Railroad Tunnel Trail

Kinda boring hike, but there are a few plusses. No fee for parking, as it’s right after the Visitor Center and before the part where you pay. Park in the lot after the Visitor Center and head toward the cement area with the large signs. There are two small trailheads on the left. Doesn’t matter which one you take; they connect again in a bit. From the parking lot there is another paved small road that goes towards the lake. That is for roadies, but you can walk it also if you want. I think that is part of the trail that goes all the way around for some 30+ miles, so too far to walk, perfect for riding your bike.
It takes a while to get to the first tunnel, and like I said, a little boring before that. It’s a bit over a mile to the first one. After that, the tunnels come and go quickly, and before you know it, you’re at the end. The whole trail is flat, and it’s all gravel, so even though it’s seems like a leisurely walk, if you walk fast, you get a decent leg workout. Like walking in sand, almost. Plus to the last tunnel and back is almost 5 miles. If you continue to the Dam, you’re looking at another mile one way, so it can be a nice low intensity workout. You won’t get ripped doing this once or twice, but you will burn some calories.
Bathrooms in the parking lot and after the last tunnel. Plan accordingly.
No trash cans, so don’t litter. I didn’t see any trash, so everyone is picking up after themselves. No dog waste stations either, so bring your own bags. Problem is you will have to carry your smelly poop bag with you for miles afterwards. I ended up leaving ours and picked it up on the way back. If you do this, don’t worry, it will still be there when you get back.
Oh yeah, near the large signs in the parking lot are bike tools and even a pump for all the cyclists. Nice little addition. Of course it wouldn’t do you any good if you weren’t near them when you needed them. And people that know how to use them would usually carry their own. But still nice they are there.

I was raised in Boulder City. Over the years I’ve only gone through one or two tunnels. Been there on many photoshoots but few weeks ago my husband, daughter, dog and my new Ukrainian sister –n-​law walked through all the tunnels to the end of the path. We had a little picnic halfway. Gorgeous view. We really enjoyed it very much.

I tried this trail while on a field trip for my Geo 103 class! I loved it! It was easy to hike and the sights were interesting!

It is a good easy hike. It was a little bumpy with the stroller but not too bad and the scenery of the water along the way was pretty. The tunnels were great and the little information posts were good

OMG, Loved hiking this trail last Monday. We got up early, and were there by 7:30 a. m it gets busy as the day goes on. So arrive early, do not hike in summer when it’s HOT. It was the perfect temp. Light breeze, and amazing views. I took close to 100 pictures. The tunnels are cool, eerie, dark and fun to explore. The trails weave thru many tunnels, there is photo boards along the trail to tell you about the history of it. It leads you to the Dam at the other end. Spring wild flowers were blooming, views of the lake. I can’t wait to hike this again before summer. We were there 3 hours. We took our time, steady pace and took in all the scenery.

Loved the walk in March with perfect weather. Do not try this from May to September tho and be sure to bring plenty of water. Incredible views.

I went on this hike on one of the first warm days of the year. It was a little bit windy but overall a beautiful day.
The main parking lot was full, so I had to park on the street just below.
The path through the tunnels is wide and flat, you could easily drive a car down it. Lots of people on bikes, with dogs, and just walking. The trail leads you through a series of 5 tunnels to a large open area with a picnic table and restrooms about 1.7 miles in. At this point there’s a fence and gates, and you cross over into the Bureau of Reclamation property that takes you down close to Hoover Dam. I didn’t walk that far.
I thought the hike, while enjoying some nice views of Lake Mead, and spotted with some signage regarding the history of the dam build, was really pretty boring. Flat, very little elevation change. It felt like I was walking down the road. I prefer hikes where you can wander around off trail, not much here for doing that. Great for bikers, families with kids… not for adventurist types.

I love this trail. Normally I run it in the Saints and Sinners half Marathon for the beautiful sights of Lake mead and the old train tunnels. Amazing views for some perfect photos l. There are benches along the tunnels to sit and enjoy the veiw. Definitely a must see!

«I’m up in the woods, I’m down on my mind
«I’m building a still to slow down the time»
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In A Sentence™
See the tunnels, see the lake, see the dam, see the bridge, and do so by walking.
Quick Review™
+ Super-​easy stroll, which is very modifiable in terms of distance and places of interest to see: railroad tunnels, Lake Mead, boneyard, Boulder Dam, and O’Callaghan-Tillman Bridge. Mold to your preference.
+ Possible for all age groups and ability levels.
+ Restrooms: after final tunnel, on the road that leads to the police station (parking area), at Boulder Dam, and at the OT Bridge (parking area).
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Easy peasy hike-​stroll that is widely known. I recall it being featured in the neighbourhood view newspaper back in 2008. It is in the Great Hikes edition (April 2011) of Desert Companion®. And, local area avid hikers would have completed this stroll several times so approach any of them if you have any questions*. (*Tell them Fast Eddie sent you.)
Initially, Hikemaster Norm showed me this trail. I obviously prefer much more challenging trails; however, this is an excellent one for talking. Just be sure to go with someone so you’re not talking to yourself.
Pro Tip
There is mobile reception after the final tunnel where the restroom and picnic benches are. Check in there.
Tourists
Lots of tourists here — naturally — especially since, you know, valley locals typically don’t really do this outdoor stuff if they can avoid it.
Kids
Good for kids. Bunch of lil’ kids in the first part of the hike before reaching the restroom after the final tunnel.
Dogs
Good for dogs. Bunch of big dogs in the first part of the hike before reaching the restroom after the final tunnel.
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Rating: Four-​stars, «Yay! I’m a fan.»

The other day I’m scrolling my Unilocal feed and I see a review by Nate M. for this hiking spot. So I look it up and it looks pretty cool. I start asking around at work and apparently everyone knew about this spot. My husband and I have talked about how we’d like to start hiking more and so our first hike of the year was on the schedule.
On a Saturday morning this is an easy drive from Las Vegas. We arrive right after the closest lot to the trail filled up, but we went up the hill and easily found a spot in the visitor’s center lot. As others have mentioned, this trail is outside of the main area so you don’t have to pay to get in to the parking area. There are bathrooms at the Visitor’s Center to start the hike and also at the end of the fifth tunnel.
This is a relatively easy «hike» since it is more of a trail walk. There aren’t many hills, especially if you turn around after the fifth tunnel. We continued on to The Hoover Dam where there are a few hills, but nothing too intense. The trail is wide making it a comfortable path and allowing room to pass slower groups.
The tunnels are really cool and it was unique from other hikes I’ve done. The trail is very scenic since you are above Lake Mead the entire time. There is plenty to see and definitely beats hitting the treadmill. We were even able to see some BIghorn Sheep on the way out.

«Tunnel number three smells a lot like pee» — Say that over and over again.
This is a great hike for the person looking to dip their toe in the proverbial hiking pool. The elevation changes are very smooth and only happen at the start of the hike. The rest of the trail is just a simple walk with an amazing view of Lake mead, or what’s left of it, and some brief history lessons on the Railroad tunnels and the surrounding wildlife.
They are five tunnels to walk through with each being about twenty-​five feet high and about three hundred feet long. The pictures don’t really do the tunnels justice; it’s definitely something to see in person. The hike is less than four miles one way and will most likely take you any where from two to three hours round trip depending on who you’re with and how often you stop for a photo-​op.
Get here early to avoid the crowds and kids. There were so many kids and strollers arriving to tunnel number one as we left and I was very happy that we were passing them, the echoes of their screams filled the tunnels and pathways which was enough to make anyone jump off the side of the trail.
Whether you call it a hike or easy walk? No matter, this is an a solid spot for some outdoor activities

Cannot believe I’ve been living in Las Vegas for 16 years & just found out about this amazing trail. We parked at the Hoover Dam Lodge & entered from their trailhead. Go right & turn right onto the main trail. The 5 tunnels are awesome. We hiked all the way to the Hoover Dam & back. My Fitbit says it was 8 miles round trip but didn’t seem that long. Took around 3 hours total. Amazing views of Lake Mead. It’s a must do for the kids. Mine were 13, 9 & 8.

Don’t know if I called a hike but it is a great walk. just about anybody can do it. Walking jogging or even bring a bike.
The trail is nice and wide, well maintained. I bring my dog with me when I take this walk, She loves it. Remember to bring water for both you and your animal friend. From parking lot to bridge and back took about 3 hours. Have a great time.

Chugga chugga! This trail is a fun 5 mile round trip through 5 train tunnels. It starts off at the parking lot right before the Boulder city side Lake Mead entrance. Not too far from the Hoover Dam. You end up going on an easy flat gravel trail. It is a very wide path the whole way, because this used to be the railroad for trains coming in & out to deposit materials and equipment during the building of the Boulder-‘er I mean Hoover Dam. You can see various deposits of the traces of history along the trail.
On one point you will see some huge concrete disks that were dumped over. Those disks were used as spacers to fit the original turbines into the dam. Towards the later tunnels you will see where they just chucked the old wooden railroad ties over the side. Probably during the switch from defunct train tracks to a public trail? Either way the history is there to witness. Some of the tunnels have some replicated wooden ceiling struts. Apparently there was a fire years ago that burned the original struts down.
When you traverse along the trail you will see on 1 side the beautifully tragic ring of white rock showing the decline of Pond Mead’s water elevation. No matter the sparkling blue water still makes it a wonderful trip. I remember ripping through the lake in our boat 10 years ago over much of the islands you now see in the center right by Calville Bay. On the other side is a very picturesque scene of different geographic minerals. Sandstone, basalt etc. The color variation makes for pleasant viewing along the mountain side of the trail.
Strollers with inflatable wheels and bikes are easily accessible throughout the trail. We take our boys through on our double stroller every time. Once you round the corner, the first of 5 tunnels is basically hiding right there. The temps are nice inside them. You spot benches about every ¼ of the trail, for those who would need to take multiple breaks. Once you get to the end of the 5^th tunnel there is a gate that leads to the security check point area of the Hoover Dam. If you are up for it you could continue walking all the way up to the Dam from there. This might actually be the easiest hike in Clark County.
It’s a very easy and doable total distance, well maintained and accommodating for all walks of life. Filled with history, geographic scenery and sprawling views of Lake Mead with extended trekking possibilities. I would have to say this is one of the must hit hikes for those looking to start off. See you there!

Fun easy trail. Hiked 4 miles of it. The best time to go is in the evening so the sun is not pounding down on you.

Hike or run all the way to hoover dam.
Some history to learn on this hike.
A variety of people you will see on this trail and dogs included. It’s an easy stroll, flat most of the ways.
I believe its 7 miles roundtrip.
Fun to do if you have time to kill.

I would definitely not classify this as a hike. I would describe it more as a long, low key, leisurely walk. So easy that tiny little dogs and children being pushed in strollers can make the journey from the parking area on Lakeshore to the bridge.
The trail is very dusty and I could see the walk being hot in the summer sun so come prepared as always when out in nature.
There are plenty of people to say hi to along the way which I enjoy.
There are benches to sit, rest, and enjoy the view.
The signs along the way tell of the history of the tunnels which is great. Learning while you exercise is always a good thing.
There are bathrooms at the parking area, at the midway point, and again at the bridge parking lot.
Keep your four legged friends on their leashes and make sure to clean up after them so that we can all return to our cars without a souvenir on the bottom of our shoes.

I loved this beautiful hike. This is a fairly long hike but on level ground with amazing views! It is an easy hike through 5 historic railroad tunnels that eventually ends at the Hoover Dam. We saw baby bats inside the tunnel. The total trip there and back is 4.2 miles but we added another 2.5 miles to go all the way to the dam and memorial bridge.
You can take your bicycle or your pets the trails are level.

I am by no means what you would consider an outdoorsy person, but I do enjoy doing basic hikes from time to time. I have heard about this trail for a while and because it’s on the easier side, I was happy to finally get a chance to try it out last weekend.
This is the perfect hike for any athletic level. It is flat making it good for walkers, runners and even bicyclists. We even saw some riders on horses along the way. You can follow the trail all the way to the dam or just go as far as you feel comfortable and backtrack when you’re done. We opted for the 4 ½ mile option. There is a bit of shade while you’re going through the tunnels and there are lovely views of the lake along the entire hike.
It gets a little dusty, so make sure you wear the appropriate footwear for the elements. There are no entry fees and it’s easy enough to find just off the main highway heading toward Hoover Dam from Las Vegas. Turn in at the Visitor’s Center and there is a parking lot toward the bottom of the hill. Great hike for all skill levels. I actually can’t wait to try it again soon and hopefully go all the way to the dam.

The Railroad Tunnel Trail is an easy and interesting trail for walking, running or biking. It is a there-​and-​back trail, so the distance you go is completely up to you. I used this trail to help me train for my first half marathon, what a great spot to take in the natural beauty of the lake while exerting yourself!
The trailhead is next to a parking lot near the Lake Mead Visitor Center, take the 93 South toward the Hoover Dam/​Arizona and turn on Lakeshore Drive as though you were going to the lake. The parking lot is on the right, before the pay station, there is no fee to access this trail.
The trail leads you through 5 tunnels that were used during the construction of the Dam, and if you want to, you can take the trail all the way there which would be about an 8 mile round trip. There are bats that live in the tunnels, chances are you will not see them but you may hear them and you most likely will smell them!
The first portion of the trail is quite flat, making it an easy trail for anyone to travel. I saw numerous families with children on my last visit in this area. Most turned back after the tunnels, making their trip about 5 miles total. After the tunnels the trail has a few hills as you head toward the Dam, but nothing too major.
I recommend walking, running or biking this trail as early in the day as possible. If you start before the helicopter tours get going, your chances of spotting bighorn sheep in the area increases by quite a bit.
Tips:
Wear decent walking shoes, while it is fairly flat, this is not a flip-​flop kind of trail.
Bring drinking water, there is not water along this trail.
Wear sunscreen, there is little shade outside of the tunnels.
Start early to see wildlife and beat the heat!
Regardless of your level of physical fitness, this is a great trail to explore a beautiful pat of Nevada and get a little history lesson while you are at it!