River Mountains Loop Trail

River Mountain Trail…circa 1935-1937

 

Kiosk trail head sign at River Mountain Trail Head

The River Mountain Trail often times gets confused with the River Mountains Loop Trail and visa versa.  That is because they are both trails in the River Mountains.   The original River Mountain Trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1935-1937 during the time of Hoover Dam construction.  The trail head is located just downhill on Nevada Hwy past the National Park Service warehouse. The trail head was built and developed by the City of Boulder City, the National Parks Service, the University of Nevada Las Vegas who worked jointly to revive this trail to the top of Red Mountain.  The trail was constructed by hand and has extensive rock-work that is a trademark of the CCC which can be seen as one hikes to the summit of Red Mountain.  This trail is not a loop, but 3-miles one way making for a six-mile round trip.  Allow 3-5 hours to make the hike and enjoy the views.  You will experience an elevation change from 2415 to 3600 feet.  The Park Service has rated this hike as Moderately Strenuous. 

 

With the completion of the River Mountains Loop Trail through Boulder City late 2009/early 2010 this trail head became a shared trail head for both trails.  As yet no map or kiosk for the loop trail has been installed but the trail head is at Mile Marker 30.

This trail head is primitive – no water or restrooms.

 

A Destination Trail

Wildflowers and Lake Mead

Spring wildflowers line the River Mountain Loop Trail with Lake Mead in the background.

After posing the question on Facebook about whether the users thought the River Mountains Loop Trail was a “Destination Trail,” I have to concur that it is. My brief research doesn’t really define what a destination trail is so I’m setting out to determine what makes this a destination trail. So I went to Wikipedia and started with:

A Destination Hotel is a hotel whose location and amenities make the hotel itself a destination for tourists, rather than merely a convenient place to stay while traveling through or visiting the area for other reasons.”

So if I do a little word-smithing we get:

A Destination Trail is a trail whose location and amenities make the trail itself a destination for tourists.”

So in other words the trail itself is the primary reason for the visit or trip, and the amenities (the hotel, the restaurants, etc.) add to the reason to visit the trail. I have also heard the phase “World Class Trail.” Let’s explore some of the reasons why this trail would be considered a Destination Trail.

  • It’s a 34-mile paved loop trail, non-motorized, and 12-foot wide.  Suitable for street bikes, mountain bikes, jogging, running, hiking, walking, roller-blades, 5-k’s, 10-k’s, marathons and triathlon and even horse-back riding.
  • It’s both a rural and urban trail connecting the communities of Henderson, NV. and  Boulder City, NV. to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam via connecting Historic Railroad Trail.
  • It circles/loops around the River Mountains which is full of wildlife year round and wildflowers in the spring, offers unobstructed views of Lake Mead, numerous mountain ranges, and of course the one and only Las Vegas.
  • Speaking of wildlife the River Mountains is home to one of the largest and most productive Desert Big Horn Sheep populations in the Western USA.
  • The trail is also a trip into and through history of Southern Nevada. Kiosks and waysides along the trail system tell the story.
  • Speaking of amenities one will find five (5) different hotels and resorts connecting to the trail system, something for everyone’s taste.
  • The trail also connects you to other destinations along the way such as Historic Downtown Boulder City; Lake Las Vegas Resorts; Hoover Dam; Wetlands Park Trail system; and multiple trail connections into the Henderson Community and  Las Vegas.

Wow. I just sold myself on a trip to visit the River Mountains Loop Trail and I only touched on some of the big reasons. I like the scenery, the views, the peace and quiet, the huge wide open spaces and the solitude one experiences along the trail. There is something for everyone’s trail needs.

Where else in the world can you jump on a bike and ride on a trail system and see two of the world’s engineering marvels at the same time? I’m referring to Hoover Dam and the Tillman – O’Callaghan Bridge.

Hoover Dam & Tillman – O’Callaghan Bridge construction 2009

Nevada Southern Railway

 
 
 

  

Nevada Southern Railway cars at Railroad Pass

January 25, 2010 – The  Nevada Southern Railway and the River Mountains Loop Trail share something in common. Know what it is? Right-of-way number one, but also history.  The trail and railroad run parallel through Railroad Pass east toward Boulder City for about a mile. The railroad is visible from the trail all the way up to Bootleg Canyon.  The tracks and railbed are the same ones used by Union Pacific to deliver materials and supplies to build Hoover Dam in the 1930’s.  The trail crosses the tracks twice on either side of Railroad Pass and provides live action opportunities when the train runs on weekends.  

Nevada Southern Railway trail event 100309 at Railroad Pass

The  Nevada Southern Railway is a partner in the River Mountains Trail Partnership and has participated in many Trail Day functions over the years.  We hope one day to arrange for trail and train rides that allow users to ride one way and hike or bike the other.  The  Nevada Southern Railway operates on weekends and has regular scheduled hours of operation.  The Nevada State Railroad Museum is built just off  Yucca St. in Boulder City and is where Union Pacific and U.S. Government Railroad  met and transferred materials.  The museum has restored old engines and cars as time and budget allows.  They have considerable rolling stock.  For more information check out their web site at:  http://www.nevadasouthern.com/ 

The history part of the trail and trains continues where the trail picks up the old railbed on the east side of Boulder City near Pacific Trailhead and follows the old U.S. Government Railroad rail line down through Hemingway Wash to the Lawyer Junction where The Sixes Company Railroad took over, also known as the Historic Railroad trailhead just below Alan Bible Visitor Center.  From this trailhead you can continue on to Hoover Dam via the Historic Railroad Trail or stay on the River Mountains Loop Trail heading north along Lakeshore Rd.  There is also another railroad bed heading out of the Lawyer Junction only visible to the keen eye and best seen on the north side of Lakeshore Dr. from the paved River Mountains Loop Trail. 

Railroad Gallery. Black and white are from Bureau of Reclamation public photo archives: 

Discovery Trail – History, Wildlife, Forces of Nature, Educational Tool

 

DISCOVERY TRAIL –  Yes, I believe the River Mountains Loop Trail is a discovery trail.  It is a great place for families to discover the desert world around them.  Young kids need a chance to explore and discover the world around them.  This is free for the taking sort of speaking.  At the various trail heads history or nature is intrepreted  for the user.  Along the trail waysides are being designed an installed telling about the history, wildlife, plants or some force of nature.  Plus there is the experience of discovering nature for yourself right there on the trail.  I tell many of my friends and hiking buddies that if they really want to see the world around them, then “Take a Hike” in it. 

Trails are all about discovery….what is around the next bend?…over the next hill? under the next tree or bush?  what is that old structure over there?…where do those power lines come from….where are they going?…what type of cacti?…bird, rabbit, snake, bug, lizard, rock, bush, etc? is that.  Do animals really live in the desert?  What types?

If one does a little reading and research before heading out on the trail you will be amazed at the local history right here in your back yard.  One of the goals of the River Mountains Trail Partnership is to help all trail users discover what the River Mountains has to teach us.   Take a little time read some of the BLOG categories and discover.  I have been at this about 18 months and have only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

Many of you ride the trail on bikes for recreation and exercise, but you are missing the discovery.  It is my personal goal over the next year to walk/hike every mile of the trail and personally discover all it has to offer.  How about you?

Here are just a few things along the trail to be Discovered and in no particular order:  HOOVER DAM…SADDLE ISLAND…FISH HATCHERY…RED MOUNTAIN…ALUNITE MINE…RAILROAD PASS…BOOTLEG CANYON…FLOOD CHANNELS… POWER LINES…GOLD MINES….THREE KIDS MINE…MOVIE FILMED HERE…MAGIC TREE…BMI WATER LINE…WATER RECLAMATION…COYOTES…BIG HORN SHEEP…BEAVER TAIL CACTUS…CRESOTE BUSH…TEXAS ACRES…SIXES COMPANY…HISTORIC RAILROAD…DESERT TORTOISE…MANGANESE MINING…AND SO ON.

Three Kids Manganese Mine

Three kids mine unfger/RJ photo

Three kids mine unfger/RJ photo

Manganese mine -  In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, manganese, an important metal needed to strengthen steel, was supplied to Untied States manufacturers mostly by foreign mines.  With the onset of World War I, these sources of manganese were cut-off, and an intense search for domestic sources was undertaken.  In Nevada, this prospecting effort led to the discovery of the Three Kids manganese deposit in 1917.  This mine provided most of Nevada’s manganese production during the last two years of WWI and operated intermittently until 1961.  This is the largest manganese mine in Nevada and, during the 44 years of operation, more than 2,225,000 tons of ore ranging from 15 percent to 40 percent manganese was mined and treated here.  Small amounts of lead, copper, silver and gold were also recovered by the mining operation.

The Three Kids Mine is on private land and access is strictly controlled. This and any other abandoned mines you might come across can be extremely dangerous. Resist any temptation you may have to explore these workings – ” Stay Out and stay alive!”

(Material provided by Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Special Publication #16)

Three Kids Mine pit - Google Earth 1-20-10

Three Kids Mine pit – Google Earth 1-20-10

For more history and stories about Three Kids Mine see relate BLOG article including what movie was filmed on location here….rmltman…:)

McKeeversville, earliest settlement in the Boulder City area

Historic site…McKeeversville pre-dates Boulder City. It was where some of the first people settled prior to building of the dam and prior to the building of Boulder City.  The camp was also known as a squatters camp where the poorer famlies lived until better housing  came available. This area was also known as Government Survey Camp Number One during the actual building of Boulder City.  The lower portion of McKeeversville later became known as the Lakeview Subdivision which is active today.  The northern portion was abandoned and is listed as a ghost town in some records.  To many locals this was the other side of the tracks, as the railroad tracks ran between McKeeversville and the Boulder City township.  This area got its name from from a government cook who lived here with his family. 

McKeeversville Camp - Boulder City circa 1937-38

Today you can see remains of this Squatters Camp from the just completed River Mountains Loop Trail which passes along the edge of this camp.  Building foundations and walkways are still seen in the desert.  Old rusty cans, barrels, pipes and car parts in the area are relicts of the settlement.  Removal of these relicts is prohibited. Apparently McKeeversville ran up to the base of Red Mountain and into the area of Bootleg Canyon Park bike trails. 

Mckeeversville foundation and rock porch just off trail 1-0910

McKeeversville photo gallery: 

 
 
 

 

Historic Railroad Trail featured in Rails to Trails Magizine

Nov. 20, 20009 – The winter 2009 edition of Rails to Trails is out and it feature The Historic Railroad Trail At Lake Mead on the cover, plus a six page article and photos within.  The photo shoot took place back in the spring which several of us from the River Mountains Trail Partnership participated in.  Only Jim Holland’s photo made it into the article.  Jim is the Lake Mead Park Planner and was deeply involved in the completion of the Historic Railroad Trail.  I also interviewed twice with Ben Spillman, but of course was not quoted in the article either, such is the life of one who works behind the scenes. 

Link to article:  http://www.railstotrails.org/news/magazine/index.html   

 The article is well written and certainly covers the many user groups who visit the trail on an annual basis.  The history of how the trail was built makes another story which is covered elsewhere in this BLOG site.   Look under “History” category.

JIm Holland posing for shoot, Low Lake mead shoreline spring 2009

I have a few behind the scenes photos of part of the official photo shoot.  You will also find detailed information, photos, and maps on both the Historic Railroad Trail and the River Mountains Loop Trail at  www.traillink.com

See Gallery below.

Hoover Dam Connecting Trail – Historic Railroad Trail

 
 
 
 

Hoover Dam trail up DCP 2004

Hoover Dam connector trail canyon wall 2004

Nov. 6, 2009 -  I ran across these old photos of the building of the connecting trail from the Historic Railroad down to the Hoover Dam Visitor center parking garage.  This was probably one of the most expensive trail segments due to the NEPA and historic nature of the area; plus it had severe construction challenges. We had to hang a trail on the side of a canyon wall.

Historic rail trail switch backs dam 6

Hoover connector trail - contractor & trail partners 2004

 The River Mountains Trail Partnership was activily involved in the completion of the Historic Railroad Trail including the Hoover Dam connector as it would become a landmark and historic destination on the whole trail system.

Hoover Dam trail down DCP

Hoover Dam connector trail switchbacks down canyon wall to garage...2004

The completion of the Historic Railroad Trail and the Hoover Dam connector trail were dedicated and open to the public in October 2007 with a bike ride from Boulder City to the Hoover Dam. The trail section from tunnel #5 to the dam is only open during daylight hours. 

In the gallery photos below is one old B & W photo from Bureau of Reclamation public file photos showing the Hi-mix concrete plant with a steam locatmotive. This is the same location of the current Hoover Dam Connector Trail.  If you look closely you’ll see the same large crack in the rock formation on the left.

Hoover Dam Connector Trail photo Gallery:

 
 
 

 

Boulder City Celebrates Completion of Loop Trail – B.C. News

Oct. 29, 2009 – The following is from the last issue of the B.C. News; but can be found in the L.V. Sun also. Headline is a little mis-leading as we celebrated the completion of Boulder City’s portion of the River Mountains Loop Trail. We still have a 2.5 mile section between mile marker 8.5 and mile marker 11 to complete by late summer 2010.

Completion of loop trail celebrated

By Jean Reid Norman (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 3:30 p.m.

More than 30 people took a train ride and a brisk stroll Oct. 17 to celebrate the completion of the portion of the River Mountain Loop Trail connecting Boulder City and Henderson. Another three people brought their bicycles on the train, then rode the 5 kilometers back to the Southern Nevada Railway depot.

The section connecting Railroad Pass to the Nevada State Veterans Home, was completed last month and now allows hikers and bicyclists to ride from Lake Las Vegas in Henderson through Boulder City and around Lake Mead with only a brief interruption around Industrial Road and U.S. 93, said Gary Zupanic the engineering technician overseeing the Boulder City portion of the project. That portion should be complete by year’s end, he said.

The entire 34.5-mile River Mountain Loop Trail is scheduled to be completed by next October.

The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 5K walk, bike, run and stroll Oct. 17 to mark the completion of a portion called significant by John Holman, chairman of the River Mountain Loop Trail Partnership.

Awards were given to the top three finishers of the run: Jeannine Spicer, first place; Valerie McNay, second place; and Lee Schultz, third place.

B.C. Cut & run Oct 17, 2009 group

Boulder city Cut & Rund oct. 17, 2009 photo by R. Hall B.C>

DSCN5637

Southern Nevada Railway & joggers Oct. 17th, 2009 photo by JEH

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: