BOULDER CITY, Nevada -Las Vegas is the gateway to national parks in the west.
There are 23 national park units and millions of acres of canyons, lakes, wildlife, trails and mountains located within five hours of the city -all waiting to be explored.
From Vegas, people can find America's largest national recreation area;the hottest, lowest and driest spot in the country;and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
"Las Vegas is a top tourist destination because of our amazing resorts, five-star dining, fabulous boutique shopping, and of course, we are also the entertainment capital of the world," said Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. "What people may not realize is that we have several world-class outdoor recreation areas and parks that not only attract visitors, but are also great amenities for our residents."
The park service, along with partners from the City of Las Vegas, Southern Nevada Agency Partnership and Nevada State Parks, has launched FindYourPark.Vegas to help visitors find these unique destinations.
The website highlights outdoor recreation getaways located within one, three and five hours of the Las Vegas Strip. It also includes a map feature and video clips.
Within an hour of Las Vegas, people can discover two national parks: Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.
"Lake Mead is America's largest and most diverse national recreation area, where people can boat, hike, cycle, camp and fish," said Lizette Richardson, park superintendent. "With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes. See the Hoover Dam from the waters of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave, or find solitude in one of the park's nine wilderness areas."
Tule Springs is the state's newest national park unit where ancient life meets neon lights.
"The desert badlands hold an impressive assemblage of ice age fossils, including mammoths, lions and camels," said Jon Burpee, the park superintendent. "Although most fossils lie deep beneath the surface, visitors can hike throughout the park to explore the fossil sediments that were formed as far back as 250,000 years ago."
Six more national parks, including Zion, Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley (the country's hottest, lowest and driest point) are less than three hours away. Within five hours, visitors can discover fifteen more national parks, including Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and Great Basin, Bryce Canyon and Joshua Tree.
And, Vegas is a gateway to more than just national parks. Within an hour, locals and tourists can travel to parks managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Nevada, Clark County and other cities in the nearby metropolitan area.
Along with the website, the Find Your Park from Vegas campaign includes a variety of printed materials and a public service announcement that will air at the Fremont Street Experience April 16 through 24, during National Park Week. The film, which is currently in production, stars Goodman, an Elvis impersonator and a showgirl.
"The recreational opportunities from Las Vegas are endless," said Richardson. "No matter the season, no matter the activity, you can find your park from Vegas."
To Find Your Park from Vegas, visit www.FindYourPark.Vegas. To view the national Find Your Park movement, visit www.findyourpark.com.
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Editor's Note:
Hi-resolution campaign materials and b-roll of the Fremont Street Experience production are available at www.findyourpark.vegas/resources.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
