Historic Railroad Trail Hiking Guide
When they built Hoover Dam they laid a railway along the cliffs above the Colorado to haul in the materials, and when the work finished they pulled up the rails and left the grade. What remains is the most effortless good hike in southern Nevada: a wide, level gravel path that runs along the hillside above Lake Mead and passes through five enormous timber-framed tunnels blasted for the trains. It is flat enough for strollers and interesting enough for anyone.
The Tunnels
Five tunnels, each around 25 feet in diameter, punch through the ridges along the route. They were sized for the oversized loads that went into the dam, and walking through them gives you an immediate physical sense of the scale of that project. They are unlit but short enough that daylight carries through; a torch is pleasant but not necessary. The temperature drop inside each one is a welcome feature on a warm day.
Grade and Accessibility
Because it was engineered for locomotives, the grade barely changes — this is genuinely one of the few properly accessible outdoor routes in the Las Vegas area. The surface is compacted gravel, wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers with a little care, and there are no steps or scrambles anywhere. It suits mixed-ability groups better than almost anything else in the region.
Views and the Continuation
The path runs high on the hillside with Lake Mead spread out below and the Black Mountains beyond. Water levels have dropped dramatically over the past two decades and the bathtub ring on the cliffs is a stark, visible record of that. Beyond the tunnels the trail continues toward the Hoover Dam parking structure for those who want a longer day, turning a short walk into a substantial out-and-back with the dam itself as the turnaround.
Access and Fees
The main trailhead is off Lakeshore Road near the Lake Mead visitor centre, inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which charges an entrance fee or accepts the interagency annual pass. There are restrooms at the trailhead. Gates and hours apply. Leashed dogs are permitted and this is one of the better local trails for them, though the gravel gets hot in summer and there is no water on the route.
Heat and Timing
There is no shade outside the tunnels themselves, and summer temperatures in this corridor are severe. Early morning and evening are the sensible windows from May through September; the rest of the year it is comfortable at almost any hour. Sunset over the lake from the western end of the trail is the local favourite, and the flat grade means walking back in fading light is safe in a way it would not be on rockier ground.
Hiking tips for Historic Railroad Trail
- Bring this trail out for mixed-ability groups — the railway grade makes it one of very few genuinely accessible routes near Las Vegas.
- Carry a torch for the tunnels; daylight carries through but a light makes the timber framing much more interesting.
- Continue past the fifth tunnel toward the Hoover Dam parking structure if you want to turn a short walk into a real day.
- Go at sunset for the best light over Lake Mead — the flat surface makes the walk back in dusk entirely safe.
- Remember the Lake Mead entrance fee or bring an interagency pass; the trailhead is inside the recreation area.
Nearby trails to explore
- Gold Strike Hot Springs
- Lost Creek Falls
- Calico Tanks
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Historic Railroad Trail is the easiest way to get a Las Vegas group outdoors together. Use TrailMates to find relaxed evening walks and sunset meetups above Lake Mead. Download the TrailMates app to join one.