Lake Mead National Recreation Area
After the completion of the Hoover Dam, the waters of the Colorado River filled the deep canyons that once towered above the river to create a huge reservoir. This lake, with its 700 miles (1,130 km) of shoreline, is the centerpiece of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a 1.5-million acre (600,000-ha) tract of land. the focus is on water sports, especially sailing, waterskiing, and fishing. Striped bass and rainbow trout are popular catches. there are also several campgrounds and marinas.
Valley of fire State Park
This spectacularly scenic state park has a remote, desert location some 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Las Vegas. Its name derives from the red sandstone formations that began as huge, shifting sand dunes about 150 million years ago. there are four well-maintained trails across this wilderness, including the Petroglyph Canyon Trail, an easy half-mile (0.8-km) loop, which takes in several fine prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan rock carvings. here, summer temperatures often reach 112F (30C). the best time to visit is in spring or fall.
The nearby town of Overton lies along the Muddy River. Ancestral Puebloan people settled here in around 300 BC but left some 1,500 years later, perhaps because of a long drought.
Archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of prehistoric artifacts in the area since the first digs began in the 1920s. Overton’s Lost City Museum of Archaeology, just outside the town, has a large collection of pottery, beads, woven baskets, and delicate turquoise jewelry.
Mount Charleston
About 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston rises to 11,918 ft (35,754 m) out of Toiyabe National Forest, clad with pine, mountain mahogany, fir, and aspen. also known as the Spring Mountain Recreation Area, it offers refuge from the Las Vegas summer heat, with a variety of hiking trails and picnic areas. in the wintertime, skiing and snowboarding are popular.
A range of hikes is available, including two demanding trails that snake up to the summit: the 11-mile (18-km) North Loop Trail, and the 9-mile (14-km) South Loop Trail. Easier walks on the forested slopes are also marked, including a one-hour hike up Cathedral Rock. This walk starts from a picnic area at the end of Nevada State Hwy 157.
This is the more southerly of the two byroads leading to Mount Charleston off Hwy 95; the other is Hwy 156, which runs to the Lee Canyon Ski Area, catering to both skiers and snowboarders.