Located 30 miles east of Las Vegas, Lake Mead is a water lovers paradise.

Straddling the borders of Nevada, Arizona and California, the lower Colorado River system features two major lakes attracting millions of tourist each year seeking the very best in water sports, swimming, boating, camping and fishing.

Located just 30 miles east of Las Vegas is the enormous Lake Mead, the centerpiece of the 1.5 million-acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Created in the 1930s with the construction of Hoover Dam, it is one of the most visited recreation lakes in the Southwestern United States. Its bright blue waters are a refreshing sight in contrast to the harsh desert landscape and jagged, majestic cliffs that contain it.

The lake is popular for both motor and sail boating, primarily due to its vast size. Several marinas offer boat launch ramps and rentals for both leisure boating and water sports. Houseboats can also be rented from Forever Resorts or Seven Crown for fun family getaway, offering a chance explore the lake’s many sheltered coves, islands and beaches with all of the amenities of home. For vacationers casting a line, Lake Mead is famous for its large striped bass.

Secluded campsites can be found throughout the recreation area and can be reserved for a nominal fee. For families interested in hotel accommodations, the Hacienda Hotel & Casino is located just a few miles from Boulder Beach and the Las Vegas Boat Harbor on US Highway 93. Other hotel and motels can be found in nearby Boulder City.

The Desert Princess offers spectacular views for sightseeing and dinner cruises on Lake Mead.

For day visitors, Lake Mead Cruises offers sightseeing and dinner cruises aboard the Desert Princess. Passengers are treated with spectacular views of the lake’s breathtaking scenery,  including the colorful landscapes and panoramic views of landmarks such as Fortification Hill, a clearly-defined, extinct volcano, and the Arizona Paint Pots. The Desert Princess embarks daily from the Lake Mead Cruises Landing at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor for sightseeing cruises. Dinner cruises are seasonal, so visit the Lake Mead Cruises Web site for schedules, rates and reservations.

Located 67 miles south of Hoover Dam is Lake Mohave. Also part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Mohave is formed by the Davis Dam at Laughlin/Bullhead City.

Lake Mohave is a popular desination for boaters.

Like Lake Mead, Lake Mohave is a popular destination for boaters. A long, narrow lake, it’s ideal for waterskiing. Boat ramps and rentals, as well as houseboat rentals can be found at the Cottonwood Cove Marina, accessible from US Highway 93 on the way to Laughlin, and Katherine Landing, located above Davis Dam, just north of Bullhead City on the Arizona side of the Lake.

Lake Mohave is just minutes north of the resort town of Laughlin, where hotel casinos line the riverfront, offering accommodations, shopping and entertainment after sundown.

Enjoy the nightlife in Laughlin.

Both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave also provide good locales for freshwater diving. Visibility is best from October through April and local dive shops organize dives and offer equipment rental. Land-based activities include hiking through the eastern Mohave Desert, especially during the cooler winter months, or horseback riding on trails designated for equestrians.

The best time of year to visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area is during the fall, winter, or spring, when desert temperatures aren’t sweltering. The region’s winters are mild, however water temperature can be quite colder during the winter months.

Due to the climate and surrounding rugged landscape, careful planning for a vacation to Lake Mead or Lake Mohave is essential. Read the “Things to Know Before You Come” feature on the National Park Service Web site to ensure your family’s visit is safe and enjoyable.

Fees for entry in the Lake Mead Recreation Area are $5 per vehicle for one to five days or an annual pass may be purchased for $20 for families planning frequent visits. Motorized vessels fees are $10 for the first vessel and $5 for each additional vessel for one to five days. Annual passes for vessel fees are also available for purchase.

Photos: Lake Mead Panorama courtesy of MLBbrad and Lake Mojave courtesy KJKolb via Wikimedia. Desert Princess and Laughlin are from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The 6,000-foot Hells Canyon is not only the deepest river gorge in North America, but it’s also a part of a huge recreation area that includes over 650,000 acres of wilderness, three Wild and Scenic rivers, and 900 miles of hiking trails.

Beamers Jet Boats

The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area sits along the border of Oregon and Idaho.  It’s extremely remote, and mostly roadless.  I’ve been wanting to get a look at the canyon for twenty years, so I was as excited as anyone to board the Beamers Tours jet boat in Lewiston, Idaho, where Captain Dan waited to guide us down the Snake River and into this rugged land that has remained mostly untouched for thousands of years.

Right from the start we spotted osprey, eagles, antelope, bighorn sheep, and even some old guy panning for gold. The kids had a blast with Captain Dan swerving back and forth along the river at an exhilirating 45mph. Along the way he pointed out unusual geological formations and a few pioneer homesteads, and even stopped to let us all get a close-up view of ancient petroglyphs that dated back at least 2,500 years.

Cache Creek Ranch

The turnaround point for the half-day tour we took is Cache Creek Ranch, where we had an hour to eat, lay in the grass, and watch the kids play. The Forest Service runs the ranch now as an interpretive center. While we lazed around, Captain Dan was down at the river catching smallmouth bass right and left.  The river is a fisherman’s paradise.

Even though this trip was just a taste of what the canyon has to offer, the kids absolutely loved it. They had no idea that just a few hours south of where they live is such a massive, and totally unique, wilderness area. There’s so much more to see and explore.

Wet and wild jet boat

You can choose to see the canyon in several different ways.  Traveling by jet boat is the easiest, and quickest.  Most tour operators offer half-day, all-day, or multi-day tours.  Hiking in is another option, with three major trails designated as National Recreation Trails.

If you’re looking for a rugged and remote wilderness that doesn’t feel overcrowded like some of our national parks, look into spending some time in Hells Canyon.  It’s a surprisingly short and easy drive from the large population centers of Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.

All photos by Phil Corless

Ancient petroglyphs

Snake River