Despite being in the desert, Las Vegas offers many opportunities to visit different waterways where you can enjoy nature, go fishing, or boating. Each waterway has different rules about fishing and boating, so ensure that you are following state rules when heading toward the water.  Whether you stay in Las Vegas or head out of town, here are five different waterways that you can visit around Las Vegas, courtesy of Crème de la Crème in Las Vegas, NV.  

1. Lake Las Vegas Marina

Lake Las Vegas is a waterway that is close to Vegas. It is a human-made lake located in Henderson that is 320 acres and extends 2.5-miles long. At its deepest point, the lake is 90 feet deep. Lake Las Vegas is a private lake, but you can visit the marina and rent boats so that you can enjoy some time out on the lake. 

Because the lake is private, residential homes, resorts, and golf courses line the shore. The area is beautiful and green, and there is still lots to see as you boat around the lake. You can still see the desert hills from the water in the distance, making the lake a beautiful place to visit and enjoy for the day. 

The Las Vegas Marina has lots of opportunities to rent different water vehicles. Whether you want to rent a paddleboard, kayak, or electric boat rental, there are a variety of different options to choose from. If you want to head out on the waterway with a group of people, you can also rent a yacht that extends 80-feet and can host up to 130 people while serving cocktails and hors d’oeuvres or 48 people for a sit-down dinner. 

2. Lake Mead

Image via Flickr by wjklos 

Lake Mead is a vast lake close to Las Vegas that offers plenty of opportunities to go fishing or boating. It’s the largest reservoir in the United States and is home to the Hoover Dam with over 750 miles of shoreline to explore. There are many different shores and marinas you can visit around the lake, so there is no shortage of places to boat and fish. 

For those interested in fishing, there are over 290 square miles of water surface that you can explore while looking for a wide variety of fish. While Lake Mead is famous for its striped bass, other fish you could encounter include rainbow trout, sunfish, catfish, and crappie, to name a few. 

You can either bring your own kayak or rent one at the marinas in the area.  There are also professional guided tours you can book for a kayak excursion as well. 

Within Lake Mead, there are a variety of different locations you can visit. Hemenway Harbor is a great place to take your own boat out or rent one for a few hours. Available rentals include kayaks, paddleboards, pontoons, or sport and jet boats. You can also catch a cruise to see Hoover Dam from this location. Other places that are great for boating include Callville Bay, Boulder Harbor, or Temple Bar. 

If you enjoy fishing, Echo Bay is a great place to visit to catch some striped bass and largemouth bass. There are places you can go fishing both along the shore or in the water. 

There is a cost to visit the lake, which is $25 for a day pass for a vehicle or $45 for an annual pass. 

3. Sunset Park Pond

This 14-acre pond is located in Las Vegas. While you can’t put boats on the pond, it is an excellent place for fishing. The pond has self-sustaining fish populations, but it is also manually stocked weekly with rainbow trout. In addition to rainbow trout, some of the other fish species you will find at Sunset Park Pond include channel catfish, two different sunfish species, largemouth bass, and crappie. 

The pond is a beautiful place to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle as it is very close to the strip. While there, you can enjoy the beauty of the park with its different trees and paths while you fish before heading back to city life. 

4. Floyd Lamb Park

At Floyd Lamb Park, you will find four ponds that you can explore within the 680-acre park. The park is a little oasis full of beautiful trees and other vegetation.  IT has 680-acres that you can explore in addition to its four pounds and is full of wildlife and views of the Spring and Sheep Mountain Ranges. There is also the Tule Springs Ranch that teaches you about a traditional working ranch. 

While you can’t boat here, the ponds offer opportunities to fish. One of the ponds is even stocked monthly. Fish that you can catch include largemouth bass, channel catfish, and rainbow trout. 

The park also has a rich history and has been hosting visitors for thousands of years. 

The cost to visit the park is $6 a vehicle or $1 a person if you have more than six people in the vehicle. 

5. Emerald Cove

Emerald Cove is a must-see because of its beautiful green water. The water in Emerald Cove is bright green because of light that reflects off the sediment of the cave walls, making the water look bright green. 

If you want to head to Emerald Cove, this area is only accessible by boat. Most people kayak to the cove, which is hidden between tall canyon walls. On your trip to the cove, there are opportunities to spot different birds, bighorn sheep, bats, and a beautiful waterfall. 

These are just five of the many waterways around Las Vegas. Whether you want to stay in the city or head out of town, there is no shortage of beautiful places to visit. What is your favorite place to visit to go boating or fishing? We at Crème de la Crème of Las Vegas would love to hear from you so we can add your favorite place to our list of places to visit!