Beach · Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A rocky launch beach for personal watercraft.
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 Personal Watercraft 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
Personal Watercraft Beach is a rocky Lake Mead shore stop, listed among the park’s swimming beaches and named for personal-watercraft access. People use the shore to launch their craft. It’s a useful stop if that’s your plan; if you want soft sand, this is a rougher, rockier outing.
A floating courtesy dock reaches from the pebbly bank into the lake, with bare desert ridges across the water. For a photo, use the dock as a line into the water and keep the ridgeline in the frame; it shows the mix of boat access and desert shoreline that makes this spot distinct.
Use the directions for Personal Watercraft Beach itself—Boulder Beach is a separate spot about a kilometer to the west. The access has been described as dirt and easy to miss, with informal parking rather than marked stalls, so expect a less-developed arrival. Litter and occasional broken glass have been reported along the shore; watch your footing and pack out what you bring.
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 · 1.9 mi awayFive dark tunnels on a railbed high above Lake Mead.
ChallengingRiver Mountains Loop Trail34.4 mi · 13 hr · 2.1 mi awayA paved circuit linking Lake Mead, Boulder City and Henderson.
ModerateSugarloaf Overlook Trail3.1 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayOld dam roads, sandy washes, and a Colorado River overlook.
ModerateBoy Scout Canyon Trail3.6 mi · 3.5 hr · 4.5 mi awayA sandy volcanic wash ends above a 330-foot plunge.
ChallengingColorado River Overlook Trail3.6 mi · 3.8 hr · 4.5 mi awayA river overlook reached by a rough wash, loose ridge, and scramble.
EasySunset View Trail0.6 mi · 24 min · 4.8 mi awayA short loop with broad views over Lake Mead's Boulder Basin.
Beach · 0.4 mi awayCanoe/Kayak BeachA water’s-edge launch for Boulder Basin paddling.
Restaurant · 0.7 mi awayHarbor House CaféDine above the slips with lake and desert ridges in view.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayLas Vegas Boat HarborWalk the floating docks to see boats, fish, and waterfowl.
Beach · 0.7 mi awaySpecial Events BeachA rocky Boulder Basin beach reached by dirt road.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayLake Mead MarinaBoat slips, dockside dining, and desert views in one lakeside stop.
Restaurant · 1 mi awayThe Boat House Bar & GrillA floating restaurant and bar with views over the harbor and lake.
Campground · 1 mi awayLake Mead RV VillageAn RV base with full hookups and lake-view sites.
Beach · 1.1 mi awayBoulder BeachA rocky swim stop with volcanic cliffs across the basin.Parkwolf’s Lake Mead ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
