This was the first Rails to Trails project in Nevada and what a great first effort! If you are not familiar, the Rails to Trails Conservancy is a national 25-year old effort to reclaim old railroad lines as trails for recreation. The Historic Railroad Trail at Lake Mead was a short line that was created to move cement to the Hoover Dam site as the dam was being built and includes 5 short tunnels that were drilled through the rock. For me, this is the second time I have run the entire trail out and back.
The dirt trail is broken into two fairly distinct sections: the first section is 2 miles and takes you to the fifth tunnel. There is a gate here that is closed at dark. The trail to this point is basically flat. The second section works its way through the Bureau of Water Reclamation Service Station and an Electrical Changing Station for the next 1.5 miles. I don't think that this is part of the original line and the terrain works its way down into the gorge where the dam is located.
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| Looking out at the Las Vegas Marina and Lake Mead from a half mile into the trail. |
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| What it looked like in 1931 (from River Mountain Trail Blog) |
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| How Tunnel #1 & #2 Look Today. |
I read somewhere that the track bed cannot have a grade steeper than 3% due to the train. As a result, the trail starts out basically flat with benches spread out along the trail for a breather and a view of Lake Mead. There are several placards along the way that either talk about the lake or the history of the trail and the dam. I have never read these, as I have been running every time I have passed one, but a little trivia is always nice for those who are enjoying the trail at a more leisurely pace.
At the far side of the Electrical Changing Station, the trail ends at a picnic table and a bike rack. From here to the far side of the Dam through the Parking Structure is a half mile. This last half mile is all paved.
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| Entering the top of the 5-story Parking Structure. The bridge in the upper right of the picture is the new bypass to the dam that was opened last year. |
I love running through this section. Coming through the gate at the end of the trail and down into the back side of the parking structure has the feel of coming into a completely new area. (I feel like a secret agent from Mission Impossible - yes, stupid I know, but what the hell). Running across the top of the parking structure moves you to an amazing view of the tourist complex around Hoover Dam.
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| Running down the stairs to Hoover Dam |
Shawn Wallace and I were having a Twitter exchange yesterday and he was laughing because he had run this route yesterday. "Wally" threw down with the challenge of exchanging trails after this to see who could come up with some great trails to run. Five stars are possible, with a bonus sixth star available if there is the "wow factor" of having tourists gawk at you as you run by. This one is going to be tough to beat as we both gave it six stars. Other trails to follow...
1:33:03/8.2 miles
That's a cool trail. Anything that takes you through rail tunnels and then gives you a view of Hoover Dam is a keeper. Next time I make it out to Vegas we'll have to run it.
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