Dry Lakebeds around Las Vegas | Las Vegas Proposal and Wedding Photographer

In a city surrounded by desert, it’s not hard to find a beautiful desert location for every kind of portrait session. Honestly, the hardest part is deciding which area to choose! From Seven Magic Mountains to Valley of Fire to Red Rock Canyon and countless more, these locations offer so much more than an open landscape. Today, let’s talk about the dry lakebeds that dot the desert around our amazing city.

Dry Lakebeds around Las Vegas

A short drive south of Vegas lies the Jean Dry Lake Bed. This massive area includes more than 300 miles of hiking trails with designated areas for offroad vehicles. This is by far my most popular location for all types of photo sessions and the Golden Hour photos here are unreal. The way the light reflects through the sky and off the surface of the lake bed gives every image an ethereal glow. Southeast of Las Vegas just outside Boulder City lies the Eldorado Dry Lake Bed. With towering mountains as our backdrop, every photo will feel surreal, magical, and exciting. This lake bed is a popular spot for offroad vehicles and land sailing (a super cool sport if you’ve never heard of it!).

What to Know Before We Go:

The Jean Dry Lake Bed definitely requires a bit of off-roading to access. Because of this, I recommend only bringing cars with AWD or at least fairly-high ground clearance so you don’t have to hike down from the side of the highway. The Eldorado Dry Lake Bed is much more accessible, thankfully! Because many areas outside Las Vegas are managed and protected by the BLM, permit requirements are definitely something to keep in mind. The Eldorado Dry Lake Bed only requires permits for videography and special events that include larger groups of people or additional vendors (like weddings). The Jean Dry Lake Bed, however, does send out rangers to check for permits. Lucky for you, I’ll handle this part!

The best time of year for portrait sessions here is generally October through April—this avoids both the heat and the monsoon season. It’s also important to dress appropriately for these locations. I can’t stress enough how quickly the weather can change. Strong winds and vastly different temperatures from day to night can lead to uncomfortable visits, so bring layers and be prepared to change your look on the fly. Keep in mind that not only are the lake beds sandy, they are also cracked and jagged with unexpected soft spots. Please wear closed-toe shoes with a solid heel!

The dry lakebeds are breathtaking in their rugged simplicity, creating striking portraits that place you and your love front and center. Hit that button below if you want to chat more about this Las Vegas portrait location or any other spots you’ve got your eye on. I can’t wait!

Amber is a Wedding and Elopement Photographer who is available in Las Vegas and beyond for travel for elopements and weddings. Send in a contact form through the link above to schedule your free consultation.