Introduction:
What? :
This overlook
is one of the best viewpoints of Lake Mead and a perfect location to enjoy the
stunning sunsets (when the sun is behind you) and sunrises (sun rising in front
of you) at Lake Mead.
Enjoy a
panoramic view of the lake and the vast desert landscape and mountain ranges surrounding
this area.
You can enjoy
the view from the high point or hike down to the lake area below.
This will be about half a mile all the way to the far end of the shoreline.
Plan for 5 minutes
if you are coming only to see the view or about 1-2 hours if you are planning
to go down and explore the area near the lake.
When I visit here I saw a coyote and spend some time viewing his behavior, mainly looking for food...
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Where? :
Lake Mead NRA is
located east of Las Vegas Valley.
From Las Vegas
drive east on highway 564 (E Lake Mead Pkwy). Pass the park entrance fee
station and keep driving straight at the first road junction.
From the
junction drive 5.4 miles and you will see a road leading to the parking lot. Drive
all the way to the end of the road and the viewing point.
If you are
coming from the direction of Hover Dam and Boulder city, get into Lake Mead NRA,
Lakeshore Rd and pass the park entrance, from here you need to drive north for 6.9
miles until you see the turn right to the parking lots.
Google Map Link
When? :
The best times
to visit this trail are October through April.
For the hot
summer months that has extreme high temperatures, mid-day may be to hot to
enjoy.
The temperatures
during the long summer months are extremely hot, easily reaching over 115f and
even early morning temperatures are above 80f.
Due note 1:
Lake Mead
National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Admission fees
for Lake Mead National Recreation Area are $25 for vehicles. These passes are
good for up to seven days. Campgrounds are $20 per night. You can use here the
National Park Year Permit.
Only electronic
card payments are now accepted for entrance, lake use, and campground fees.
Entrance stations will continue to sell passes but will no longer accept cash
for payment.
Due note 2:
There are
restrooms but no source for water filling.
You have cell
reception in most of the area near Las Vegas.
Due note 3:
During summer
month it is extremely hot and although this is not a long or challenging hike
it is not recommended mid-day, come as early in the morning as you can or late
at the afternoon.
Due note 4:
Dogs are welcome
to Lake Mead NRA but must be on a leash.
Due note 5:
Overnight
camping is not permitted.
Due note 6:
Bring enough water
with you for a full hiking day.
The trail is
exposed to the sun and do not have any shad.
Due note 7:
I highly recommend
having good hiking shoes with grip traction for this walk, the rocks near
the lake are sharp.
As always in
the desert I recommend long sleeves shirt, heat, sunblock, and sunglasses.
Due note 9:
Because you are
near Arizona the time zone may change in your phone, be aware of that when
you are hiking, make sure you have enough sunlight for the long hike back out to
your car.
My thoughts:
I came here
after hiking in nearby trail and I plan just to see the view and keep driving.
I decided to hike down and explore the lake front, with all it fingers and
bays. I saw a coyote, so I decided to stay longer and explore more of this
unique place.
At the end I stayed
here for almost 2 hours enjoy the solitude, the lake and spending time with the
coyote.
Looks like the
coyote is used to have people around, at one time he approached me to a
distance I was not comfortable with, and he was looking for food at the parking
lot.
The visit:
Park your can
and walk to the viewing platform over the lake.
This area is a
west finger of the lake, named Las Vegas Bay, and you are overall looking northeast.
The lake water level is low so a lot of the "islands" are now connected to the shore
and create many small coves.
You can see all
the mountain north of the lake in this area, those are Muddy Mountains
Wilderness, and on the far to the right on the other side of the lake, Fortification
Hill in Arizona.
You can walk
down on the several non-official trails.
Explore the inland
coves and walk to the tip end of the land in front of you. You need to climb
the small hill (once this was an island) and climb down to the lake shore.
You can see
here interesting rock formation and small cove to explore.
When I was
hiking here, I saw a large coyote walking in the bushes near the water, I tried
to follow it, but he went away.
Later I saw it on
the hill side but lost him again.
After about 1 hour of exploration, I start heading back to the parking lot and then I saw the coyote again.
This time he was not so far, and he was looking for food.
Looks like that he found an animal carcass and start to eat it.
It was getting late, and the sun was very low, just before sunset and I started to walk back in the direction of the parking lot. The coyote followed me… I stopped and took some pictures, but the coyote keep closing the distance. He was not nervus or alert, just progressing and looking at me.
I start to get uncomfortable and alert from the
short distance, I start to back away, facing the coyote.
He was keep
closing the distance, it was less than 15 ft, looks like he was looking for
food…. Food from me or maybe I’m the food 😊
Anyhow I did
not want to check this, I took 2 small rocks and trough them in the direction
of the coyote, this make him rethink and back away.
I went up to
the parking lot and saw that the coyote follow me but now he went to the far
side of the parking lot.
He was starting
for food in the empty parking lot and after 5-10 minutes decide to walk back
into the desert.
What an experience,
first time I felt somehow alert and uncomfortable from coyote behavior, usually
they prefer to keep distance from peoples.
It was just sunset
when I start heading back to my house, taking the somehow longer road back
home, through Boulder City.
On my way south
I decided to have another short side drive, heading down to the lake shore at Hatchery
Saddle Point.
Few pictures
and keep driving south, when I reach Boulder City it was already dark.
Additional Pictures:
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