Scenic pullout · Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A quick US-93 pull-off for a broad view of Black Canyon.
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
Willow Beach Scenic Overlook: Black Canyon from Above“You're approaching Willow Beach Scenic Overlook on U.S. ninety-three, with a high view into Black Canyon.”
Plays as you drive up to Willow Beach Scenic Overlook 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
Willow Beach Scenic Overlook is a roadside stop on US-93 above Black Canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Colorado River and canyon spread out below, with Willow Beach visible from the overlook. It’s a good place to stretch your legs and take in the view while driving the highway; this is the elevated viewpoint, separate from the river access area at Willow Beach below.
The draw is the broad view across the canyon to the river. If it fits your drive, aim for sunset; visitors especially praise the light for photos. Expect to see the water from above and at a distance, rather than getting down to the shore.
Black Canyon’s exposed walls are volcanic lava that erupted about 15 to 20 million years ago. The Colorado River settled into its present course around five million years ago and wore away softer sediment, sand, and gravel, leaving tougher volcanic rock standing. From here you can see the landscape those different materials and the river have shaped together.
This is a simple roadside pull-off with auto parking and a scenic view/photo spot. Plan a restroom stop before you get here; don’t count on finding one at this pull-off. Getting back onto US-93 takes attention: traffic can be fast, so give yourself time to wait for a safe gap before pulling out.
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
Campground · 2.1 mi awayWillow Beach Campground & RV ParkA riverfront base for RV camping and Black Canyon paddling.
Beach · 2.6 mi awayWillow BeachPaddle two river miles to a cave that can glow green.
Restaurant · 2.6 mi awayBlack Canyon GrillA handy breakfast or lunch stop beside the Colorado River.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayWillow Beach National Fish HatcherySee how a working hatchery raises trout for river stocking.
Sight · 3.8 mi awayEmerald CaveA shallow rock recess that glows green when the light lines up.Parkwolf’s Lake Mead ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
