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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
3 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

🌳 We are proud to announce City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department has received a Finalist Award in the 2022 National Gold Medal for excellence in Park and Recreation Management. 🏆 Congratulations team!🎉 ... See MoreSee Less

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River Mountains Loop Trail
4 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Who's behind the upgrade to Hemingway channel?

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On the Road: Boulder City - Newsroom

www.rtcsnv.com

This week, On the Road is visiting Boulder City, which recently invested $250,000 on a significant bicycle path paving project. Construction on the 1.5-mile bicycle path next to the Hemenway […]
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I was able to ride this section for the first time a few weeks ago as part of my RMLT loop. It is fabulous!!! No more riding in the channel. 🎉👍🙏

River Mountains Loop Trail
1 month ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Great story featuring our beautiful RMLT! ... See MoreSee Less

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Love cycling? Best rides near Las Vegas as told by some of the valley's top cyclists

www.8newsnow.com

As tragedy after tragedy plays out on Southern Nevada’s roads, they are faithful to their passion. They are advocates, evangelists and lovers of all things cycling. And through it all, they r…
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Riding RMLT clockwise is not easy. Riding it counter-clockwise is just brutal. Either direction really is spectacular. There’s really nothing like it. I’ve been riding it since it opened.

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