Lake Mead National Recreation Area · Arizona, Nevada

St. Thomas

1.4 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the St. Thomas Trail: 2.5 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · 30 ft of descent · 1,203 ft–1,228 ft · native surface · trail class Moderately Developed · hiking

1,228 ft 1,203 ft · 1.4 mi high 1,228 ft

Trailhead St. Thomas Trailhead 1,233 ft Drive there

Hike the St. Thomas Trail 2.5 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

1-4 Hours · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies · season Remember heat kills, be summer-smart and opt to hike when temperatures are cooler. If you do choose to hike during the summer, rangers recommend starting early in the morning or later in the evening when the weather is slightly cooler. Remember to pack enough water for your entire trip.

Old historic buildings left in a desert landscape.
Take in the history of the once thriving Mormon Settlement. Photo: NPS/A. Cattoir

St. Thomas was settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1850-1860’s and later grew into a thriving town home to entrepreneurs who found ways to build prosperous lives in the challenging conditions of the desert. The town was abandoned in the 1930s to make way for the rising waters of Lake Mead. The remains of St. Thomas have since resurfaced and visitors can roam the ruins of the once bustling township.

Visitors can roam the ghost remains of an authentic Western town. The historic site comes alive through the interpretive signs that detail the trials and tribulations of the desert dwellers that once called this place home.

Artifacts of this town may be found in many forms, from small glass fragments to large building foundations. While it may seem like you're helping clean up the trail or moving fragile artifacts out of the way, it is against the law to disturb archeological sites. This includes moving and removing artifacts, climbing on structures, or defacing structures with graffiti or etchings.

Trail Information

Trailhead: DIRECTIONS

Parking: At end of Old St. Thomas Access Road, just past mile post 46 on Northshore Rd.

Distance: 2.5 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 85 ft. elevation change

Difficulty: Moderate

THIS TRAIL IS NOT MAINTAINED

Services: No services available

Accessibility This trail begins on a slope downhill on loose rocks. The rest of the trail made up of uneven rocks and sand through the foundations of St. Thomas. A hiking pole is recommended.

This hike on nps.gov

All 19 trails in Lake Mead National Recreation AreaFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.