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| - Lake Mead is a multivariate national park known mostly as a water-recreation area. I guess it makes sense. In the desert, a lake is a great place to play, but people ignore the park's wide-open hiking spaces, established trails, and the historical value of Hoover Dam.
The lake is a great asset for a desert town like Vegas, there's no doubt. As the temperature heats up, Lake Mead is a great place to take out/rent a boat or a kayak (note: it's cheaper to rent in Boulder City or Henderson than going to a Lake Mead marina). Or if you just want to go swimming, the park has numerous beaches where you can wade in or go for a swim. Several triathlons use Boulder Beach in Lake Mead each year for a launching pad for the swimming competition.
When it comes to hiking, Lake Mead is the redheaded stepchild of Vegas. Most people focus on the well-established trails of Red Rock or Mount Charleston and never think to trek through the desert and mountains surrounding the lake. The park is filled with short, picturesque walks through the desert, but there are few established trails. That said, if you do a little research online, you'll find the park is filled with numerous well-known and picturesque hikes (For more detailed information on hiking trails at Lake Mead, visit: http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/LAME/_LAME_Over/_LAME_Over.htm).
If you're not so much into planning a hike, just drive along Northshore road from the west entrance of the park and pull into one of the many parking lots or small pull outs. Get out of your car and start walking. It's the Mojave Desert and the mountain ranges, canyons, and washes of Lake Mead are filled with tons of nooks and crannies, small mountain peaks, and bursts of geologic color to keep you entertained.
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