Historic Railroad Hiking Trail:
Nevada
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Description:
Just 30 miles from Las Vegas, near Boulder City, the gravel Historic Railroad Hiking Trail hugs the hills on the southern shoreline of vast Lake Mead. The rail-trail offers panoramic views of the manmade lake and snakes through five railroad tunnels on its way toward Hoover Dam.

After the dam was completed in 1935, the railroad ceased operation, and in 1962 the tracks were removed; the trail opened in 1995. Though it begins obscurely at Highway 93 and Pacifica Way in Boulder City, the best place to begin your trek is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center trailhead. This is also a shared trailhead for the River Mountains Loop Trail. Heading northward, you'll experience 3.6 miles of desert terrain trail through the Hemenway valley, where jackrabbits bound over washed-out gullies, bighorn sheep graze and the usual desert-dwelling snakes and lizards are at home.

On the easy, wide path you first pass through a high cut in the red, iron-rich volcanic rock. The cut was blasted out in 1930 for trains to pass through, carrying stone to the dam site. As the trail curves toward the edge of Lake Mead, you'll find yourself several hundred feet above the grey blue water. While the descent isn't a sheer drop, take care as there is no guardrail. The lake views are spectacular all along the trail. Peaks of ancient volcanic mounds rise above the lake surface of this drowned valley like the humps of an aquatic beast. Far in the distance the craggy, smoky blue South Virgin Mountains rise into the clouds.

Each of the five tunnels along the trail is 25 feet in diameter to accommodate the large equipment that passed through. In this unforgiving terrain, it's impressive to consider the sheer magnitude of force needed to blast the path. Pioneer trails from early dam construction parallel the trail intermittently.

Just before tunnel 1, look down the ravine to the right to see concrete plugs taken from Hoover Dam to install turbines. You come across the first and second tunnels in quick succession, and their dark interiors provide a cool respite from the desert sun. (The Lake Mead National Recreation Area discourages hikers on any of its trails in the summer months, but fall and winter are prime touring seasons.) As you pass through tunnel 2, notice that the ceiling and sidewalls have been reinforced. This work was done after the tunnel was burned by arson in 1990. Wildfire gives rise to much of the plant life along the trail; creosote and mesquite bushes, which are fire-resistant, are scattered in green and brown bundles along the trail and on the surrounding hillsides.

In tunnel 3 the arches were shored up to support the massive weight above. Fault lines are visible in the rippled texture of the sienna hillsides all along the trail, and particularly in the rock face about 20 feet before tunnel 4. Passing through tunnel 5, which was burned in 1978 and only reopened in 2001, you come to an opening in a fence where the trail continues. Follow the trail as it snakes through some steep hillsides and through industrial areas before reaching the endpoint in dramatic fashion; the trail brings you out on the top level of the visitor parking area, giving you an awe-inspiring view of the dam below.

To reach the Hoover Dam Visitor Center, simply take the elevator down to the first level and follow the signs.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Lake Mead Visitor Center trailhead, from Las Vegas take I-215 to I-515 South. Follow I-515 South for 5.8 miles to Highway 93 toward Boulder City. After 9.6 miles take a left onto State Route 166. Look for the Lake Mead Visitor Center sign. The trailhead is just over 0.3 mile ahead on the right.

To park at Hoover Dam, from Boulder City take US 93 for about 5 miles to the turnoff to Nevada Route 172/Hoover Dam Access Road. Follow it for about 2 miles to the dam.

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Awesome Ride
By b0ssc0 in June, 2010
I was able to meet some relatives in Las Vegas this summer and decided I wanted to ride this trail.
I started from the River Mountains Loop Trail parking lot, which is on the road to the dam. Fortunately I downloaded the GPS data for this trail first, or I would have missed the start of the trail.
It is a really awesome trail with an incredible view of the lake all the way. The loop trail meets the old rail trail near the road below the Alan Bible Center, which then turns to gravel. The gravel trail is no problem and I had a great 14 mile ride to the dam and back. I would recommend riding the trail as early as possible, as it got hot fast.
Easy walk
By pilots48 in May, 2010
Needed to get away from the New Hampshire winters so I saw this trail and had to walk it. I started in Boulder city and walked to the dam. About half is paved in the begining and the rest is gravel. On my way back I saw some longhorn sheep. Would not want to do this in the summer as there isn't much cover over head except for the tunnels. Took me 8 hours. I clocked 16miles round trip with my GPS.
THE RAILROAD TUNNEL TRAIL, LAKE MEAD, NV
By toolbear in October, 2009

THE RAILROAD TUNNEL TRAIL, LAKE MEAD, NV

10/6/2009

TRAIL RATINGS:

Trailbed from lower trailhead to dam = 3*, somewhat loose gravel over hardpack with annoying little ridges every 4-12’ that have you bobbing. Cleaner inside the Bureau of Reclamation property. From lower trailhead to upper trailhead = 5*, fresh blacktop.

Scenery = 5*. Lake views, vistas, mountains, five tunnels, dam stuff, including the switching yard at trail’s end. There you navigate the five story parking garage and go on foot to Hoover Dam. No bikes. Bring a lock. Might want to bring a pack instead of saddle bags so no gear is left on the bike.

Facilities = 4* Vault toilet at lower trailhead. Look for water and restrooms down at the dam. Benches on assorted view points. Upper trailhead offers parking and an info kiosk. You can find water and restrooms at the Nevada Welcome Center up Rt 93 and across the road at Nevada Highway.

What’s in a name?

TrailLink calls this trail the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail. The Park Service, which administers the trail, calls it the Railroad Tunnel Trail. Probably the better name as the big draw going in are five RR tunnels, one right after the other. Then you are on Bureau of Reclamation land and wander around the warehouses and shops and hardstands down to the switching yard, where the trail ends. Park your bike in the rack and lock it.

Take the sidewalk down to the five story parking garage and find your way out to the dam. While there, take a close look at the dedication plaza with the winged figures. Check the terrazzo plaza. The builders have aligned their project with the cosmos. One thinks of the priest-kings of a hydraulic culture. Lacking are the nilometers to predict the inundation. We have stream gauges instead.

TRAILHEADS – Some choices…

The Park Service brochure tells us that “the Hoover Dam construction railroad system had three segments.” Union Pacific from Las Vegas to Boulder City. Government RR from Boulder City to the concrete mixing plant overlooking the dam. That is what you will take. The third segment went off to the gravel beds.

There are two trailheads on this project. Decision time. How much trail do you want to do?
If you have kids, or sore feet or a hot, hot, hot day, then cut to the chase and go for the tunnels and dam. Park at the trailhead below the Senator Alan Bible Visitor Center. Even better, park at the visitor center. They have water and amenities. Take the walk down to the trailhead below. Then get on the gravel trail and head for Hoover Dam.

The Park Service shows this as 2.6 miles . I am not so sure about that. My GPS shows 4.54 one way miles, a max speed of 20.2 (down some switchbacks in the Bureau Rec lands) and a moving time of 45 minutes, 247’ of elevation change. I suggest you plan on 5 miles one way, 10 miles roundtrip from lower trail head to parking garage at dam and back.

PACIFICA (UPPER) TRAIL HEAD…

If you are a hardbody and want do to a bit more, you can start up at the edge of Boulder City at the River Mountains Loop Trail facility on Pacifica Way and head down hill. This is 3.6 miles (NPS figures) of downhill travel on a fine blacktop trail to the lower trailhead. Of course, it is also 3.6 miles of uphill travel at the end. I like to do my uphill early in the shade and downhill late.

STREET LUGE, ANYONE?

If someone would shuttle me uphill (dream on), I would eschew the Pacifica Trailhead and head up Rt 93 to the River Mountain Trail (RMT) trailhead. Look for brown highway signs at a bend in the road.

Note – there are two River Mountain trails. Confusion. The RMT is a death march from the RMT trailhead in Boulder City to the top of Red Mountain. About 6 miles round trip at 1185 elevation gain. The 34 mile River Mountains LOOP Trail is a project some 15 years in the making, which is being dedicated this month. All purpose-built trail. Very nice.

It passes through the RMT parking lot. Blacktop enters from uphill. Downhill is the “street luge” section. They have multi-used the trail into a concrete lined and landscaped drainage channel which will dump you out at Pacifica Trailhead.

You can walk it or ride it unless there is a flood or storm in progress. Duh! Hop on it, go screaming downhill, make a hard left at Pacifica (or else), sweep around the parking lot, out into the desert and down to the lower trailhead. (Take a taxi back.) Now you are down at the lower trailhead and we can begin the tour.

BUT FIRST, LET’S MENTION THE BOOTLEG CANYON MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK…

Boulder City has some nice facilities. One is the Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park – when you tire of fine blacktop trails and want to huck and shred and grab some air on the pump track. Check them out at:

http://www.bootlegcanyon.org/

OFF TO THE TUNNELS AND BEYOND…

Vistas, have we got vistas! And handy benches to sit and grok the view. Including the bathtub rings. There should be 185’ more water in Lake Mead. The Boulder Beach campground used to be at water’s edge. You can see it all from the trail. I was on the trail at 0743, with the sun just clearing the mountains, which provided a lot of shade and shadow. It’s about 1.3 miles to the first tunnel. After that they just keep on popping up. Five in rapid succession. No lights needed. They built them oversized to accommodate the penstocks and heavy equipment. Check out the pix.

Tunnel 5 leads to the Bureau Rec gate – locked at night. Once through, look back and there is the Lake Mead Overlook sitting atop the ridge. Now the trail winds among the hardstands, warehouses and other dam facilities. There is something tucked in every ravine.

You descend switchbacks to the electrical switching yard. Keep the speed under control. Loose gravel on the hairpin turns makes for interesting riding. (Don’t even ask.) One hairpin has a chain link fence – to keep you from shooting out into the ravine (big rocks) when you overshoot the turn. See the fence, start braking. Bet someone BTDT.

When you pass through the switching yard, your ride is over. There is a fence and gate ahead in a defile. No bikes! Use the bike rack, enjoy the picnic table, and hoof it down the sidewalk to navigate the parking structure on your way to being a tourist at Hoover Dam. It’s a remarkable project, some 78 years and counting.

Ride on!

ToolBear

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