River Mountains Loop Trail

What is that big black pipeline along the trail???

 
 
 
 

BMI water pipeline MM13 102409

BMI Water Pipeline along Trail 102409

October 26, 2009 -  I get this question every once in awhile, so here is the answer.  No it’s not oil or sewage.  It is the first water pipeline in the Las Vegas Valley.  Built during World War II to provide water to the Basic Management Industrial complex in Henderson (BMI).  The pipeline still provides all the water needs for the BMI plants and a portion of Henderson water needs also.  Basic Water Co. operates and maintains the pipeline. Near trail mile marker #13 is a water guzzler providing water for wildlife and a very large cottonwood tree sometimes referred to as the “Magic Tree” by local riders.  BMI, Basic Water co. and LandWell Development have been long time trail partners in the development of the River Mountains Loop Trail.  Approximatley ten miles of the trail is located within the BMI water pipeline corriodor.  So as you hike, walk, run and ride along the pipeline you are riding along a historic pipeline which brought the first Lake Mead Water to the Las Vegas Valley.

 
 
 
 

BMI pipeline MM13 102409

BMI water line MM 13 102409

BMI WATER PIPELIEN GALLERY:

Wildlife – Brown Tarantula on Trail Saturday

Oct. 24, 2009 – While doing our trail watch hours on the trail Saturday we got to see a fair sized ” Brown Tarantula” on the trail.  We watched him for a while and made sure he go off the trail before heading back to the trailhead.  The sighting took place near MM 13 on the River Mountains Loop Trail within Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Here is a couple of photos:

TW Tarantula Trail Watch hat MM13 102409

Tarantula & Trail Watch hat photo by John 102409

Tarantula next to RMLT trail 102409

Trail Alert – Historic Railroad Trail work finished Oct. 21, 2009

October 22, 2009 – Historic Railroad trail is now open again to Hoover Dam.   Reclamation has improved the area that crosses the Police access road.  We have  striped a cross walk, and paved from the exit of the switchyard  to the top of the switchback trail down to the parking garage.

ADDITIONAL WORK PLANNED FOR 2010 – The Bureau of Reclamation Work planned for 2010:

  •  install 2 drinking fountains
  • Install 1 vault toilet
  • Install a shade shelter and table
  • Install benches along trail 
  • Correct  two dips to bring up to accessibility grade
  • open up the back trail loop,
  • and develop a trail map complete with lengths, elevations, GPS.

In my opinon these announced improvements will make this one of the best and most unique trail experiences in the Western States.  The back loop mentioned is more of the actual rail bed used to build the dam, which has been off limits to the public for years.  With completion of the bridge next year and these improvements the trail experience will just get better and better.

 

OCTOBER 13th, 2009 -Starting tonight about sundown a contractor will be ripping out the Hoover Dam Police road to repave it.   Reclamation would appreciate it if NPS and River Mountains partnership ask people to be careful in the area where the Historic Railroad trail crosses the roadway to the POLICE substation.

The contractor will be paving the trail from the switchyard exit bollards to the top of the Zig Zag trail, painting a cross walk across the police roadway, and paving the short term drop off and pick up area.

The trail will still be open dawn to dusk as the contractor is working nights, dusk to dawn on the project.  However, at times their will be some cones and tape to reroute the trail while they pave the trail areas.  This is a 2 week project and should be completed by October 23, 2009.

Reclamation will provide you updates as they become available.

 
 
 
 
 

 

Hoover Switch & Police station work area 2009

Hoover Switch & Police station work area 2009

(NOTE: This area is just before you enter the paved switch-backs down to the dam parking garage. Be safe and tell your friends.)

Big Horn Sheep near trail at risk?

 OCTOBER 12, 2009 – I have received many searches for Big Horn Sheep. This recent article by Jean Norman along with related photos really provides some great insight to the some of the issues these big boys face on a daily basis.  I personally prefer to see them out more in the wilds along the trail which is a rare sight indeed.  This park location where the sheep are photographed is only a block off the trail so one can make a quick side trip while riding trail through Boulder City.  The park is located off of Ville Drive and is called the “Hemenway Valley Park”. 

Image

Photo by L.V. Sun Justin M. Bowen

Story by Jean Norman, L.V. Sun & B.C. News

The desert bighorn sheep that live in the River Mountains in Boulder City, seen here on a recent weekday morning, make their way down to Hemenway Park almost every morning. City officials have voiced concerns about the sheep as traffic in the area they roam is set to increase next year with the opening of the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

Link to entire article with lots of sheep photos below.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/05/when-bypass-bridge-opens-bighorn-sheep-could-be-bi/

River Mountains Loop Trail now found on Traillink.com

October 6, 2009 – We can now be found on traillink.com a map and trail location service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.  A good three and half miles of the RMLT are built on Historic Railroad bed within Lake Mead NRA. Also the RMLT links up with the official Historic Railroad Trail at the Alan Bible Visitor Center where a joint trail head is shared by both trails.  By riding or hiking these two trail sections you can experience 7.5 miles of the old railroad grade used to build Hoover Dam.  So please look for us at www.Traillink.com  feel free to post comments and photos there.

Mapmyride.com route for River Mountains Loop Trail – Miles & Elevation

September 30, 2009 – The following information comes from mapmyride.com and was recently provided to me to answer two questions other users had.  Since this GPS route was uploaded additional trail segments have been completed, but it does give a fairly accurate feel for route, distance, and elevation gain.  Enjoy and happy riding….

  1. What is the distance around the loop?   34.22 miles
  2. What is the total elevation gain around the loop? 1558 ft.

Link to map and additional information:

“http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=f8f5e75deec464b3b25c02bfc48eb551&u=e&t=ride“

Mapmyride.com route for River Mountains Loop Trail – Miles & Elevation

September 30, 2009 – The following information comes from mapmyride.com and was recently provided to me to answer two questions other users had.  Since this GPS route was uploaded additional trail segments have been completed, but it does give a fairly accurate feel for route, distance, and elevation gain.  Enjoy and happy riding….

  1. What is the distance around the loop?   34.22 miles
  2. What is the total elevation gain around the loop? 1558 ft.

Link to map and additional information:

“http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=f8f5e75deec464b3b25c02bfc48eb551&u=e&t=ride“

Boy Scout Projects on the River Mountains Loop Trails

 

K-rails before BSA eagle project nov. 2008

K-rails before BSA eagle project nov. 2008

September 2009- Update on recent Eagle project along the RMLT.  Spring of 2009 an eagle scout project was coordinated with the City of Henderson Parks Dept. and the Bureau of Reclamation. The project involved a large number of scouts and parents. The scout involved worked with the city to spray paint k-rails located at the Equestrian Park bridge. The K-rails were sprayed with a strain that resembles “desert varnish” and gives the concrete K-rail a more desert rock color.

K-rails painted by Eagle scout june 2009

K-rails painted by Eagle scout june 2009

This is just one example of a very successful Boy Scout Eagle Project that I’m aware of.  Since the trail loops through many jurisdictions it is best to contact each entity directly to  coordinate a project, or leave a comment below on a project you would like to do and I’ll forward to the appropiate  person.  The Bureau of Reclamation has several benches and signs needing installed on a portion of the Historic Railroad Trail, call Jason at 702-293-8171.  The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Dept. often have need of Eagle Scout project support. Check with Jennifer Magby, Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, at 702-267-4050.

Boy Scouts here is a heads up.  Working with Federal Land managers takes time, so start early and allow plenty of time to coordinate and plan your project. It is a great experience.!

List of potential trail projects:  Place benches and signs; trash clean up events; tree and shrub planting at specific locations; desert re-vegetation projects; wayside installations & interpretative sites; illegal road & trail restoration;  etc.

 Project gallery before and after:

Interbike Demo – Bootleg Canyon- New Belgium-River Mountains Loop Trail Sept. 21 & 22 2009

Sept. 21 & 22 2009 -  For the first time the river mountains Trail Partnership participated in the Interbike Outdoor Demo held the 21st & 22nd in Boulder City.  Event was held in the Bootleg Canyon Park.  What impressed me as a first timer was the thousands of bike enthruist  riding every  type of bike you can imagine, and they were not running over each other.  Temps in the low 90’s and it was windy, thus we ate a lot of dust.

 

 Interbike Outdoor Demo 09-21-09

 

 The real highlight for us was the partnership with “NEW BELGIUM BREWERY’ and their “Team Wonderbike” program.  We shared a booth and distributed information about both the trail and the “Team Wonderbike” pledge; plus we helped sell New Belgium  “Fat Tire” t-shirts and hats. 

Link to: http://www.newbelgium.com/team-wonderbike    The pledge goes like this: “I pledge allegiance to my bike,  as a patriotic cure for America…and to the public, with whom we stand, one elation, undeniable….with community and transport for all…BIKE MORE…DRIVE LESS!”

 

 

Interbike & New Belgium & RMTP 092109

Interbike & New Belgium & RMTP 092109

 The RMTP also staffed a booth provided by Interbike at the Sands Expo for three days in the advocacy section. We were not in the main stream show floor. We did received a fair number of local retailers stopping by to learn more about the trail, sections complete and to pick up maps.  The Sands exhibits were absolutely mind bloggling for a first timer like me. I had no idea how big the biking industry is…

Interbike show Sands Expo- john, Tony & joyce working RMTP booth 92309

Interbike show Sands Expo- john, Tony & joyce working RMTP booth 92309

 Interbike Outdoor Gallery/New Belgium/RMTP booth:

Interbike Demo – Bootleg Canyon- New Belgium-River Mountains Loop Trail Sept. 21 & 22 2009

Sept. 21 & 22 2009 -  For the first time the river mountains Trail Partnership participated in the Interbike Outdoor Demo held the 21st & 22nd in Boulder City.  Event was held in the Bootleg Canyon Park.  What impressed me as a first timer was the thousands of bike enthruist  riding every  type of bike you can imagine, and they were not running over each other.  Temps in the low 90’s and it was windy, thus we ate a lot of dust.

 

 Interbike Outdoor Demo 09-21-09

 

 The real highlight for us was the partnership with “NEW BELGIUM BREWERY’ and their “Team Wonderbike” program.  We shared a booth and distributed information about both the trail and the “Team Wonderbike” pledge; plus we helped sell New Belgium  “Fat Tire” t-shirts and hats. 

Link to: http://www.newbelgium.com/team-wonderbike    The pledge goes like this: “I pledge allegiance to my bike,  as a patriotic cure for America…and to the public, with whom we stand, one elation, undeniable….with community and transport for all…BIKE MORE…DRIVE LESS!”

 

 

Interbike & New Belgium & RMTP 092109

Interbike & New Belgium & RMTP 092109

 The RMTP also staffed a booth provided by Interbike at the Sands Expo for three days in the advocacy section. We were not in the main stream show floor. We did received a fair number of local retailers stopping by to learn more about the trail, sections complete and to pick up maps.  The Sands exhibits were absolutely mind bloggling for a first timer like me. I had no idea how big the biking industry is…

Interbike show Sands Expo- john, Tony & joyce working RMTP booth 92309

Interbike show Sands Expo- john, Tony & joyce working RMTP booth 92309

 Interbike Outdoor Gallery/New Belgium/RMTP booth: