Historic Railroad Trail will be extended near Lake Mead

Angela Soo

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 4:16 a.m.

The Historic Railroad Trail at Lake Mead National Recreation Area will begin construction Monday to open and stabilize Tunnel Five, which would add an additional mile to the trail.

The trail was originally a 30-mile railroad system built for the construction of Hoover Dam, park officials said. When the last generator was installed at Hoover Dam in 1962, the tracks were dismantled and sold. The Historic Railroad Trail is one of the remaining segments still accessible to hikers.

"With the completion of Tunnel 5, the entire trail would be about 3 1/2 miles," John Holman, of Southwest Gas and chairman of River Mountains Trail Partnership, said.

The estimated completion date is late July or early August. The trail currently offers views of the lake, but stops short of providing hikers with a view of Hoover Dam.

"Tunnel Five was a block from getting to the dam," Holman said. "Once opened, hikers will be able to get in sight of the dam."

There are currently four existing tunnels along the trail. When Tunnel Five is opened, people "will have an uninhibited trail from Boulder City all the way to the Hoover Dam," Holman said.

"This is going to provide a tremendous hiking opportunity," Bert Byers, of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, said. "It's going to be a grand one."

Providing yet another hiking opportunity is the River Mountains Loop Trail, which incorporates part of the Historic Railroad Trail. When completed, the River Mountains Loop Trail will expand 35 miles around the mountain.

"We have a series of segments completed right now," Holman said. "About 7 to 8 miles on the ground are ready to use."

Holman said the entire 35-mile trail will be completed in 2 to 3 years.

"We'll have a lot of trail-head kiosks and educational materials along the trail, and numerous waste sites," Holman said. "Las Vegas Valley residents will be able to use this trail and go all the way to the dam without using a vehicle."

"It's a great urban recreational and educational opportunity," Holman said.