{"id":4858,"date":"2017-10-04T04:38:34","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T04:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/black-rock-area-in-joshua-tree-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-09-21T19:38:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T19:38:11","slug":"hoover-dam-railroad-tunnel-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/hoover-dam-railroad-tunnel-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoover Dam\u2019s Historic Railroad Tunnel Hiking Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This hike is a great alternative to visiting Hoover Dam and to see the views from its bypass bridge.<\/strong>\u00a0 Hoover Dam is one of the biggest tourist attractions for visitors to the Las Vegas area.\u00a0 For most people, this engineering masterpiece is accessed in a vehicle via two other masterpieces of engineering \u2013 a roadway that clings to the rugged landscape and the new bypass bridge perched high above the dam itself.\u00a0 But there is another way to visit Hoover Dam.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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The Trail<\/h3>

Designated a \u201cNational Historic Trail\u201d in 2015, the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail takes you through five uncommon tunnels and offers outstanding views of Lake Mead along the way. \u00a0Because this hike is on an old railroad bed, it is flat and level most of the way making the 7 miles round trip easy to walk, bike or even push a baby stroller on.<\/p>

Using the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail to hike to the dam is a great alternative to dealing with the ever-present traffic congestion that waits for you as you approach the dam.\u00a0 The trail ends at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center and, if you walk a little further, you can be out on the dam itself.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a nice bonus that, since you left your car at the trailhead, you won\u2019t have to pay the $10 parking fee at the Visitor Center.\u00a0<\/p>

Once at the Visitor Center, it\u2019s only another one mile round trip to walk over the newly-completed bypass bridge (known as the Mike O’Callaghan\u2013Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge) which will give you the best view of the entire Hoover Dam facility.\u00a0 This is a good option if you have the energy (making the hike a total of 8 miles roundtrip) and want to walk on the bridge.\u00a0 There is a small parking area available for those who want to drive to this point and then walk on the bridge but it fills up quickly.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be taking your chances on finding a parking spot if you were to drive to this point.<\/p>

Getting There<\/h3>

Getting to the trailhead is easy.\u00a0 From Las Vegas, take I-515 (US 93) to Boulder City.\u00a0 If you are reading this after the new freeway bypass around Boulder City is built (after 2017), be sure to take US 93 into Boulder City, otherwise you\u2019ll miss the trailhead.\u00a0 After US 93 makes a left turn in the center of Boulder City, the entrance to the trailhead is about another 3.7 miles on the left.\u00a0 Look for a sign and head towards the Lake Mead Visitor Center.\u00a0 The trailhead parking lot is located just past the Lake Mead Visitor Center.\u00a0 There are restrooms at the trailhead.<\/p>

History<\/h3>

Construction of the railroad began in 1931.\u00a0 Between Boulder City, the Hoover Dam construction site and places that are now under the waters of Lake Mead, almost 30 miles of railroad lines were built.\u00a0 Most of the building material used to build the dam, including cement and gravel, as well as all of the electrical hardware (i.e. generators, transformers, penstocks, etc.), was transported over the railroad bed that you are now hiking on.\u00a0 Think of that as you walk along \u2013 everything it took to build this incredible dam once took the same trek you are taking now.\u00a0 The railroad was last used in 1961 to transport the last generator that was installed that year and then the rails were pulled up a year later.<\/p>

And as you walk through the tunnels, take a good look.\u00a0 These are not your ordinary railroad tunnels.\u00a0 They were built much wider and taller so that they could accommodate the huge pieces of equipment being transported to the dam.\u00a0 Walking through the tunnels is a delight.\u00a0 Although some of the tunnels have \u201cshotcrete\u201d to help stabilize them, other tunnels still look as they did when the trains passed through.\u00a0 You can easily see the colorful and complex rock formations that the tunnel builders had to bore through.<\/p>

Something else interesting about the tunnels is that they make a good habitat for bats.\u00a0 So, as you walk through them, look up and try to find them.\u00a0 They are very small, dark spots on the ceiling.\u00a0 If you happen to be there during the sunset hours, you\u2019ll certainly see some taking flight.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid, they eat bugs, not people and are an important part of the ecosystem.<\/p>

Just after passing through tunnel #2, look for the information sign that explains how families lived during the dam\u2019s construction period which was also during the years of the Great Depression.\u00a0 While husbands worked on the dam, wives and children endured the heat and cold of the seasons.\u00a0 They hauled water up from the Colorado River (remember there was no Lake Mead then) for drinking and washing.\u00a0 It was a hard life for all but at least they were working during those years and they made a good wage.<\/p>

More…<\/p>

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Pictures<\/h3>

Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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