and the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. To to Northwest one can see Gass Peak and the Sheep Mountain Range. To the Northeast one can see the Muddy Mountains and then gaze East and Southeast to see the Jimbilnan Wilderness, Virgin Ridge, Gold Butte, Lake Mead and the Hualapai Mountains. Route details: 5mi | 2,184 > 3,972ft ** Excellent Trail/Service Road** Click image or title above for more…

Lava Butte | Volcanic Cone Between Las Vegas and Lake Mead, Nevada

Lava Butte is a distinctive stand-alone volcanic cone below Frenchman Mountain and to the East. It can be seen from many high points in and around the Lake Mead National Recreation Area including Fortification Hill, Mt. Wilson, Frenchman Mountain and others. It’s a fun, challenging climb to go up one side and down the other, weaving around huge volcanic boulders. Route description: 7mi | 1,835 > 2,871ft; ** Service Road / Lava Ridge** Click image or title above for more…

01 Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, Overview

Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona offers multiple recreational opportunities from climbing desert mountains and hills, canyons, ridges and plateaus with spectacular views to hiking, biking, boating, kayaking and swimming to picnicking and camping and much more. Don’t miss the great interpretive center at the Southshore Road Park entrance. We’re systematically exploring both popular and largely unknown adventure destinations and adding these to LasVegasAreaTrails.com. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60-70 degrees. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…