Lake Mead: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour (Includes Valley of Fire State Park)

Things to do on the Tour Include:

• Welcome

  The marina has relocated due to dropping water levels in Lake Mead, requiring frequent moves, like shoveling snow in a never-ending blizzard.

• Geology

  Lake Mead's history began a billion years ago, with battles between water and volcanic activity resulting in layers of rock like gneiss and granite.

• Colorado River Indian Tribes

  Native American tribes, including Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo, thrived in the area using the river for their livelihood.

• Hot Springs

  Over 300 springs sustain wildlife and plants, with hot springs' mineral waters being significant for Native American cultures.

• Hatchery Saddle Point

  The Lake Mead Fish Hatchery once thrived here, but quagga mussel infestation and lowering water levels forced its shutdown.

• Sunset View Scenic Overlook

  This viewpoint offers stunning panoramas of Lake Mead, Muddy Mountains, and the Callville Mesa.

• Beavers

  Despite the swift river, beavers thrive here with their dens scattered along the banks.

• Owl Canyon Trail

  Exposed by receding water levels, this canyon offers a 2-mile hike with potential owl sightings.

• El Dorado

  The area was dubbed Eldorado by Spanish explorers, but it was silver, not gold, they found, although later gold rushes transformed the region.

• Ahvote’s Grudges

  Infamous for murder, Ahvote killed a camp leader and others due to personal disputes.

• The Ute and Paiute People

  These tribes settled around 1,000 years ago, adapting to the harsh environment through hunting and gathering.

• Wetlands Trail

  This short trail is favored by bird enthusiasts for spotting species like the Black-throated Sparrow and Great Blue Heron.

• The Las Vegas Wash

  This channel carries excess water from the city to Lake Mead, with its flow increasing alongside urban growth.

• Golden Eagles

  With a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet, these raptors hunt prey like the prairie rattlesnake.

• Northshore Road Overlook

  Pause for panoramic views of the landscape and the Las Vegas Wash.

• Powell’s Expedition

  Led by John Wesley Powell in 1869, this daring expedition explored the uncharted Colorado River.

• Steamboats On the Colorado River

  Steamboats were crucial for transportation along the Colorado River in the late 1800s, with the first steamboat "Uncle Sam" making significant deliveries for the U.S. Army.

• Elwood Mead

  Lake Mead is named after engineer Elwood Mead, who revolutionized water laws in the region by proposing state ownership of water and permits for usage.

• The Imperial Valley Disaster

  The Imperial Valley disaster highlighted the need for river control, as the Alamo Canal led to massive flooding in the valley.

• Harry Thomas Cory

  Cory's innovative approaches, including redirecting the river and using massive rockfill, ultimately tamed the Colorado River during the Imperial Valley disaster.

• Callville Wash Trail

  The Callville Wash Trail offers views of Callville, a settlement established by Anson Call, and explores his journey as a Mormon pioneer.

• Mesquite Trees

  Mesquite trees were vital for Native tribes, serving multiple purposes, but drought and relocation have diminished their presence.

• Anniversary Narrows Trail

  Named after Francis "Borax" Marion Smith, this trail showcases his discovery of borax, which brought prosperity to him.

• Hamblin-Cleopatra Volcano

  The Hamblin-Cleopatra Volcano split due to earthquake faults around 13 million years ago, forming Hamblin Mountain and the Cleopatra Lobe.

• White Gold

  The value of borax, despite high profits, was offset by significant overhead costs, leading to eventual changes in the industry.

• Hoover Dam

  After the Imperial Valley Disaster, the Bureau of Reclamation constructed the Hoover Dam, securing water distribution through the Colorado River Compact.

• Northshore Summit Trail

  This trail offers steep but rewarding views, named after Mormon pioneer Francis “Borax” Marion Smith.

• The Lost City

  The Lost City, discovered by the Perkins brothers in 1924, reveals an ancient settlement submerged under Lake Mead.

• The Puebloans

  The Puebloans built houses from clay, created pottery, and left petroglyphs in the region, surviving harsh conditions before leaving around 1000 AD.

• The Most Repulsive Tree

  Lake Mead boasts 700 flower species and Invasive Plant Management combats non-native plants threatening the ecosystem.

• A Most Peculiar Specimen

  Joshua trees, actually yuccas, are versatile and significant, serving as clothing material and offering sustenance.

• Rattlesnakes

  Rattlesnakes, though dangerous, give warning signals and are rarely lethal with modern antivenom treatment.

• Redstone Dune Trail

  This trail features sandstone formations that evolved from ancient sand dunes over millions of years.

• Mountain Lions

  Mountain lions are solitary carnivores with hissing and purring vocalizations, usually avoiding humans but requiring caution.

• Monster of the Lake

  Gila monsters, colorful lizards, can grow large and are native, storing fat in their tails.

• Dinosaur Fossils

  Lake Mead holds diverse fossils, including trilobites, crinoids, corals, and more, showcasing transitions in the environment.

• How Do Fossils Form?

  Fossils form as organisms are quickly covered by sediment, preserving their shape over millions of years.

• Suckers!

  Native razorback suckers struggle due to habitat changes, while non-native sportfish thrive in Lake Mead.

• Water Wars

  The Colorado River Compact excluded Native tribes, leading to water disputes and a new showdown as the compact expires in 2026.

• Echo Bay

  The founder of eBay named his website after Echo Bay Marina, which he enjoyed visiting.

• B-29 Crashes into Lake Mead

  Dr. Carl Anderson's B-29 crashed into Lake Mead in 1958 due to misjudgment of altitude.

• Hidden Horrors of Lake Mead

  Falling water levels at Lake Mead have revealed human remains from decades ago, some involving unresolved homicides.

• Rogers Spring

  Rogers Spring remains mysterious, possibly sourced from high mountain ranges and flowing upward through faults.

• Blue Point Spring Trail

  The trail leads to Blue Point Spring, linked historically to a failed irrigation project and a laxative water incident.

• Historic St Thomas Loop Trail

  St. Thomas, an early settlement, succumbed to Lake Mead's rising waters due to the construction of the Hoover Dam, leaving its history submerged.

• Valley of Fire

  The Valley of Fire State Park features stunning red rock formations shaped by erosion, holding historical significance for ancient civilizations.

• Elephant Rock Overlook

  Elephant Rock, a sandstone arch, resembles an elephant's trunk and sparks theories about its origin, but it's crucial to protect and admire from a distance.

• Historic Cabins

  Stone cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Valley of Fire hold petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings with cultural significance.

• Seven Sisters

  The Seven Sisters are eroded red boulder formations resembling a group of tall figures, reflecting the forces of weather and time.

• Detour: Arch Rock

  A detour leads to Arch Rock and other formations with abundant petroglyphs, offering a unique and recommended experience.

• Atlatl Rock

  Atlatl Rock features petroglyphs of Pueblo tribes using atlatls, ancient dart throwers, showcasing their history in vibrant red-orange rock.

• Fire Cave and Windstone Arch

  Fire Cave and Windstone Arch, once stunning attractions, saw Fire Cave's collapse, possibly due to a mix of natural erosion and human activity.

• Mouse's Tank and Petroglyph Canyon Trail

  Mouse’s Tank trail reveals ancient petroglyphs, while a legend surrounds Little Mouse, a renegade Southern Paiute Indian.

• Silica Dome Trail

  Silica Dome, named for its silica-rich sand grains, showcases unique rock transitions and a color change caused by iron content.

• Cactus Wren

  Amid the arid landscape, the Valley of Fire is a habitat for various wildlife, including Cactus Wrens that thrive on cacti.

• Kangaroo Rat

  The Kangaroo Rat, despite its name, is not related to kangaroos, but its unique adaptations help it survive the harsh desert conditions.

• Coyotes

  Valley of Fire is home to Coyotes, adaptable creatures often mistaken for wolves, showcasing their resilience against human-induced endangerment.

• Pastel Canyon

  Pastel Canyon, a hidden gem, boasts scalloped sandstone walls in pink and orange hues caused by mineral oxidation.

• Fire Wave Trail

  The Fire Wave Trail leads to a sandstone formation resembling a frozen ocean wave and offers glimpses of desert marigolds and indigo bushes.

• Lights, Camera, Action

  Valley of Fire's iconic landscape has made it a favorite Hollywood filming location, featured in films like Star Trek and Total Recall.

• White Dome Trail

  The White Dome Trail offers a short loop through slot canyons and unique sandstone formations, including fake ruins from a 1965 movie.