Beach · Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A water’s-edge launch for Boulder Basin paddling.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake Mead Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake Mead National Recreation Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lake Mead audio tourRecorded for this place
Boulder Beach: Swimming and Shore Access“The access for Boulder Beach is coming up. I'd stop here for a swim and time beside the open water, but expect a rocky shore. Changing lake levels can leave a long, rough walk between parking and the water.”
Plays as you drive up to Canoe/Kayak Beach in the Parkwolf Lake Mead Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Canoe/Kayak Beach is a designated paddlecraft shoreline in Lake Mead’s Hemenway Harbor area. If you’re bringing a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, it’s a practical put-in: you can park at the water’s edge and paddle into Boulder Basin.
The appeal is getting straight onto the lake rather than making this a long stop on shore. From just offshore, turn back toward the beach with the desert ridge beyond for a frame that shows both the launch and its setting.
Paddlecraft count as vessels. Carry a life jacket aboard for every occupant. Nevada also requires an Aquatic Invasive Species decal on canoes and kayaks; paddleboards are exempt. A park pass is required to enter the recreation area.
Wildlife
525 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
116 sightingsBurroMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
18 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 4 PMSighting map
99 sightingsWhite PelicanMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
145 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
106 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake Mead. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyHistoric Railroad Trail7.5 mi · 3 hr · 2 mi awayFive dark tunnels on a railbed high above Lake Mead.
ChallengingRiver Mountains Loop Trail34.4 mi · 13 hr · 2.2 mi awayA paved circuit linking Lake Mead, Boulder City and Henderson.
ModerateSugarloaf Overlook Trail3.1 mi · 2.5 hr · 4.3 mi awayOld dam roads, sandy washes, and a Colorado River overlook.
EasySunset View Trail0.6 mi · 24 min · 4.4 mi awayA short loop with broad views over Lake Mead's Boulder Basin.
ModerateBoy Scout Canyon Trail3.6 mi · 3.5 hr · 4.8 mi awayA sandy volcanic wash ends above a 330-foot plunge.
ChallengingColorado River Overlook Trail3.6 mi · 3.8 hr · 4.8 mi awayA river overlook reached by a rough wash, loose ridge, and scramble.
Beach · 0.3 mi awaySpecial Events BeachA rocky Boulder Basin beach reached by dirt road.
Beach · 0.4 mi awayPersonal Watercraft BeachA rocky launch beach for personal watercraft.
Beach · 0.7 mi awayBoulder BeachA rocky swim stop with volcanic cliffs across the basin.
Campground · 0.8 mi awayLake Mead RV VillageAn RV base with full hookups and lake-view sites.
Campground · 0.9 mi awayBoulder Beach CampgroundShaded, paved campsites with Lake Mead views near Boulder Beach.
Restaurant · 1.1 mi awayHarbor House CaféDine above the slips with lake and desert ridges in view.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayLas Vegas Boat HarborWalk the floating docks to see boats, fish, and waterfowl.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayLake Mead MarinaBoat slips, dockside dining, and desert views in one lakeside stop.Parkwolf’s Lake Mead ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
