According to park officials, the now viral video shows two men climbing up rock formations, said to be 140 million years old, at the Red Stone Dune Trail in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on April 7, 2024.
A child, who is also on the rocks, can be heard yelling “Don’t fall!” as the men push the rocks to the ground and watch them disintegrate into dust.
“Why on earth would you do this to this area that’s so beautiful? It’s one of my favorite places in the park, and they’re up there just destroying it. I don’t understand that,” John Haynes, a spokesperson for the recreation area, said.
Haynes added the damage caused by the men is irreversible.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located just outside of Las Vegas and covers 1.5 million acres, meaning much of the area is unpatrolled.
Park authorities are forced to rely on visitors to help maintain the park. Visitors are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior.
“It is 1.5 million acres. We have two big lakes, a chunk of the Colorado River. It gets pretty difficult based on our staff levels to be everywhere all at once,” Haynes said.
If the vandals are caught they could be charged with a felony and face fines as well as jail time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Park System.
