THIS POST HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATED SINCE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION:
BOULDER CITY, Nevada – Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in response to Nevada Declaration of Emergency Directive 003 issued by the Governor of the State of Nevada, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the sixth most visited unit of the National Park Service. The park had nearly 40,000 visitors to the park on March 21, nearly double normal visitation for this time of year.
As of Monday, March 23, Lake Mead National Recreation Area will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At Lake Mead, the following visitor services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with coronavirus protective guidelines.
- All Nevada parking areas and roads will be closed to vehicles
- All Nevada park facilities will be closed, including restrooms
- All Nevada public beaches and picnic areas
- All Nevada marina operations
- All Nevada campgrounds
- All Nevada launch ramps
- Previously announced closures are still in effect
- The park will not issue permits nor conduct on-site public or educational programs.
The park remains open to day-use walkers, hikers and bicyclists. The popular 34-mile River Mountains Loop Multi-use Trail remains open. Visitors are asked to “pack it in and pack it out.”
Overnight park visitors will be given until noon March 25, 2020, to make alternate accommodations and leave the park.
Those with personal property within the park, such as boats, trailers or cabins, will be allowed vehicular access into the park to either remove their vessels or trailers or to remove belongings from their property. Boats may not be removed from slips for recreation purposes within the park, and overnight stays are prohibited after March 24.
As of March 17, the Lake Mead Visitor Center, Park Headquarters Lobby and Entrance Station Fee Collection Operations are closed or canceled until further notice.
The park remains open. Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, visitors may continue to enjoy the lakes, trails and open space areas. For the status of commercial operations, such as marinas, RV parks, raft trips, cruises, outfitters and special events like races, please contact the businesses directly to see if they have adjusted operations.
As of midnight March 20, the Temple Bar Campground and the restroom, Nevada Telephone Cove, Six Mile Cove and Nine Mile Cove are closed. Overnight campers at these locations will be given until noon March 22 to make alternate accommodations and leave the area.
As of midnight March 20, the following trails and hot springs will be closed: Arizona Hot Spring, White Rock Canyon and Goldstrike Canyon.
Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, the lakes, trails and open space areas will remain open.
The health and safety of park visitors, employees, volunteers and partners is the number one priority. The National Park Service is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.
The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.
For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness.
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. For Lake Mead updates, visit the main web site HERE. Please check with individual parks for specific details about other park operations.
