Launch Ramps on Lake Mead and Mohave
Launch Ramps in Lake Mead National Recreation Area to access Lakes Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River.
Boating in Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Boating on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave is one of the more popular activities here. With more than 290 square miles of waterway to navigate, boaters can enjoy the thrill of open water or relax in a private cove. But boating also has its rules and regulations. This page covers everything you need to know to have a fun and safe time boating on the lakes, along with details about the park's many launch ramps and boat rental locations.
Boating on Lake Mead
See a listing and map of the launch ramps on Lake Mead and find important boating information.
Boating in the Black Canyon
The Black Canyon, south of the Hoover Dam, is a popular spot for kayakers and paddlers to experience the Colorado River.
Boating on Lake Mohave
See a listing and map of the launch ramps on Lake Mohave and find important boating information.
To boat at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, you will need a vehicle pass to enter the park and a vessel pass for each vessel to launch. These can be purchased at park entrance stations.
Your boat must be registered and equipped with safety equipment in accordance with your state's vessel laws.
When boating in Nevada, you are required to purchase and display an AIS (aquatic invasive species) decal on your vessel (unless it is registered in Arizona). These can be purchased online at https://nevada.licensing.kalkomey.com/products.
In Nevada
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All persons who operate vessels powered by a motor over 15 horsepower and who were born on or after January 1, 1983, must take and pass a boater education course or proficiency exam. The course exam must be one that is approved by NDOW.
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A person operating a personal watercraft must be at least 14 years of age.
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A person operating a vessel that is towing a person on water skis, a surfboard or any other device must be:
In Arizona
It is illegal for a person under the age of 12 to operate a vessel with a motor greater than 8 horsepower (which includes personal watercraft) unless:
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An emergency exists or...
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The child's parents or legal guardian is on board or...
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Another person at least 18 years of age is on board.
Before you launch, make sure that your vessel meets the federal requirements below.
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Display your boat's registration numbers on each side of the forward half of the boat.
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Carry a copy of current state registration documents on board.
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You must have a properly fitting, serviceable life jacket readily available on board for all occupants.
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Have a way to make a suitable day and night distress signal (flare, strobe light, etc.)
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Keep a portable fire extinguisher on board (types required vary by vessel).
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Follow ventilation requirements for your vessel type.
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All gasoline-powered inboard/outboard or inboard motor boats must be equipped with an approved backfire flame control device.
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Carry a sound-producing device (whistle, horn, etc.) that can be heard for at least 1/2 mile.
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All boats (including paddlecraft) must be able to display navigation lights.
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Boats 26 feet and over with a machinery compartment must display an oily waste pollution placard.
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Boats 26 feet and over in length must display a "MARPOL" trash placard. Boats 40 feet and over must also display a written trash disposal plan.
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Any installed toilet must be a Coast Guard approved device. Overboard discharge outlets must be capable of being sealed.
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Boats 39.4 feet and over must have on board a current copy of the Navigation Rules.
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Keep your deck free of hazards with a clean bilge.
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Protect fuses or manual reset circuit breakers from rain or water.
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Portable fuel tanks must be made of non-breakable material with a vapor-tight, leak-proof cap.
Before you launch, make sure that your vessel meets the federal requirements below.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are located in both Nevada and Arizona. As a boater, you are responsible for complying with the laws for both states.
View the Superintendent's Compendium for park-specific boating laws.
All vessels, except sailboards, must have at least one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed. This includes paddlecraft.
Children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket whenever underway in a vessel, unless they are in a fully enclosed area. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for persons under age 16.
Each person on board a personal watercraft or anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for these activities.
All occupants of hand-propelled craft operating between Hoover Dam and River Mile 43 (Chalk Cliffs) on Lake Mohave are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device when underway.
Marinas on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave rent a variety of boats, including sports boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, houseboats, personal watercraft and paddlecraft. They also rent water sports equipment, such as waterskis and wakeboards. For full details and to make a reservation, contact the marinas directly.
When you rent a boat, you will not need to purchase a vessel pass or AIS decal. Those are provided by the marina.
A person renting a vessel in Nevada must meet their state of residence boating education requirements. Every operator of a rental vessel is required to receive a safety briefing before operating the vessel.
Lake levels change regularly. Visit the Bureau of Reclamation website to see hourly elevation levels of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.
If and when lake levels decline, solid launch ramps may be extended with concrete planks or pipe mats. Visit the park's current conditions page for the latest status.
Launching is at your own risk. Always check your surroundings before launching.
No one may operate a personal watercraft that does not meet the 2006 emission standards set by EPA for the manufacturing of two-stroke engines. A person operating a personal watercraft that meets the EPA 2006 emission standards through the use of direct-injection two-stroke or four-stroke engines, or the equivalent thereof, is not subject to this prohibition and will be allowed to operate as described in this section.
See if your PWC is compliant.
Marinas on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave offer both on-the-water and dry boat storage. For full details and to make a reservation, contact the marinas directly.
- Operation Status: Open as of April 7, 2023, on pipe mat
- Access Plan: Construct a new concrete ramp to maintain access down to 1,000 ft
- Concession services to remain land-based (fuel, retail, RV sites)
- Below 980 ft: Evaluate primitive camping/RV sites lacking potable water
- Infrastructure Plans: Evaluate and remove non-essential structures as needed
- Potable Water: Available until 980 ft, with a relocation transition plan beyond that
- Closed Previously: May 11, 2022, at 1,053 ft elevation due to topographical constraints
- Operation Status: Open and operable
- Access Plans: Extend launch ramp down to 1,000 ft; evaluate feasibility to relocate ramp/marina 0.5mi south water elevation drops to approximately 950 ft
- Reevaluate existing ramp if levels rise
- Maintain concession services, parking, utilities, and restrooms
- Infrastructure Plans: Abandoned structures to be evaluated and removed
- Potable Water: Supplied by Boulder City
- Operation Status: Open as of January 18, 2023, via concessioner managed Mobi-Mat
- Access Plans: Mobi-Mat launch ramp maintained by the concessioner
- Close existing ramp at 1,065 ft and maintain services when levels are above 1,065 ft
- Infrastructure Plans: Maintain full concession services and evaluate longevity of overnight use areas
- Potable Water: Provided until 950 ft; below that, NPS facilities like overnight use areas and concession services would be evaluated and removed
- Transition plan to relocate trailer occupants below 950 ft
- Closed Previously: March 24, 2022, at 1,062 ft due to topographical constraint
- Operation Status: Open via primitive access road and launch area approximately .5mi south of concrete ramp.
- Access Plans: Operational support for access via primitive road and launching area down 1,035 ft at boaters' risk
- No new ramps or primitive access roads will be constructed below 1,035 ft
- Concrete launch ramp use will be available above 1,070 ft
- Infrastructure Plans: No amenities or services provided; abandoned infrastructure would be evaluated for removal
- Potable Water: None provided
- Closed Previously: Concrete ramp closed June 17, 2021, due to topographical constraints
- Operation Status: Open as of December 17, 2022, with concessioner managed Mobi-Mat
- Access Plans: Concessioner to maintain Mobi-Mat launch ramp maintained by concessioner
- Concession could relocate marina to maintain access via Mobi-Mat down to 950 ft
- Closure of marina and launch ramp is possible if financial resources are unavailable
- Infrastructure Plan: Maintain concession services and campground operations
- Evaluate and remove abandoned or unsafe structures
- Potable Water: Available based on funding and topography
- Transition plan for trailer occupants if water services cease
- Closed Previously: July 7, 2021, at 1,067 ft due to topographical constraints
TAKEOUTS ONLY: Pearce Ferry is located at the eastern most end of Lake Mead in Arizona and is the final exit point for Colorado River rafting trips from the Grand Canyon. The park service has expanded and improved this ramp in 2024 and is developing a river camp for boaters in 2025. Access to Lake Mead downstream of the launch is extremely dangerous due to declining lake levels. The Pearce Ferry Rapids (accessible to view via short walk down stream) is a rapidly changing and violent rapid that boaters should not run in attempting to get to Lake Mead.
Las Vegas Bay is located at the western edge of Lake Mead, near Henderson, Nevada. Historically, it featured a marina and public campground, serving as a popular spot for boating and recreation. Declining water levels rendered the marina inoperable, resulting in its relocation to Hemenway Harbor in October 2002.
Government Wash was a popular area within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area that once provided boat ramp access to the lake. Rapid water level decline revealed topographic challenges to extending the boat ramp or constructing a new one, which led to the boat ramp’s closure in September 2001. In August 2024, park officials temporarily closed the area due to a significant increase in crime and natural resource damage. The park intends to reopen the area for renewed land and water based recreational use for a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. Click here to learn more.
Boulder Harbor was once a popular launch site for boaters on Lake Mead, given its close proximity to Boulder City, NV. After several years of launch ramp extensions to “chase the water,” the ramp was closed In June 2021. This was because the harbor became too shallow and there were not enough resources to continually dredge and extend the boat ramp over the uneven and flat terrain. Boulder Harbor remains a popular and accessible scenic spot for fishing, hiking, and enjoying the lake.
Overton Beach launch ramp was the park’s northern most marina and launch ramp, providing recreational services to visitors from the Valley as well as Southern Utah and the Overton/Logandale area. Due to rapidly declining water levels, portions of the marina were moved to Callville Bay Marina and Temple Bar Marina in February 2007 before the ramp closed in April 2009.
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