Fall/Winter 2025 Issue
Spotlight
Discover the Beaches of Big Bend
Our southernmost state park delivers the perfect beachy vibe.
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area wanders alongside the Colorado River. The shoreline is dotted with covered shelters, picnic benches, horseshoe pits, and sandy beaches. You read that right—sandy beaches. While Nevada has no shortage of lakes and rivers, Big Bend conjures a much more tropical vibe—complete with a lagoon—than visitors might expect to find in the Silver State.
Fun in the Sun
Located just outside Laughlin, Big Bend is a top destination for outdoor lovers. Since joining the Nevada State Parks system in 1996, this stretch of the Colorado River has become the ultimate southern Nevada haunt for picnicking, bird watching, fishing, boating, camping, jet skiing, hiking, and swimming.
True to its name, the park is located along an actual big bend in the river, offering state-to-state views of Bullhead City, Arizona, across the river. The park is located just a few miles downstream of Davis Dam and the river is clear and cool year-round. The park encompasses 2 miles of trail-studded shoreline and riparian areas, along with panoramic viewpoints and rock formations.
Photo: Nevada State Parks
Hikers, mountain bikers, and walkers will find 4 miles of trail in the campground. Keep an eye out for the area’s abundant wildlife, such as cottontail, fox, beaver, and even the occasional bobcat or bighorn sheep. Upon entering the park you may even see roadrunners compete with quail for mesquite beans, with numerous waterfowl looking on. Big Bend is quickly becoming a birder’s paradise thanks to its easily accessible and plentiful viewing opportunities.
OHV and ATV fans will love the myriad trails accessible from the campground that traverse the desert landscape where you can ride for miles. In fact, you could take a dirt trail all the way to Boulder City, if you were so inclined.
Choose Your Stay
Along with those sun-soaked vibes, Big Bend has a 24-unit campground with mostly pull-through sites for RVs up to 60 feet long. The campground is a favorite of snowbirds escaping the winter chill, but it has local fans, too.
Fall and winter are great times to visit Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation thanks to mild yet still-warm-enough-to-swim temps and fewer crowds. In summer, temps can soar to 120 degrees, so it’s no wonder the shores of the rolling river call so many to bask in its sunny skies and cool waters. Whatever season you visit, bring your swimsuit and sunscreen.
Photo: Nevada State Park
After a day at the beach (or during a longer stay) treat yourself to a night at town-namesake Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino. Enjoy a great meal at Bumbleberry Flats or see one of the big-name concerts the area is known for. But most of all, stop and take a picture with River Rick, and tell him Wendover Will and Vegas Vickie say hello.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Day use is hugely popular, so reservations are required May through September. Head to ReserveNevada.com to make your day-use and camping reservations. The park is ADA friendly; three campsites are reserved for permit holders, plus parking and beach access points are accessible for most. Limited mobility visitors will find rubber mats occasionally snaking down toward the water to ease their way.
