Bonelli Bay Trail

Bonelli Bay Trail is a 5.23-mile out-and-back on unpaved backcountry roads, from Bonelli Landing Road to the Bonelli Bay access area and back. The mapped corridor is 2.63 miles each way. It’s a remote road walk, not a built footpath; choose it for the open desert approach and broad Lake Mead views, and skip it if you want a maintained trail or an easy lakeshore stroll. Allow about three hours.

The line starts where the Bay track leaves Bonelli Landing Road and follows connected dirt roads to the bay area. It drops roughly 440 feet toward the far end, so the return is an uphill walk over the same ground. The park marks approved backcountry roads with yellow arrows; driving on roads without those markers is prohibited. No developed trailhead or formal lot is documented. The marked dirt branch toward the bay is rougher than the main road, and high clearance is recommended for drivers.

The far end reaches the Bonelli Bay access area on Lake Mead’s Arizona side. The bay has shrunk as lake levels have fallen, so expect the shoreline to sit differently from older maps and photos. High ground around the bay opens wide views over the eastern arm of the reservoir; that open, changing landscape is the reason to make the long approach.

This is exposed desert ground, with no drinking-water stop verified along the route. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F. Heavy rain can turn nearby washes into flash-flood hazards, so leave this route for a clear-weather day. Dogs are allowed in the recreation area; keep them on a leash no longer than six feet.