2019  HIKING, ULTRA-WALKING,

& RV TRAVEL ADVENTURES

Superstition Mountains at sunset, from Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona

 

   
 
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   SCENES FROM TWO DAY TRIPS IN THE 
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

 
"Boat, hike, cycle, camp, and fish at America's most diverse national recreation area.   
With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground
spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys, and two vast
lakes. See the Hoover Dam from Lake Mead or Lake Mojave, or find
solitude in one of the park's nine wilderness areas."
 
~ from the National Park Service's Lake Mead NRA home page
 
 

Today was at least our fourth scenic drive along the western shores of Lake Mead on Northshore and/or Lakeshore Roads. We've done only sight-seeing and photography, not any of the other activities mentioned above.

This map from the National Park Service shows the vast recreation area, which lies between Grand Canyon National Park and Las Vegas. It also extends many miles north and south along the Colorado River:


Red dot = Hoover Dam along US 93 at the NV-AZ state border

The next more detailed map shows Northshore Road (highlighted in orange where we've driven it in 2016 and two days ago) and Lakeshore Road (highlighted in yellow where we drove it both directions today):

We've gone down little paved spur roads to the lake twice to see it closer, once to Echo Bay in 2016 on a big loop on the way back to Nellis AFB after hiking at Valley of Fire State Park,

Above and below:  Lake Mead (April 9, 2016)

. . . and once today to Sunset Overlook in the southern part of the rec. area after our visit to Hoover Dam:


Lake Mead from Sunset Overlook (January 11, 2019)

The views of the lake are better along Lakeshore Road than Northshore Road because Lakeshore is closer to the water. This year was also a better year to sight-see and take pictures of Lake Mead because the water was higher than three years ago when we were here.

VISITING LAKE MEAD NATL. REC. AREA

Normally there is a fee to enter this recreation area unless you have one of the national park passes.

This week, however, is the third week of a partial government shutdown so no one was manning the entrance gates either today at the southern end of the lake or on Wednesday when we drove along Northshore Road after our visit to Valley of Fire State Park.

Here is most of the information you need to know about visiting Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

In this entry I'll show photos I took along Northshore Road two days ago when we drove it south from Valley of Fire State Park Road to NV 147, and pictures I took today along Lakeshore Road between NV 147 and US 93 near Hoover Dam.

SCENERY ALONG NORTHSHORE RD. 1-9-19

What Northshore Road lacks in water views, it makes up for in colorful rocks toward the west! You can see gorgeous landscapes like the ones below from the road without even going on a hike:

 

 

 

 

 

I really enjoyed this week's drive along Northshore Road because the weather was perfect. When we drove this section of road three years ago it was overcast and rainy.

SCENERY ALONG LAKESHORE RD. 1-11-19

If you want more lake views, you'll see them better between NV 147 and US 93 on the southern end of Northshore Road and along Lakeshore Road. I took these photos today:


View of Lake Mead as we were driving east and south this morning to Hoover Dam


Lake Mead at Hoover Dam

The rest of these pictures were taken about noon on our way back north along the lake.

A bike path follows the road for several miles, and various spur roads lead down to scenic overlooks, campgrounds, and boat docks/launches.

 


Nice campsites, if you can get one!

The remaining views are from Sunset Overlook:


Looks like Lake Mead may still be historically low.

 

 

Next entry:  back to McDowell Mountain Regional Park east of metro Phoenix for two weeks

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, Casey-Girl, and Holly-Pup

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© 2019 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil
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