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You are here: Home / History of the Trail / The Hoover Dam Connection

The Hoover Dam Connection

John & Bill ride tru tunnel #5

John & Bill end of tunnel #5 just opened Oct. 19th, 2008

Hoover Dam connection

Debra & Barbara Hoover Dam visitor center link 10/19/07

The River Mountains Loop Trail is all about connections. Not who you know, but trail connections. I like to think of the RMLT as a hub in a bike wheel, only this hub is 34-miles around. A bike wheel has many many spokes and the RMLT has many trail connections going other places.  My favorite connection is to Hoover Dam via the Historic Railroad Trail.  This is a landmark trail connection one worthy of national recognition.

The Historic Railroad Trail follows the railroad bed used by the Sixes Company in the 1930’s to build Hoover Dam. Actually 3.5-miles of the River Mountains Loop Trail from Boulder City downhill to the Alan Bible Visitor Center also follows the old railroad grade providing great views of Lake Mead and the Henemway drainage. The trail-head just below the visitor center serves as a trail-head for both the Historic Railroad Trail and the River Mountains Loop Trail. The Railroad trail is not paved, but composed of native material and the original roadbed from the railroad. It follows a very gentle grade east to Hoover Dam passing through five (5) large tunnels and providing fantastic views of our ever changing Lake Mead. The trail is just a little over 4-miles one-way to the Hoover Dam visitor parking garage.  The final connection to Hoover Dam was completed and dedicated in the fall 0f October  2007.

Extending the Historic Railroad Trail to the Dam has been in progress since the late 1990’s. The opening of tunnel #5 and securing the tunnel walls was a multi-year project. This was followed by a BOR project to build a trail into the canyon walls above the parking garage. Then construction of the Hoover Dam by-pass delayed construction of the piece connecting the tunnel #5 to the dam. Finally completed, we held a celebration on October 19, 2007 to dedicate and open for public use all of the Historic Railroad Trail. Today you can get on the RMLT in Boulder City or in Henderson near Lake Las Vegas and ride all the way to the Dam non-stop.  In fall of 2010 you could ride from anywhere in Henderson via the River Mountains Loop Trail to Hoover Dam.  Best “Dam Trail” connection in the Nation.

For more history on the Historic Rail Road Trail and River Mountains Loop Trail check out the page named “Lawler Junction“.

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River Mountains Loop Trail
2 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Update: Closure at RR Pass due to storm damage impacting concrete at railroad tracks.

Henderson is working with UPRR and the Boulder City Railroad Museum to make this repair as soon as possible.
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River Mountains Loop Trail
2 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail
Hello All,

The City of Henderson is  temporarily re-routing trail traffic around the railroad tracks near Railroad Pass Casino. We dont have a timetable for this closure yet. 

Updates coming soon on the re-opening of this trail section.

Hello All,

The City of Henderson is temporarily re-routing trail traffic around the railroad tracks near Railroad Pass Casino. We don't have a timetable for this closure yet.

Updates coming soon on the re-opening of this trail section.
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15 CommentsComment on Facebook

It’ll be like this till next year or so .

Had a employee from Railroad museum, train is running but is being stop half down, it is not going pass Railroad Hotel and Casino he sad the track was damaged from Hilary and monsoon rain we had

Where does the trail reroute for this section?

I biked this today and there was no closure?!?!

Lisa Lohmann we will have remember this when we plan our long ride

For your safety = the government is all knowing and you must comply because you know no better!

Great, I’m usually hauling ass there, only to find a barricade 3 seconds till I hit them if I’m watching closely

Part of the F1 race construction?

Steve Burchell

There’s no easy “re-routing” once you’re at this point….

anything fun in henderson, the city wants to tax you to use.

Someone I know biked this section today from the ped bridge over the 11 to BC and said the trail was clear of all the dirt that was on the trail a week ago.

Rode by the Railroad Pass today, no problem. Is it still closed elsewhere?

Mattchew Fisherino

The resurfacing that was slated to begin back in April HAS BEGUN! Someone I know rode the RMLT early morning Monday the 18th and said there were roadwork crews busy repairing cracks and applying blacktop, so please abide by the trail closure signs on the northern section of the trail unless you enjoy riding through fresh tar. BTW, the gates at the RR Casino crossing have been moved out of the way and there appears to be nothing going on there in the way of repairs. Also, the entire trail has been cleared of all gravel and debris from the recent rains so thanks to the City of Henderson for dealing with that. The attached trail closure map that was put online last March now actually applies.

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River Mountains Loop Trail
3 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail
Thank you John Day for cleaning storm debris off of the RMLT!

Thank you John Day for cleaning storm debris off of the RMLT! ... See MoreSee Less

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Thanks John and all that keep our trail clean! Your hard work is greatly appreciated!!

There are some great people in this world!!!

Awesome. We encountered some rough patches on Saturday morning.

Your a legend!! Thank you sir

Wow! What a mess, thanks for clearing all that. I loved riding that trail when I lived in Vegas🚴‍♀️

Thank you...so much!!

You can do the Beltway Trail when you are finished. LOL. All your hard work is greatly appreciated by the cycling community. Thank you.

We have an amazing group of “trail gnomes” in our mountain bike community who put in significant hours to maintain trails throughout the year that are my inspiration to contribute to the biking culture in Henderson, Las Vegas, and Boulder City.

Awesome my friend 🤙🏽

🙌🙌🙌

Clap clap for him .. thank you so much

Thank you

Huge thanks!

I’ve been there 3x on that trail it’s amazing. we start at the railroad casino, thanks for your outstanding support 👏🏻👏🏻

Thanks much. Does anyone know if it needs cleaning anywhere else?? I have free time tomorrow.

Thank you!!!

Thank you John Day!

Thank you!

Thank you!!

Thank you 😊

thanks!

thank you so much, i saw you Saturday but i had to find my husband who turned around, thanks again, appreciate you!!!

Thank you John!

Thank you sir! Greatly appreciated! Kerry Jo Mitchell

Robert Jr Samano

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