Big Bend of the Colorado
- Permit
- Required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Vehicle entry needs a reservation: daily May 15 to Sept 15, required for entry before 11:30 a.m. Entry fee: $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles). Big Bend of the Colorado is a river on the Colorado River in Clark County, Nevada.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | River |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Water clarity | Just downstream of Davis Dam, so the river is clear and cool year round, per the park. |
Access
| Parking | Paved lot for boat trailers; trailers may not park in the day-use lot; one space per vehicle. |
|---|---|
| When it fills | On June to August weekends the lots are often full from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; once the park is at capacity, walk-ins and drop-offs are not allowed. |
| Fee | $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles) |
| Hours | Park: Jan-Feb 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Mar-May 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Jun-Aug 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sep-Oct 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov-Dec 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Campground: always open, by reservation. |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Reservation window | Daily May 15 to Sept 15, required for entry before 11:30 a.m.; first come, first served after 11:30 a.m. while space remains. |
| Reservation fee | $5.00 non-refundable transaction fee per reservation booked before the day of arrival; no fee for same-day reservations. |
| Wheelchair access | Three campsites are ADA-equipped (ADA permit required); other accommodations can be requested from the Nevada State Parks division office. |
| Managed by | Nevada Division of State Parks (Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Showers | Yes |
| Drinking water | Yes |
| Shade | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Reservable shade ramadas along the shoreline in the day-use and boat-ramp areas, some with tables and grills. Charcoal not allowed in the day-use area. |
- Big Bend boat ramp boat launch, $20.00 ($25.00 for Non-NV Vehicles) : Two-lane ramp in a man-made lagoon sheltered from the river current; no wake and no more than 5 mph in the lagoon.
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
| Glass | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Big Bend of the Colorado open?
Hours: Park: Jan-Feb 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Mar-May 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Jun-Aug 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sep-Oct 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov-Dec 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Campground: always open, by reservation.
Can you swim at Big Bend of the Colorado?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Big Bend of the Colorado.
How do you get to Big Bend of the Colorado?
Parking: Paved lot for boat trailers; trailers may not park in the day-use lot; one space per vehicle. On June to August weekends the lots are often full from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; once the park is at capacity, walk-ins and drop-offs are not allowed.
Do you need a reservation for Big Bend of the Colorado?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required: Daily May 15 to Sept 15, required for entry before 11:30 a.m.; first come, first served after 11:30 a.m. while space remains. It costs $5.00 non-refundable transaction fee per reservation booked before the day of arrival; no fee for same-day reservations.
Is there a fee at Big Bend of the Colorado?
The fee is $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles).
What facilities are at Big Bend of the Colorado?
Restrooms, showers, drinking water, shade structures, picnic sites, and a boat launch. Reservable shade ramadas along the shoreline in the day-use and boat-ramp areas, some with tables and grills. Charcoal not allowed in the day-use area.
What are the rules at Big Bend of the Colorado?
Dogs are allowed, camping is allowed, and glass containers are not allowed.
Nearby
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Big Bend of the Colorado is inside Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area .
Sources
3
- https://parks.nv.gov/parks/big-bend-of-the-colorado (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, access.hours, access.permitRequired, rules.dogs, rules.glass, waterbodyName, swimmerNotes.waterType, lat/lng, manager, access.reservationWindow, access.parking, access.parkingPattern, access.wheelchairAccess, access.amenities, access.boatLaunches, rules.camping, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.entryType, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote)
- https://parks.nv.gov/about/reservations (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.reservationWindow, access.reservationFee)
- https://parks.nv.gov/learn/natural-resources-climate/natural-resources-and-climate-of-big-bend-of-the-colorado-state-recreation-area/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote)
More: Nevada swimming holes