Lake Mead to close more areas, including beaches and marinas

Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 years ago

A view of wildflowers near Boulder Beach at Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Wednesday, Ma ... — A view of wildflowers near Boulder Beach at Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is seen Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Richard Keeley of Henderson pushes his belongings that were retrieved from his boat at Lake Las Vegas Boat Harbor at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Miguel Matos pushes his belongings that were retrieved from his boat at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Closed sign is posted at Lake Las Vegas Boat Harbor at Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Richard Keeley of Henderson transports his belongings that were retrieved from his boat in carts at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Kurt DeWinter of Henderson pulls his belongings that were retrieved from his boat as his daughter Haven, 6, and his dog Sky follow at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Charlie Sturtevant, left, of Colorado, elbow bump with his friend in place of a handshake for safety as he pulls his belongings that were retrieved from his boat at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monday, March 23, 2020. All park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Lake Mead National Recreation Area announced more closures to park operations on Sunday in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Starting Monday, all park facilities including restrooms will be closed, along with parking areas, public beaches and picnic areas, marinas, launch ramps and campgrounds, according to a news release sent Sunday.

[ More closures, changes here ]

The park previously announced several closures to specific sites, but with Sunday’s announcement National Park Service officials took the most definitive steps yet to seal off public access to the recreation area.

The release said the park will stay open for people hiking, walking or biking, and the River Mountains Loop trail will stay open.

“Visitors are asked to ‘pack it in and pack it out,’ ” the release said.

People with boats, trailers or other property inside the park will be given access to the park to pick up their property.

Overnight stays at the park will be stopped after Tuesday, officials said.

Contact Dalton LaFerney at dlaferney@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0288. Follow @daltonlaferney on Twitter.