| Railroad Tunnel trail-Boulder City, Nevada Sunday, September 21, 2003 This is one of those trails that if you have been to Vegas as many times as I have you have probably passed it by many times without realizing it is right there in front of you. For anyone visiting the Las Vegas area with only a few hours to get the blood moving by a little hike and wanting some great scenery and interesting history then this is the hike for you. The trail head for this hike is located at the Alan Bible Visitor Center located directly off route 93. Click on this link for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area official site. The parking area for the trail head is actually located immediately below the visitor center. For a good overview of the hike you can also click on this link . The hike itself is 5.2 miles round trip with very little elevation gain. I got to the trail head around 7 AM in time to see the sun appearing over the mountains. It was very nice with a typical Nevada cloudless sky and the temperature in the mid 70s. I brought along my day pack but only had my cameras (video and digital) along with water. During my hike I only passed one older gentlemen who looked like this was a normal daily walk for him. As you walk up the trail towards the first tunnel you get a great view of Lake Mead. The only thing troubling about the view is the extremely low level of the lake. After the hike when I was browsing through the gift shop at the visitor’s center I commented on the low lake to the sales person. She said that it hurts her so much to look at it she doesn’t turn around to look out the window at it. But it is a cyclical thing so there is really nothing you can do about it. The only elevation gain of the hike is the slight grade to where the trail curls around and skirts the lake as it comes to the first tunnel. After that it is just flat to where the trail ends which is before the official end. After going through three tunnels there is a chain link fence blocking any further hiking down the trail. When I first came upon the fence I thought it had something to do with increased security because of 9/11 but later I found out that it had been placed there before. Here is an exciting picture of it. So that’s about it. I am a big history fan and I love actually walking these types of trails thinking of the workers hacking these tunnels and railroad beds out of solid rock in 110 degree heat. The human race can certainly accomplish amazing things once they get the will to do them. The hike took about an hour and a half and I was back at the hotel in Las Vegas in time to walk the Mrs. up from her vacation slumber. Again a nice quick think to do to take some of the Vegas not working out guilt away. |
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| Railroad Tunnel Trail Lake Mead September, 2003 |