Lake Mead National Recreation Area ⓘ

J.E. Thurston (Mark R. Harrington Published by Southwest Museum Papers)

Before the existence of Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Hoover Dam, the area encompassing the one and a half million acres of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area was occupied by early desert Indian cultures, adventurous explorers, ambitious pioneers looking for cheap land and religious freedom, and prospectors seeking riches.

Based on archaeological evidence, several Native American cultures have been identified as having existed 8,000 to 10,000 years ago in an environment wetter and cooler than it is today. These cultures hunted game, gathered local edible plants and practiced farming. In a cave near present-day Lake Mead, the remains of large mammals were discovered by archaeologist Mark R.Harrington and paleontologist James Thurston including: ground sloth ( Nothrotheriops shastensis ), horse ( Equus sp .), camel ( Camelops sp .) and mountain sheep ( Ovis canadensis ). Notches found on the bones of animals located in that primitive dwelling show evidence that they were prepared and eaten by humans.

Various prehistoric culture groups made the Colorado River region their home. Archaeological investigations have provided evidence that some were hunter/gatherers and lived in caves; other groups lived in pit houses and Puebloan-type structures, and practiced early farming. Ranging from present day Davis Dam north to the Virgin and Muddy Rivers, these early farming groups grew corn, beans, squash and cotton.

Their technology included pottery of the reddish-brown and gray-brown buff ware with simple black and red decoration. They ground corn and seeds with manos and metate and hunted game with spears, bows & arrows made from local or traded materials.

Early explorers traveling from Utah to California crossed through the region over land and water. In search of areas rich in animal furs for trade, Jedediah Smith traversed the Virgin and Colorado rivers in 1826 and 1827, encountering the early Indians who lived along the river banks.

In 1855, Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives traveled the lower Colorado River in search of safe and efficient passage upon the steamship, Explorer . Following Ives, John Wesley Powell continued exploration of the upper Colorado River from the Grand Canyon to where it meets the Virgin River. Powell became a noted historian of the region.

Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick

The southwestern desert with its arid environment was a most inhospitable environment in which to live. For centuries the early native inhabitants living along the Colorado River found innovative ways to irrigate small agricultural plots. The region became more and more populated by white settlers with the advent of rail transportation and the discovery of gold and silver in the mountains of southern Nevada. Mormon pioneers established communities and prospectors established mining claims up and down the river.

Visionaries desiring continued westward expansion sought to discover ways to harness the power of the river to allow for large-scale irrigation and other industries. Thus, the concept of building a dam was born.

The Reclamation Act of 1902 thus instituted the construction of Boulder Dam, later to be named Hoover Dam which began in1931.

The reservoir created by the damming of the Colorado River became Lake Mead, named after Elwood Mead, the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner at the time. The newly formed lake drew thousands of visitors to this wondrous contrast of desert and water. Lake Mead National Recreation Area became the first national recreation area in 1964. Today, millions of visitors each year come to enjoy the many recreational opportunities found within the park’s diverse landscape.

The outstanding rock formations that surround lakes Mead and Mohave tell the story of spectacular geologic events. These stories are revealed as if in chapters in a book, each one building on the last and leading to the next. From shallow seas that covered today’s dry and barren desert to cataclysmic volcanic activity that shook the earth, this land has been transformed by stretching, pulling, and cutting to create the rock we see today. It was also these events that set the stage for a river to be born. While mountain building and volcanic activity appear to have ended, geologic processes such as erosion continue to transform the landscape.

T he geologic story of the landscape surrounding lakes Mead and Mohave began more than a billion years ago when this area was a shallow sea. Sediments from this ancient ocean were invaded and contorted by molten rock, some of which made it to the surface as lava flows. The mix of molten rock, sediments and lava cooled to become the 1.7 billion-year-old gneiss, schist, and granite as seen at places like Saddle Island. These are among the lake’s oldest rocks. This early history marks the long prelude to chapter one in the geologic story.

Start your Adventure Spend your next camping adventure on the lake. With over 900 camping and RV sites at 15 different locations, there is a variety of desert and lakeside landscapes sure to please everyone. Lake Mead National Recreation Area's campgrounds offer restrooms, running water, dump stations, grills, picnic tables and shade. RV's, trailers and tents welcome. Concessioner campgrounds, including recreational vehicle hook-ups, are also available within the park.

If you prefer to camp off the grid, the park has many options for backcountry camping. Visit our backcountry page to learn more what opportunities are available. If you are camping in a primitive campground or a backcountry site, help us keep our campgrounds and sites beautiful and maintained by following these Leave No Trace (LNT) principles : 1) Plan ahead and prepare 2) Travel and camp on durable surfaces 3) Dispose of waste properly 4) Leave what you find 5) Minimize campfire impacts 6) Respect wildlife 7) Be considerate of other visitor

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