The Best Swimming Holes Near Las Vegas

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
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Written by Kirstin Harrington

Updated: June 4, 2023

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The average daytime temperature in Las Vegas during the summertime regularly exceeds 100°F. Understandably, you’ll be looking for a means to cool off and combat the heat when the thermometer reads triple digits. Naturally, swimming should be at the forefront of your list of things to do in Las Vegas. 

You might not think of Las Vegas as a city with a lot of swimming options given its desert surroundings. But you’ll be shocked by how many fantastic swimming locations there are in and around the city! Browse these prime swim sites in Las Vegas if you want to escape the sun’s merciless rays.

Mandalay Bay Beach

Mandalay bay

The “beach” offers access to a wave pool with surges of up to 6 feet.

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The beach at Mandalay Bay offers a whole, tropical, aquatic resort rather than just a pool. Recreation and leisure are combined with sandy beaches, four separate pools, a big lazy river, and a running track. 

The stage, next to which many renowned performers perform music during the summer, is accessible from the beach, which also offers access to the wave pool with surges of up to 6 feet. For a lavish getaway, book a bungalow on the beach or in a private garden. 

All hotel visitors are welcome to use the Mandalay Bay pool for free during their visit. If you aren’t a guest at the Mandalay Bay hotel, you can pay to enjoy the pool at any time from Monday through Thursday by reserving a cabana.

Lake Mead

Record Low Water on Lake Mead

Lake Mead is home to some of the best aquatic locations in the American Southwest, despite being only a short distance from Las Vegas.

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Lake Mead is undoubtedly a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The National Recreation Area surrounding the lake is home to some of the best aquatic locations in the American Southwest, despite being only a short distance from Las Vegas. While some guests like to camp out along the shoreline, renting a houseboat is the best way to experience all of Lake Mead’s beaches and swimming destinations. 

Though Boulder Beach tends to be on the rugged side (guests should bring water shoes), it is a great place to utilize any swimming gear, kayaks, or inner tubes, thanks to its vast open area.

Another choice is Willow Beach, which is farther from Boulder Beach and Las Vegas. As a result, you’ll share the beach with fewer people. There are canoe rentals and a campground nearby, as well as some lovely landscape.

Red Rock Pool Backyard

Red rock pool las vegas

This spot provides a variety of poolside gaming tables for some real Vegas fun in the sunshine.

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If you don’t want to leave the comfort and convenience of the strip, consider visiting Red Rock pool. This popular spot provides an ambiance for every type of pool day with 19 exclusive cabanas, chair-side catering, and poolside gaming, whether you’re looking for unbroken tranquility or never-ending action. 

The people behind Red Rock know the greatest Las Vegas pools deliver excitement! This spot provides a variety of poolside gaming tables for some real Vegas fun in the sunshine. Before returning to the pool for a cool plunge, enjoy a terrific game of blackjack with one of their welcoming dealers.

Locals and tourists to the Las Vegas valley agree that this is one of the best Vegas pools, thanks to the hand-crafted beverages and healthy dishes at Sandbar cafĂ©, as well as the magnificent feeling of relaxation you’ll discover in the cozy daybeds.

Cave Lake State Park

Cave lake state park

Wildlife is abundant and diversified in Cave Lake State Park.

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In White Pine County, Nevada, near the Humboldt National Forest, on more than 4,000 acres in the Schell Creek Range, you’ll find Cave Lake State Park. Accessible via Success Summit Road and U.S. Route 50, the state park is situated a few miles southeast of Ely at an elevation of 7,300 feet.

All year long, Cave Lake State Park provides excellent recreational options. Mountain biking, swimming, hiking, and camping are summertime activities offered here. Additionally, wildlife is abundant and diversified in the park. The 32-acre reservoir, which is home to German brown trout and rainbow trout, offers excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The fishing is fantastic from the shore and for boaters.

Gold Strike Hot Springs

boulder city

Boulder City is home to Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs.

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Are you in the Las Vegas vicinity and looking to get out of the city and deep into nature? Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs, which is about an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip, is located outside of historic Boulder City. 

Hot springs are promised after a 600-foot plunge into this breathtakingly beautiful canyon, but getting there requires third-class climbing and passing eight fixed ropes that wind in and out of towering cliffs.

For something a little less adventurous, you can kayak along the Colorado River via the magnificent Black Canyon. Either of these hot springs’ excursions guarantee amazing animals, history, and tranquility in southern Nevada.

Summary of the Best Swimming Holes Near Las Vegas

Swimming HoleLocation
1Mandalay Bay BeachMandalay Bay
2Lake MeadNational Recreation Area
3Red Rock Pool BackyardLas Vegas
4Cave Lake State ParkWhite Pine County
5Gold Strike Hot SpringsBoulder City

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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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