Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- $10 per vehicleAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- Required at certain times
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- 8 campsites
- Official site
- parks.nv.gov(702) 298-1859
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Clark County, about 5 miles west of Bullhead City, Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area covers about 1,966 acres.
Popular activities here are canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are 8 campsites (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
Park: vary by season, see below. Campground: always open - available by reservation
Hours: Campground is always open. Park hours vary by season.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Day use entrance fee | $10 · vehicle |
| Day use entrance fee | $15 · vehicle |
| Boat launch | $20 |
| Boat launch | $25 |
| Camping | $20 · vehicle |
| Camping | $25 · vehicle |
| Camping | $10 · vehicle |
| Camp and boat | $30 · night |
| Camp and boat | $35 · night |
| Camp and boat | $10 · night |
| Bike in | $2 · walk-in |
Official wording
Day use entrance fee: $10.00 per vehicle (Non-NV Vehicles: $15.00 per vehicle) Boat launch: $20.00 (Non-NV Vehicles $25.00) Camping: $20.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $25.00 per vehicle, per night) + $10.00 for sites with utility hook ups Camp and boat: $30.00 per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $35.00 per night) + $10.00 for sites with utility hook ups Bike in: $2.00 per bike
Nevada park passes
- All Access Permit — $250. Entrance, camping and boating fees at all parks for 12 months (hook-up sites +$10/vehicle) Details
- Annual Day Use Permit — $100. Entrance to all parks for 12 months; camping/boating extra Details
- Senior Citizen Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Nevada residents 65+: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Disabled Veteran Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Qualifying Nevada disabled veterans: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Veteran Annual Entrance. Nevada veterans: entrance to all parks for 12 months Details
From the Nevada state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- Required at certain times
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveNevada
Picnicking/Day Use: Day Use Reservations are required for daily access before 11:30am from May 15 - September 15.
First Come, First Serve Camping: Behind the campground loop of the park, there are 8 campsites that remain first come, first served.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length. Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area Site count parsed from park text | 8 | All sites are designed to accommodate RVs with hook-ups for water, electric and sewer.Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping: Big Bend boasts a 24-unit campground that is accesible year-round. All sites are available by reservation. All sites are designed to accommodate RVs with hook-ups for water, electric and sewer. In addition, most of the sites have pull-through parking pads that can accommodate any size RV. The sites also have a tent pad, a shade ramada, barbecue grill and fire pit. Three of the sites are ADA equipped and available for those visitors with the proper ADA permit. Other amenities include restroom and shower facilities.
Camping is limited to 14 days in a 30-day period.
Sewer hookups are often locked in the summer months due to vandalism; you may have to request yours be unloacked upon arival if it has not already been done for you.
First Come, First Serve Camping: Behind the campground loop of the park, there are 8 campsites that remain first come, first served. The sites are a short walk to the campground loop’s restroom and shower facilities. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table and shade structure. Site specifics can be viewed on reservenevada.com.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingHikingBikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingFishingPicnicking
Trails
Hiking: About four miles of trails weave throughout the developed area of the park. The canyons in the area of the park west of the Needles Highway offer plenty of undeveloped areas to hike and explore.
Boating and paddling
Boat Launch: A two-lane boat ramp offers access to the river through a man-made lagoon that shelters the ramp from the river's current. A paved parking lot is available for boat trailers.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Sewer hookups
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
Boating and fishing on the Colorado River is regulated by Nevada, Arizona and California. Visitors are responsible for knowing the regulations and license requirements for each of the states.
Camping: Big Bend boasts a 24-unit campground that is accesible year-round. All sites are available by reservation. All sites are designed to accommodate RVs with hook-ups for water, electric and sewer. In addition, most of the sites have pull-through parking pads that can accommodate any size RV. The sites also have a tent pad, a shade ramada, barbecue grill and fire pit. Three of the sites are ADA equipped and available for those visitors with the proper ADA permit. Other amenities include restroom and shower facilities.
Read more from the park
Camping is limited to 14 days in a 30-day period.
Sewer hookups are often locked in the summer months due to vandalism; you may have to request yours be unloacked upon arival if it has not already been done for you.
First Come, First Serve Camping: Behind the campground loop of the park, there are 8 campsites that remain first come, first served. The sites are a short walk to the campground loop’s restroom and shower facilities. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table and shade structure. Site specifics can be viewed on reservenevada.com.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Day Use Reservations are required for daily access before 11:30am from May 15 - September 15.
Operating unlicensed vehicles is not permitted. All vehicle operators must be licensed. Drive only on designated roadways.
Vehicles may not park in or block multiple parking spaces. One parking space per vehicle only.
Trailer parking is not permitted in the day use parking area.
Fires are permitted only in the grills provided.
Charcoal is not allowed in the day use area. You may bring your own gas, propane or electric grills only.
Use garbage dumpsters provided.
Glass containers are prohibited in the day use area.
Creating a wake or exceeding 5 mph in the boat ramp lagoon is not permitted.
Boating and fishing on the Colorado River is regulated by Nevada, Arizona and California. Visitors are responsible for knowing the regulations and license requirements for each of the states.
Detailed rules and regulations are posted at the park or viewed on the Park Rules page.
Getting there
- Address
- 4220 So. Needles Hwy. #3
Laughlin, NV 89029 - Nearest town
- Bullhead City — about 5 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 35.1149, -114.6490
- Phone
- (702) 298-1859
- bbsra@parks.nv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Nevada State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Nevada State Parks 'Explore Parks' directory (park cards; slug = officialId) plus each park page for title/designation/coordinates
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology