Dramatic desert landscapes and vegetation surrounded by towering mountains, canyons, and plateaus make Lake Mead — famously the largest reservoir in the United States — a destination that should be on everybody’s bucket list. Its dark blue waters are home to boating, kayaking, and fishing, and the arid scenery provides the perfect panoramic backdrop to hiking. If you are looking to get into the action of Las Vegas, Lake Mead is around a 30-minute drive from the strip.

Points of Interest

Cruises

Take in the glory of Lake Mead from the three-level paddle wheeler, the Desert Princess. The Desert Princess offers a champagne brunch cruise, a mid-day sightseeing cruise, and a dinner cruise. Also, lookout for notable landmarks such as the Arizona Paint Pots, an extinct volcano called Fortification Hill, and the Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam

Attracting over 7 million visitors a year, the Hoover Dam is a National Historic Landmark that is a true engineering marvel. Lake Mead Cruises offer a unique opportunity to observe the dam from the deck of the Desert Princess. The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930 and site at 726 feet tall. The dam holds 45,000 pounds per square foot of water.