Diane Taylor

Driving to Beautiful Lake Mead

The nearby Lake Mead National Recreation Area opened this week, so a friend and I — housebound for too long — made the drive. We had learned from the newspaper that the only people with access to the area would be folks with a pre-paid entry pass, or, in our case, a Golden Age Passport.

When we arrived at the entrance to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, two cars were in front of us and the drivers were taking a long time talking with the guard there. We couldn’t hear the conversation, but gestures and the actions of the cars led us to believe they did not have passes and were asked to turn around. (Currently passes are available only on line.) My friend flashed a Golden Age card and the appropriate ID and breezed through.

Many of us in Las Vegas have been to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in the past, so what we saw was nothing new except….after a long quarantine, the place, if one likes desert landscapes, looked almost breathtakingly beautiful and we couldn’t help but take photos. We vowed to come back, but because the heat got to us when we left the car for more than 15 minutes to look around, next time we promised to start out earlier. Below are a few of my photos from the outing:

When approaching the Lake Mead entrance to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on a Tuesday at about Noon, two cars were in front of us.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Our first view inside the gate showed us lots of layers and colors of the landscape.
Photo by Diane Taylor
The crowds were sparse, so a number of the shaded picnic areas were empty.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Can branches on wild plants be beautiful? Indeed.
Photo by Diane Taylorr
Along the way, we spotted folks from the Black Mountain HOG group — parking six feet apart.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Talk about spunk. This plant saw its way to grow and bloom in the very small space between the blacktop and concrete curb at one of the Lake Mead overlooks.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Cotton-like balls on the tips of wild bushes are a perfect foreground when looking at hills in the background.
Photo by Diane Taylor
A first view of blue lake waters amid the harsh landscape.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Don’t know what this is, but it looked like a holiday plant turned white.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Another lake view, with purple mountains needing a paintbrush.
Photo by Diane Taylor
In the desert, yellow can become a favorite color.
Photo by Diane Taylor
On our way to the Lake Mead marina. In the far background, we could see the “bathtub ring” that indicated how much the lake level has gone down over the years.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Lots of cars were at the marina, and we did see a very few boats on the lake.
Photo by Diane Taylor
Ducks were everywhere and they weren’t afraid of us!
Photo by Diane Taylor
Yes, at the marina, those big hungry fish were still there to greet us and say “welcome”.
Photo by Diane Taylor

Comments

9 responses on “Driving to Beautiful Lake Mead”

  2. Thanks, Di! Haven’t been there for a few years. Brought back great memories. I suppose the little food concession area was closed…or, gone.

  6. Nice pictures. I haven’t been there for some time so might take a ride as I have a golden age pass

  7. Sorry Mary, I didn’t know the Golden Age Passport is no longer being issued. Here’s what Google says:
    Golden Age Passport was a pass issued by the United States National Park Service until January 1, 2007. It has been replaced with the Senior Pass of the new pass series now called America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and authorized by Congress in December 2004. The cost is $80 for a lifetime Senior Pass (age 62 and older), and is considered by travelers quite a bargain.

  9. Roger, they are carp, and apparently they have long memories. There used to be popcorn vending machines on the dock where you insert a coin and get a bag full — to feed the fish! They would climb over one another in their anxiety, and all you could see was open mouths. Tons and tons of them. Diane’s photo didn’t show THAT many so maybe some have gone searching for greener (food) pastures. I don’t think the popcorn sold there was human edible. May not have been that fresh, but the fish aren’t picky. Diane, loved your photos. Stuck here in Midwest for time being, but you made me long for those beautiful drives to Lake Mead. New Interstate 11 bypasses everything now, only a brief view of the Lake as you whizz by at high speed. Best to you all.

Comments are closed.