biking to Hoover Dam

trip report by site editor, Rick McCharles

In 1931 a railway was built, 30mi connecting Boulder City with the Hoover Dam used to transport construction materials.

Today hikers and bikers can enjoy a Rails to Trails path along those former tracks.

I certainly did.

There are spectacular views over Lake Mead.

The highlight is a series of tunnels.

You might read that the trail dead ends after the last rail tunnel, for security reasons. Not so when I was there April 2010. I continued riding all the way to the parking lot for the Hoover Dam tour.

My most vivid memory of the morning is bad signage. The National Parks are so broke and disorganized, that there is no obvious sign where you should turn left towards the Lake Mead National Recreation Area when driving from Boulder City.

More evidence that governments cannot do anything efficiently.

The Hoover Dam is 30mi (48km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.