Hemenway Park
4.8(3.5K)google
4.8(136)yelp
WildlifeFree
Overview
Hemenway Park is a beautifully manicured, deeply unique hillside public oasis in Boulder City that provides travelers with a spectacular, unparalleled interactive wildlife experience. Nestled high on a bluff overlooking the shimmering blue waters of Lake Mead, the park is internationally famous for serving as the favorite grazing sanctuary for a large resident herd of wild Desert Bighorn Sheep. Visitors can relax on green lawns or enjoy picnics while watching these majestic, large-horned national animals roam naturally yards away.
Practical Info
Every day6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested DurationAbout 45-90 minutes
Best TimeBest visited in the early morning (7:00 AM - 9:00 AM) or late afternoon (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM), when wild Desert Bighorn Sheep frequently descend from the mountains to graze and rest on the park's lush green lawns; remember to keep a safe distance and never feed them.
Getting ThereLocated at 401 Ville Dr, Boulder City. Drive southeast along US-93 S toward Hoover Dam, and turn onto Ville Dr just on the outskirts of Boulder City before entering the mountain passes. The park features a free paved parking lot and offers a panoramic view of Lake Mead.
Travel Tips
- Famed for wild Desert Bighorn Sheep, feeding, baiting, or approaching within 50 feet of these animals is a direct violation of Nevada state wildlife protection laws.
- Optimal wildlife viewing occurs during the cooler early mornings or late evenings in mid-summer; the sheep retreat into high, rugged mountain rock cliffs during peak midday heat.
- Flying recreational drones is completely prohibited within the park airspace; the low-altitude acoustic noise triggers panicked stampedes and dangerous animal defense mechanisms.
Reviews
Positive
- An absolutely magical place! You can watch wild Bighorn Sheep grazing and resting up close on a standard neighborhood park lawn, an authentic and unique experience.
- Park amenities are complete, with clean and spacious restrooms, a dedicated playground, ample shaded picnic pavilions, and clean trash cans, perfect for family picnics.
- Completely free with easy parking in a dedicated lot. Because of its elevated location, standing at the edge of the lawn offers sweeping views of blue Lake Mead.
- The park has a quiet, peaceful vibe. Both locals and tourists naturally maintain a safe distance from the animals, showing a heartwarming harmony between man and nature.
Heads up
- The Bighorn Sheep are completely wild, so their presence is never guaranteed. Sometimes you drive all this way only to find them feeding in the hills, leaving the lawn empty.
- Because the sheep frequently herd on the grass, their droppings and fecal pellets are scattered everywhere, requiring you to look down carefully when walking or sitting.
- On rare hot summer afternoons, animal droppings drying under the blazing sun can cause a noticeable and pungent wild animal smell to waft through the air.
- During certain holidays or peak sheep-watching hours, the small free lot fills up instantly, causing street congestion in the neighborhood and chaotic parking scrambles.