Lake Mead National Recreation Area, National recreation area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, United States.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area spans over 1.5 million acres of desert in Nevada and Arizona, following the Colorado River from Grand Canyon National Park to Laughlin and Bullhead City. It contains Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, reservoirs created by Hoover Dam and Davis Dam, plus nine designated wilderness areas. The shoreline runs over 750 miles past pale tan and white rock formations rising from dark blue water, and marinas with rows of white houseboats and smaller craft.

The area around Lake Mead was protected as a bird refuge in 1933. It became Boulder Dam Recreation Area in 1936, was renamed Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 1947, and in 1964 was expanded to include Lake Mohave, becoming the first National Recreation Area designated by Congress.

Native American tribes left behind archaeological sites throughout the region that reveal how people lived here for centuries before the dams were built. Walking through the area, you can see evidence of their settlements and artifacts at several locations.

Multiple entrance points provide access to boat launches, campgrounds, and swimming areas spread across the shoreline. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, so some areas and facilities may not be accessible at all times, and it's wise to check conditions before planning your visit.

St. Thomas, a Mormon farming town founded in 1865, was submerged as Lake Mead filled; its foundations and street grid re-emerge when the water drops. A 2-mile loop trail with interpretive signs starts near the Northshore Entrance Station, just south of Overton.