Bays
Trout Cove
197 m
Park geography
Structured data on regional landscape features, terrain types, and environmental context
Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Examine the detailed physical characteristics and regional placement of Lake Mead National Recreation Area across Arizona and Nevada. This dataset maps the 6053.31 square kilometer protected landscape, detailing arid climate zones, riverine habitats, and interior features like bays, springs, and coves.
Desert lakes, canyon country, and engineered waters along the lower Colorado River.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a large federally protected area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, managed by the National Park Service along the lower Colorado River corridor. It follows the river from the western boundary of Grand Canyon National Park downstream to just north of Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona, encompassing the reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave as well as the surrounding desert and canyon terrain. The recreation area sits at the dramatic meeting point of three of the four North American deserts. The Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts converge within its boundaries, giving the landscape a striking mix of plant communities, geological formations, and arid ecosystems. Combined with extensive shoreline and year-round warm weather, this desert-lake setting forms the defining character of the recreation area. Lake Mead NRA was the first unit of the national park system to carry the National Recreation Area designation, established by Congress after the completion of Hoover Dam and Davis Dam. Today it remains one of the most visited units in the system, offering a blend of water-based recreation, hiking, desert solitude, and easy access from the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
- Location
- United States of America
- Park type
- Protected landscape
- Established
- 1936
- Area
- 6,053.3 km²
Location overview
National park records spanning Arizona and Nevada within the United States
Geographic Setting and Regional Context for Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located within the United States across the recorded regions of Arizona and Nevada. Official records verify its administrative standing without coastal, island, or transboundary classifications.
- Countries
- United States of America
- Regions
- Arizona, Nevada
- Primary location
- United States of America
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Mapped perimeter geometry and derived spatial measurements
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Boundary Map and Spatial Extent
Interactive boundary mapping defines the spatial context and outer perimeter of the protected territory. Accompanying measurements supply calculated area dimensions and geographic coordinate spans for analytical reference.
- Boundary area
- 4,489.1 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 671.8 km
- Northernmost point
- 36.5914° N
- Southernmost point
- 35.1719° N
- Easternmost point
- 113.8378° W
- Westernmost point
- 114.9233° W
- Geographic centre
- 35.9437° N, 114.4805° W
- North–south span
- 157.5 km
- East–west span
- 98 km
Terrain and natural features
Explore recorded bays, washes, beaches, and springs across the landscape
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Terrain and Named Natural Features
Stored terrain classifications outline the mixed regional relief spanning Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Individual feature cards detail recorded bays, washes, streams, beaches, and springs located within the park boundary.
Selected named natural features
Streams
Scanlon Wash
Bays
Eagle Cove
197 m
Bays
Azure Cove
367 m
Islands
Battleship Rock
Bays
Jeep Cove
197 m
Environmental setting
Arid climate zones, desert habitats, and major water features across mixed relief terrain
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Environmental Settings and Landscape Classifications
Recorded classifications frame the physical setting through complementary desert habitats, arid climate zones, and major water features. Stored categories connect directly to related atlas destinations for broader regional geography navigation.
- Relief
- Mixed relief
- Climate
- Arid
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Sparse forest
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Valleys · Cliffs · Lakes · Rivers · Beach · Dunes · Desert
Habitat types
Desert habitat · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat
Park atlas
Compare regional desert reserves, canyon networks, and adjacent protected terrain
Parks Near Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Related Protected Landscapes
Browsing nearby national parks and regional protected areas helps expand the geographic context established by Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Comparing adjacent desert terrain and river corridors reveals broader ecological patterns across the American Southwest.
National parkArizona
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
East
Grand Canyon National Park: Arizona National Park Protected Landscape & Geography
Explore mapped boundaries and regional atlas context.
Grand Canyon National Park stands as a premier national park, showcasing a unique protected landscape within Arizona's diverse geography. This detailed entry focuses on the park's specific geographic identity, its mapped boundaries, and its significance within the regional atlas. Discover the contours of this protected area and its place in the natural terrain of the American Southwest.
- Area
- 4,926.08 km²
- Established
- 1919
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 4.9M annual
Wildlife reserveNevada
About 0.5 km away#2 closest
West
Jimbilnan Wilderness: Geographic Overview and Protected Desert Landscape in Nevada
Mapping the canyons, washes, and plateaus of the Black Mountains
Jimbilnan Wilderness offers a dense mosaic of Mojave Desert habitats within a compact protected footprint. Located in Clark County, this Nevada wildlife reserve features a transition from deep, rocky canyons carved into the Black Mountains to wide desert washes and benches near Lake Mead. The area is notable for its botanical diversity, including rare milkvetch and buckwheat, serving as a critical link between upland desert systems and the lacustrine environment of the reservoir.
- Area
- 76.4 km²
- Established
- 2002
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Wildlife reserveClark County
About 1.1 km away#3 closest
East
Jumbo Springs Wilderness: Geographic Profile and Protected Landscape Atlas
A rugged desert preserve in Clark County, Nevada
Jumbo Springs Wilderness preserves a dense concentration of desert geology within a compact footprint. Users can analyze the protected boundaries, which feature Precambrian metamorphic formations and granitic domes that rise above arid drainages. This area functions as a critical desert refuge near the Lake Mead reservoir, providing a distinct look at the transition between rocky mountain slopes and water-influenced desert microhabitats.
- Area
- 18.74 km²
- Established
- 2002
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Upland
Wildlife reserveNevada
About 4.7 km away#4 closest
South
Ireteba Peaks Wilderness: Protected Desert Mountains and Lake Mohave Reservoir Shoreline
Mapping the Eldorado Mountains within southern Nevada desert protected areas.
Spanning the southern Eldorado Mountains and the northern shores of Lake Mohave, Ireteba Peaks Wilderness represents a critical Mojave Desert protected area. This landscape integrates rugged, rocky ridgelines with arid desert slopes and reservoir inlets. Its geographic character, shaped by both federal wilderness designation and proximity to the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, preserves a vital slice of Nevada desert terrain and native ecological habitat.
- Area
- 132.51 km²
- Established
- 2002
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Wildlife reserveClark County
About 6.9 km away#5 closest
North
Muddy Mountains Wilderness: Geographic Atlas and Protected Desert Landscape Map
Exploration of sandstone terrain and Clark County topography.
Navigate the complex desert geography of the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, a protected area characterized by its vivid red cliffs, ancient cross-bedded sandstone, and steep elevation gains. This atlas entry provides essential context on the wilderness boundaries, regional landscape patterns, and environmental features that define this significant Mojave Desert refuge.
- Area
- 194.87 km²
- Established
- 2002
- Relief
- Mountain
- Water
- Minor water
Wildlife reserveArizona
10 km away#6 closest
South
Mount Nutt Wilderness: Mapping the Volcanic Canyons and Desert Landscapes of Arizona
A protected wilderness area in the central Black Mountains
Mount Nutt Wilderness offers a dramatic look at high desert topography, characterized by fortress-like volcanic formations and deeply incised canyons. This protected area in northwestern Arizona provides essential habitat for desert bighorn sheep while showcasing the contrast between sun-baked mesas and lush, spring-fed riparian zones.
- Area
- 114 km²
- Established
- 1990
- IUCN
- Ib
- Water
- Minor water
Wildlife reserveArizona
About 33 km away#7 closest
Southeast
Mount Tipton Wilderness: Protected Mountain Geography in Northwestern Arizona
High desert ridgelines and summit forest ecosystems
Mount Tipton Wilderness protects a striking segment of the Cerbat Mountains, characterized by its elevation-driven transition from arid desert lowlands to cooler, forested peaks. This rugged Arizona landscape features narrow spine ridges and the notable rock formations of the Cerbat Pinnacles, offering a preserved backcountry environment for those exploring the region's mountain geology and desert ecosystems.
- Area
- 124.5 km²
- Established
- 1990
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected landscapeNevada
50 km away#8 closest
Northwest
Humboldt, Toiyabe National Forest: Protected Landscape and Regional Mountain Geography
A vast network of Nevada mountain ranges and alpine wilderness
Humboldt, Toiyabe National Forest serves as a defining public land entity across Nevada and eastern California. As the largest national forest in the contiguous United States, it preserves a striking collection of isolated mountain ranges, including the Ruby Mountains and the rugged Jarbidge wilderness, within a broader basin-and-range landscape. Examine the boundaries and terrain that characterize this complex, high-desert ecosystem.
- Area
- 25,454 km²
- Established
- 1908
- Relief
- Mountain
- Access
- Easy access
MoriAtlas Explorer
Navigate the Geography of Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Continue exploring the desert terrain and reservoir boundaries within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This MoriAtlas entry provides a structured look at the ecosystems, canyons, and basin geography that define one of the most prominent protected landscapes in the United States.
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