The Old Historic Railroad Tunnel trail in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area allows visitors to experience first-hand history related to the construction of Hoover Dam and how building materials were brought to it many years ago. This trail brings you through five mountain tunnels where the old railroad track used to be in place and delivered materials for the dam construction. You also get great panoramic views of Lake Mead and its mountain setting. The trail is unique and full of history.
This is Darrell and Erin on Travel with D and E. Join us as we explore the old historic Hoover Dam Railroad Tunnel Trail.
Table of contents
History of the Trail
Railroad Construction
The Federal Government in 1931 partnered with 6 major western Construction firms, a consortium called Six Companies, Inc., to build nearly 30 miles of railroad connecting the Hoover Dam and Boulder City to materials needed to construct the dam. These materials included concrete plants, rock quarries, a gravel sorting plant, and other resources in or near Las Vegas.
Railroad Path
The railroad’s path led along the shores of what would be Lake Mead created from the construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The Consortium built five railroad tunnels as the path led them through the mountains. These tunnels, on average, were approximately 25 feet wide, 30 feet high, and 300 feet long.
Development of the Trail
The railroad tracks were dismantled in 1962 and the trail was established in 1992. Interestingly enough, the connection to the Hoover Dam was not announced to the public until 2007.
The Trail
The 3.7-mile trail, one-way, provides a treasure trove of history related to the rich history of Hoover Dam and the resulting creation of Lake Mead. Near the beginning of the easy hike, look for a rocky road on the south side of the railroad bed. This is thought to be the original road used to haul material.
As you approach the first tunnel, Tunnel #1, on the right, are concrete plugs taken out of the Hoover Dam which were used to install the turbines.
The Tunnels
Tunnel #1 has eight sections of vertical supports as rock fall has been a concern with Tunnel #1 and other tunnels as you can see. The second tunnel, along with the fifth tunnel were damaged in fires in 1978 and 1990. Shotcrete was sprayed in those tunnels to help make safe the tops of the tunnels where the original supports were burned or otherwise deformed.
The Park Service placed SeaCans strategically placed at the end of some of the tunnels for protection from falling rocks.
Tunnel #5 was a tunnel that had a bend in it so you couldn’t see where you come out from the start of the tunnel.
The Return Trip
The return back was not too bad. Unfortunately, we did have to turn back around before we made it to Hoover Dam as the sun was setting so we needed to get back before it got completely dark.
Historical Recognition
The historic railroad hiking trail is one of southern Nevada’s most unique trail experiences. The trail section from Boulder City to the Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
What to Expect on the Trail?
The trail covers close to 7.4 miles, and it is a round trip, but it is considered an easy trail from a difficulty standpoint with an average grade of 4%. This is an out-and-back old railroad bed trail composed mostly of a crushed rock surface. Note: a gate just a short distance out of Tunnel #5 is open during daylight hours only. The trail is open year-round.
There are 22 interpretive panels along the trail providing information on topics including desert wildlife, mountain ranges and islands within the viewshed, and construction and repair of tunnels, amongst various other topics.
Note that the large tunnels are known to house free-tail bats so keep on the lookout as you transit the tunnels.
This recreational trail is a popular route for hiking, mountain biking, and running, so you’ll likely encounter other people while on the trail. Plan on taking an average of 3.5 to 4 hours on the trail.
We stopped and did the trail on the way back from Grand Canyon West. With that in mind, we hiked past the last tunnel but had to turn back before making the final turn to get to Hoover Dam as we were losing light fast.
You will see beautiful views of Lake Mead as you wind through the old railroad tunnel trail. The historic tunnels bring a very unique and scenic viewpoint of the trail as well.
Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
Who Oversees the Trail?
The National Park Service administers recreational activities in and around Lake Mead as part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Where is the Tunnel Located?
From the Las Vegas Strip, go east on I-215 for 0.8 miles, then take I-215 and I-11S/US-93 S/US-95 S to Boulder City Pkwy. Take exit 15B from II-11S/US-93 S/US-95 S which will be about 23 miles. Then follow Boulder City Pkwy, turn left on Lakeshore Road, and pass the Lake Mead Visitor Center to the Historic Railroad Trail Access on the right.
The Trail originates at a developed trailhead just north of the Alan Bible Visitor Center within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There is plenty of parking in the trailhead area.
Conclusion
Las Vegas offers a great variety of fun not just on the Strip. We explored the Grand Canyon West Rim and made a stop at the Hoover Dam Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail on the way back. We thoroughly enjoyed the trail and its history, along with the great views of Lake Mead. Nighttime was coming fast so we didn’t have time to make it to the Dam but got pretty close. This great place was part of another excellent day trip off the Vegas Strip!
And look, if you like this content, you’ll want to check out all our other posts and YouTube videos covering attractions near Las Vegas that are off the strip. This includes the White Domes Trail in the Valley of the Fire State Park, the Fire Wave and Seven Wonders Trail in the Valley of Fire, Lost Creek and Waterfall Trail in the Red Rock Canyon, and the Calico Tanks Trail in the Red Rock Canyon, and all the other videos we have on our off the strip attractions, such as the Wild West Horseback Ride.
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