The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a destination for more than 9 million visitors yearly. A variety of activities can be enjoyed on Lake Mead including camping, boating, water skiing and fishing. There are many species of game fish including largemouth bass, crappie, blue gill, catfish and striped bass. Striped bass of more than 50 pounds have been caught in Lake Mead. Although use of the Recreation Area is currently free, the National Park Service will in the next few years begin charging a fee to enter the area.
Campers already pay a fee to stay the night in improved facilities at the lake.
Marinas on Lake Mead rent houseboats, ski boats and fishing boats. The 550 miles of shore around the lake presents some great opportunities for outdoor recreation. A visit to the park is a trip back in time where centuries of wind erosion carved red sandstone rock formations into exotic shapes. Still visible today are the petroglyphs that Native Americans cut into boulders and rock faces. In the city of Overton, a short distance from Valley of Fire, the Lost City Museum contains artifacts from ancient Native American civilizations that once lived on the banks of the nearby Muddy River.