The Clark County Wetlands Park is the largest in the county's park system. It's also a dual-purpose project. It provides insight and education for the public on human impact on the desert environment, while also reducing the environmental toll of wastewater and stormwater runoff.
Technically a constructed wetland, the park offers a series of ponds that slow down water runoff. Native grasses have been planted between and around these ponds, and the park has also invested in native plants to stabilise the sides of an urban river (called the Las Vegas Wash) and to purify the water in the lakes and connecting streams.
The Clark County Wetlands Park sits on the eastern side of the Las Vegas valley, spanning a total of 2,900 acres. About 210 acres are set aside as a nature preserve complete with its own trail. You can experience quiet areas, wetlands, bodies of water, and a variety of native wildlife throughout the park.
Clark County Wetlands Park in Las Vegas - one of the highlights of 10 Best Natural Wonders in Las Vegas (Read all about Las Vegas here)
What are the highlights of Clark County Wetlands Park?
At almost 3,000 acres, the Clark County Wetlands Park offers many different exploration opportunities. With miles of hiking and biking trails, outdoor activities are very popular but there is much more on offer here.
A popular attraction is the Nature Center, which opened in 2013. It provides 10,000 sq ft of space where you can engage with dioramas and exhibits, as well as explore artwork showcasing the area's native flora and fauna. Make sure to stop at the front desk to pick up audio tour equipment during your visit. You can also opt for a "family backpack" to enjoy an outdoor trail with information about the various areas within the park.
The nature preserve offers access to 3 distinct habitats and many paved trails, as well as ADA accessible trails. You will also find unpaved trails that wind through stands of trees and beside ponds.
A brief history of Clark County Wetlands Park
While the Clark County Wetlands Park is a relatively modern development, the area has a long, rich history. Evidence in the area shows human habitation as much as 10,000 years ago, though evidence within the Las Vegas Wash itself dates back to roughly 600 AD. Archaeologists have used the Wash's stratified layers to identify the use of the area by many different groups of Native Americans over time, including the Anasazi, Yuman/Mohave, and Southern Paiute people.
Spanish explorers arrived in the Las Vegas area during the late 1700s but did not visit the Wash until Antonio Armijo did in 1829. American settlers arrived later in the 1800s, with the creation of the Old Mormon Fort on Las Vegas Creek, which feeds into the Wash.
Today, the park offers many opportunities for visitors to learn about the natural and human history of the Las Vegas Wash and the surrounding area, from exhibits to first-hand exploration.
Good to know about Clark County Wetlands Park
Make sure to stop at the Indoor Picnic Café to enjoy a picnic (with air-conditioning). Note that there is no vending at the park, so you should bring your own food and water (this includes the Picnic Café).
Some of the most popular areas in the Clark County Wetlands Park include Boardwalk Pond, the Cottonwood Grove, North Pond Wildlife Blind, and Vern’s Pond and Island. The Upper Diversion Weir Bridge, also called Big Bridge, is one of the nature preserve’s most visited spots.
If you plan to bike within the park, you will be limited to the Wetlands Loop Trail, which runs for 14 miles, including a 9.5-mile paved section. Leashed dogs are allowed on most trails but not in the nature preserve. Note that most trails are not appropriate for motorised vehicles.
Clark County Wetlands Park in Las Vegas
Locatie: 7050 Wetlands Park Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89122, USA
Telefoonnummer: +1 702-455-7522
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