HomeNevadaLaughlin › Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,585 Google reviews · Running trail in Laughlin, Nevada · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

This park along the Colorado River, with canyons & washes, offers boating, fishing & swimming.

What runners say about Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,585 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 8 mentions

“Well run, clean, best place to swim and picnic in covered structures, it's best reserve in advance if you want a picnic spot.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“This state park has put a lot of work into planting beautiful flowering Desert Willows and many other trees.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“$30 a night for residents; full hook ups, huge sites, nice shade shelter and table, donation accepted for firewood, and a dump station on site.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“It was very quiet till a about 2 PM when it started to get busier.”

This state park has put a lot of work into planting beautiful flowering Desert Willows and many other trees. Each has a dedicated water spigot. The campground is right on the Colorado River with a road, or path, down to the river. Beautiful picnic area there. We saw wildlife right at our campsite #8.

★★★★★ — D , May 2025

Nice campground with 24 plug-in and 8 dry campsites. Firepits and picnic benches and semi shaded Awning. Bathrooms clean. Quarter showers for five minutes. Dump and water is available around the park. Lots of beach front and picnic pavilions on the river. Boat ramps. Quiet and pleasant.

★★★★★ — Diane , Jan 2025

It waa a pleasant walking pathway. Busy on Sat. I decides to take my cat, as she does walk on a leash, but it was too crowded & she preferred me to carry her. She got attention & enjoyed that. It was a beautiful experience & enjoyed the exercise. Be aware if you are handicapped that it is about 1.5 mi round walk.

★★★★★ — Christine , Nov 2025

$30 a night for residents; full hook ups, huge sites, nice shade shelter and table, donation accepted for firewood, and a dump station on site. Rangers and camp workers were friendly. Place is busy and is first come first serve (We love first come and hate reservations so this is a plus to us).

★★★★★ — Chris , Apr 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,585 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🚻 Restrooms 11 mentions

“The bathrooms and showers are clean and private — just keep in mind the showers are coin-operated.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“This state park has put a lot of work into planting beautiful flowering Desert Willows and many other trees.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“$30 a night for residents; full hook ups, huge sites, nice shade shelter and table, donation accepted for firewood, and a dump station on site.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Easy access to parking & lots of coveted spaces / picnic area to settle in with the family.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“It was very quiet till a about 2 PM when it started to get busier.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 2 mentions

“I decides to take my cat, as she does walk on a leash, but it was too crowded & she preferred me to carry her.”

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🛣️ Paved surface

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteparks.nv.gov
  • Phone+1 702-298-1859
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–5 pm
Tuesday 7 am–5 pm
Wednesday 7 am–5 pm
Thursday 7 am–5 pm
Friday 7 am–5 pm
Saturday 7 am–5 pm
Sunday 7 am–5 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

4220 Needles Hwy, Laughlin, NV 89029

Get directions

Running trails near Laughlin

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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All running trails in Laughlin, NV →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.