Hoover Dam’s Historic Railroad Tunnel Hiking Trail

This hike is a great alternative to visiting Hoover Dam and to see the views from its bypass bridge. Hoover Dam is one of the biggest tourist attractions for visitors to the Las Vegas area. For those that are unaware, there is another way to visit Hoover Dam. Read more about this hike at www.BackRoadsWest.com/blog/hoover-dam-railroad-tunnel-trail

[@832bbcin]

Better than tripadvisor! Thanks for taking the time to make this video! Heading out there tomorrow :)

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for commenting! Enjoy the hike, or should I say walk.

[@rusty1187]

Wish i had known this when i was there last. At the dam, they charged us to park, charged to go in the visitor center, charged for the tour. I live in Washington state, and we go to Grand Coulie Dam every year.They have a laser show every night that they shoot onto the face of the dam (free). The have a visitor's center (free). they have hourly documentary movies at the visitor center (free). and occasionally they will offer inside-the -dam tours (free). If you are in the area around fourth of July, the fireworks show is incredible!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

We would love to visit Grand Coulee and have heard of the laser show. With Hoover, that's what happens when you have a tourist-crazed destination, aka Las Vegas, close by. It's a long long drive to get to Grand Coulee for most people.

[@lydiaherrera]

thank you. I loved how you put everything on the map and specific directions etc.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're very welcome!

[@david.e.miller]

5:35 wanders by, not wonders by 5:44 a black tongue, not a black tounge Those corrections aside, I really like the approach taken with the photos, the commentary, and the relaxing music. I dislike hiking videos where it's more about the hiker than the hike.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for the corrections David. Yes, I can't stand most videos either where it's all about the person talking into the camera. We're watching the video to see the scenery and not vain person creating it. Plus, many videos don't show or say where they are.

[@bdv861]

One of the tunnels was closed a while back due to rockfall inside. I believe it's open now but you have to walk through a shipping container installed as protection.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for the update!

[@itrthho]

After 9/11 the trail ended at the sunset gate. Glad to see it fully open again.

[@shimmyfromowitz1241]

Did you just go? Is the trail still open? Or closed because of covid? Please reply quick! I want to go today. Thanx!

[@marcob4630]

An interesting trip indeed. We have many dams too, so that 60% of Swiss elecrticity comes from our Alpes. Greetings from Switzerland !

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you - greetings from Utah! We would build more dams if we had as much flowing water as the Alps do, and less environmentalists that do not want the dams built. I guess we have a balance here.

[@upperleftcoastchelseafan7718]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Not just so-called environmentalists but fisherman as well. The devastation to the native fish stocks in the Pacific NW has been ridiculous. Environmentalist isn't a bad word, not all of us drive nails into trees to inure loggers or chain ourselves to trees to stop them from being harvested. In fact loggers, fisherman, hunters, etc are some of the biggest advocates for preserving our wild-spaces, we're out here everyday, the outdoors is our livelihood and we are the last people that want to see it destroyed. Like you said it's finding a balance and it's a really crucial time since we have a president who cares not one bit about the environment and thinks it's okay to open a mine in our national monument areas.

[@bacc1316]

Great work. How many miles from the Trail head to the Damn parking lot.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

About 3.5 miles one-way. Those would be damn miles in the heat...

[@billreinhart1735]

It looks like the trail is pretty level and clear of debris. It’s probably not listed as ADA accessible but what are your thoughts on a power wheel chair. I missed how long the hike is. I’m thinking it would be an interesting fall hike. Cheers.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Absolutely! I think we write somewhere "suitable for baby strollers". So if those wheeled carts can make it, so can you. When we hiked it, it was very clear of debris.

[@stanherman5604]

Looks like a good hike in March!

[@TrilhanaSerraByAntonio]

Perfeito

[@stenbak88]

This is my new favorite channel, I’m a so cal native and absolutely love history

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you!

[@marydaniels]

What a delight.. so informative with great pictures! Thanks for the map references and the close-ups of the informational panels! I am still shocked at how low the water levels were at Lake Mead at the time.. truly stunning!

[@barbaraaspengen9810]

I love videos like this. Thank you very much.

[@donnebes9421]

Barbara Aspengen it’s pictures.

[@CRAIGNV]

Bike friendly trail or just for hiking?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Bike friendly

[@bradshores9617]

Fantastic video, so well done, I can’t wait to go, thank you

[@rickcruz3382]

I believe they filmed part of the movie "THE GAUNTLET" Clint Eastwood driving a motorcycle through the tunnels

[@rickricardo8731]

They filmed a movie up there think it was the Gauntlet Clint Eastwood.

[@thomasandrews8033]

I see it's called a "hiking trail" but I see a few bikes on it. Do you know if bikes are actually allowed ? Thank you.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Absolutely! I wish I had my bike with me, because if I did, I could have covered more of the various trails.

[@michalsz2]

Hello sir, What Maps are you using n the beginning of that video? Regards Mike

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Well, that's just simple Google Maps in terrain mode. The second map is a picture of one of the National Park signs fixed up in Photoshop.

[@michalsz2]

@@BackRoadsWest1 Thank You so Much!

[@orgami100]

Seeing those old original freight Steam locomotives would be quite a bonus..🚂

[@banzi-rc7dm]

Jason Wilson I actually think that there is an old train at the bottom of lake meide I think that when the dam was built I think when they were extracting equipment a train derailed

[@orgami100]

banzi 1942 - That would make for an interesting dive.. Who knows in 20 yrs or so.. may not even having to dive for..::)

[@tilica5353]

Nice trip,from Spain.Gracias.God bless you.

[@cambridgeh.lutece6658]

Abandonedrails.com has some information on the old Hoover Dam construction railway, along with what remains beyond the trail too.

[@KPearce57]

Thanks for the great views !

[@gregwarner3753]

Another place on bucket list. One of us cannot walk any distance. Does the visitor center rent golf carts or similar for folks like us?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Hi Greg. No, there are no golf carts for rent on either end. You can ride a bike though and I'm sure they'd allow electric scooters or wheelchairs. There are some steep parts and stairs close to the dam.

[@muhittinselcukgoksu1327]

Thank you soooo much. I visited he Hoover Dam and the by pass Bridge in 2012 Jan. İ wish İ Iknew these interesting places.

[@MB-ln9nv]

That “gate” is closed at times, but feel free to use the open space next to it.

[@galardmills5306]

Be certain to look over the sides of the trail, between the tunnels. Concrete plugs removed from the dam, debris from railroad cars, railroad ties and other pieces remain from when the trail was a working rail line. There is even a drill stuck in a rock, from when the tunnels were blasted through the mountains. It’s a pleasant walk through history!

[@chefgiovanni]

Nice video. I had a picnic drank a beer and then took a piss in the same spot as Hemingway, to the left of the tunnel opening. It was quite a refreshing hike in the summer heat.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Wish I'd known about this when I was there a couple of years ago, I'd have loved to make that hike. However, as it was 112 when I was there maybe that was for the best!

[@davidavi8554]

Lake Mead will be Mead Creek in 5 years if they don't get some significant amount of rain and snow in the Colorado River basins.

[@handico77]

An excellent video! Thank you.

[@gabesvidz]

The Dam itself will be a museum very soon when the last of very low water is gone.

[@bbbmmm1713]

Didn't you hear? They're going to desalinate ocean water and then pump it up to Lake Powell. all of it will be powered with coal fired generators.

[@tonylee7714]

Thank you, I will take my bike there

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Tony Lee I ride my Harley through there all the time!

[@confuseatronica]

so many sheep last time i went to hoover dam, i got stopped in boulder city by a huge herd of sheep crossing the road to go eat somebodies lawn. It's a very sheepy place.

[@johneason6540]

Made that exact hike March 2018. Sad for me no bighorn sighted that day.

[@diddyd8350]

Surprised about the boneyard, looks like all of the other constuction equipment was removed, don't understand why that was left, it spoils the landscape.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

With all the other equipment near by, it definitely does not spoil the landscape. It's more like a museum.

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

Look how low the lake is....California overdrawing their water allotment for almost 20 years.....

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Lake was low due to intake construction. Water for Calif. comes out of Lake Havasu - 2 lakes down river.

[@royreynolds108]

From extensive studies done after the dam and lake was built, it turns out the hydrologic information used to plan this project and divide up the water just happen to be an unusual higher than average rain deposition. Studying tree ring growth in the Colorado River basin in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico rainfall in this area is much less than what was believed to occur.

[@JoeDoeOutdoors]

Hey I really enjoy your channel ☺ Keep it up!

[@yunassaxer7119]

really great!

[@tihzho]

Cool, I jumped over to Google Maps and did my own "street view", thanks for the suggestion!

[@1957eberhart]

Don't call that bridge the bypass bridge It's called the Pat Tillman bridge. If you don't know who Pat Tillman is please look him up. you need to honor this great American

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for pointing that out. Unfortunately, before and after construction of the bridge, many guides, maps and signs refer to it also as the bypass bridge.

[@drejlangseth2579]

Makes me wonder how much $ would've been saved had we used Tesla's energy instead. Imagine the savings worldwide of not extracting coal to but for energy, or all the equipment needed to transfer electricity. Unfathomable.

[@banzi-rc7dm]

Do you mean Nicola tesla

[@None-zc5vg]

Coal and oil fill the coffers of the wealthy: anyone who tried to interfere with their monopolies would be dealt with, and that right soon.

[@Love2Wander]

Thanks for sharing great video i have a question how long is the hike to the bridge from the trail head

[@BackRoadsWest1]

See the full article that explains the trail at www.backroadswest.com/blog/hoover-dam-railroad-tunnel-trail/

[@Love2Wander]

Thanks found it

[@nomadicenigma5565]

Narrated videos are better.

[@manises14]

A video would have been way better than pictures, plus the music is very depressing.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Well then, why don't you spend all your time and effort to shoot a video and put in some music of your choosing. Let me know when you have it posted on KZbin so that I can tell you how you should have done it differently.