Hemenway Park: Boulder City’s Wild Wonder

Hemenway Park is where wild sheep come to graze, and the sky feels wide open over a scenic view of Lake Mead! This is the kind of place where the sounds of nature drown out
everything else. A short drive from downtown Boulder City, it gives you room to pause with the side-horned sidekicks!

Hemenway Park’s Four-Legged Locals

One of the most unforgettable parts of Hemenway Park is the bighorn sheep. These wild animals aren’t behind glass or gates. They come down from the mountains, casually crossing the grass and settling near the trees like regular locals. It’s a rare sight, but a normal part of life here.

Hemenway Park offers abundant resources for the bighorn sheep, including food, water, and shade. During the hot summer months, when vegetation on nearby mountains is scarce, the park offers a welcoming environment.

The vibrant green grass and various flowering plants, combined with irrigation from sprinklers, create an ideal habitat for these sheep to graze and relax. I went during mid-summer and saw a huge herd of bighorn sheep grazing and relaxing under the trees next to locals.

As amazing as it is, it’s important to remember that this is their space first. People are reminded not to approach them or try for a selfie. The park works best when everyone respects the animals‘ need for resources. Watching from a distance gives you the full experience without disturbing their daily rhythm.

Once you’ve had your time watching the herd move in slow, grazing peace, there’s still more to enjoy around the park.

A Lake Mead View You’ll Want to Keep to Yourself

You might’ve seen Lake Mead before, but not like this. From Hemenway Park, the lake spreads out quietly beyond the rooftops and hills. It’s not the usual busy boat dock or lookout point. Instead, you get a wide, peaceful view that changes with the time of day.

It’s perfect for a picnic or a casual afternoon with someone you like. Families bring sandwiches, kids toss frisbees, and couples lie out under the trees. It’s simple, comfortable, and just scenic enough to make the moment feel special.

You don’t have to plan much—just show up and let the setting do the rest. The space is easygoing, and the options grow once you start exploring what else the park has to offer.

Offering Everything For A Simple Day Outside

Hemenway Park might feel laid back, but it’s full of things to do. Spread across 10 acres, it includes everything from a playground to basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and lighted tennis courts. There are two lighted softball fields in the flood control basin next to the park.

If you’re planning a birthday, group picnic, or weekend meetup, you can even reserve a covered gazebo or the softball field in advance. Off to the northeast, a nature trail loops quietly past desert plants and bench seating, complete with informative signs that tell the story of the land.

There is also a short scenic trail behind the grass area where you can see Lake Mead differently and enjoy the desert landscape.

And for those who want to see the bighorn sheep but can’t make it in person, the park’s RamCam streams them live during their regular visits. The park fits a lot into a quiet setting, but it still holds onto one mystery that keeps locals curious.

The Curious Case of Hemenway

For a park so rooted in Boulder City since 1987, no one really knows where the name “Hemenway” came from.

The word shows up in nearby roads, during Hoover Dam’s construction, and even one of Lake Mead’s most visited harbors. Still, no historian has found a solid answer. Some think it might be tied to Mary Hemenway, a wealthy woman from the East who sponsored archaeological work in the Southwest.

Others believe it could be Luther Hemenway, a 19th-century settler who had ties to the area’s early explorers. There are old mentions in books from the 1900s, but nothing that proves who—or what—the name truly honors.

Local historians have searched for years, but the mystery remains unsolved. The name lingers in maps, signs, and park brochures, quietly holding on to a secret that no one has cracked. And in a way, that quiet mystery fits perfectly with the feeling of the park itself.

Experience Big Horn Encounters

You don’t have to plan a full day to enjoy what Hemenway Park has to offer. Sometimes all it takes is a quick stop, a packed lunch, or a slow walk along the trail to reset your day.

Whether you’re driving through Boulder City or looking for something easy and outdoors, this park gives you a reason to pause.

The sound of the breeze, the sight of the sheep, and the stillness of the lake view all work together without asking anything from you.

Bring your family, your date, your dog, or just yourself—it doesn’t matter. What matters is that for a little while, there’s nothing you have to do but enjoy the quiet.