(aka Historic Railroad Trail)
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
 Shaded picnic table at Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area (view SE) |
Overview The Railroad Tunnels Trail (RRT trail), designated by the US Department of the Interior as a National Recreation Trail in 2015, is a pleasant 4.4-mile (round trip) trail that follows an old railroad bed high above Lake Mead and runs through five 25-ft-diameter tunnels cut through volcanic ridges. With lots of bikers, joggers, and dogs, hiking here isn't a wilderness experience, but it is a fun walk through historic tunnels in a scenic desert setting. Presented here are photos of the return from the Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area to the Railroad Tunnels Trailhead. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and photos, see Railroad Tunnels Trail. |
 RRT trail departing the Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area (view NW) |
 Don't forget: emergency call box if needed (view NE) |
 RRT trail entering the Tunnel #5 trench (view NW) |
 RRT trail traversing the Tunnel #5 trench (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching the Bureau of Reclamation gate (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #5 (view NW) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #5; the other end is not visible (view NW) |
 Hiker inside Tunnel #5 (view W) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #5; the other end becomes visible (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #5 (view SW) |
 RRT trail exiting Tunnel #5 (view SW) |
 RRT trail passing Tunnel #5 bench (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues past Tunnel #5 (view SW) |
 RRT trail heading towards Tunnel #4 (view SW) |
 Approaching Tunnel #4, the Scenic Knob becomes visible (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 bench (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching use-trail to Scenic Knob (view NW) |
Detour Around Tunnel #4 to Scenic Knob
 Use-trail to Scenic Knob departs RRT trail (view N) |
 Use-trail climbs over a high point (view N) |
 Use-trail descends from high point towards Scenic Knob (view N) |
 Saddle before Scenic Knob; note trail continues left (view NW) |
 Trail to Scenic Knob (view N) |
 Just like stairs (view NE) |
 Approaching top of Scenic Knob (view N) |
 Top of Scenic Knob (view NE) |
 View from atop Scenic Knob (view W) |
 View from atop Scenic Knob (view NW) |
 View from atop Scenic Knob (view N) |
 View from atop Scenic Knob (view NE) |
 View from atop Scenic Knob (view SE) |
 Atop Scenic Knob (view S back towards use-trail) |
 Off the Scenic Knob, use-trail continues towards Tunnel #3 (view W) |
 Use-trail continues around Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 Use-trail continues around Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 Use-trail returning to RRT trail (view SW) |
Continuing on RRT trail through Tunnel #4
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail entering Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail exiting Tunnel #4 (view W) |
 RRT trail passing use-trail from Scenic Knob (view W) |
 RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 RRT trail at Tunnel #3 bench (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 Tunnel #3 with timbers and shipping container (view SW) |
 Tunnel #3 with timbers and cribbing before the shipping container |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #3 shipping container (view SW) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 RRT trail exiting Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #3 (view SW) |
 Keep an eye out for washouts on the edge of the trail (view W) |
 RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 Another washout eating away the edge of the trail (view NW) |
 RRT trail passing information sign (Hard Times in the Desert) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail at entrance to Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail entering Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #2 shipping container (view NW) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail exiting Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail passing Tunnel #2 information sign and bench (view NW) |
 RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #2 (view NW) |
 RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 Hikers on RRT trail inside Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching entrance to Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail entering Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 Timbers inside Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail inside Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail exiting Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching Tunnel #1 information sign (view NW) |
 RRT trail passing Tunnel #1 bench (view NW) |
 RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail without shade past Tunnel #1 (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching another bench (view NW) |
 RRT trail passing another bench (view NW) |
 RRT trail curving left around a ridge (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching another information sign (view W) |
 RRT trail at information sign (Ringed by Mountains) |
 RRT trail with grand view of the River Mountains (view SW) |
 RRT trail continuing towards the trailhead (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching the Cement Plug dump area (view SW) |
 RRT trail at the Cement Plug dump area (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching the Cement Plug sign (view SW) |
 RRT trail passing the Cement Plug sign (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching road-cut with earthquake faults (view SW) |
 RRT trail in road-cut with earthquake faults (view SW) |
 RRT trail exiting road-cut (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching an information sign (view SW) |
 RRT trail passing an information sign (Desert Wildlife) |
 Hoover Dam Lodge comes into view (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching two information sign (view SW) |
 RRT trail passing second sign; Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead to the left |
 RRT trail at trail to Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead (view SW) |
 RRT trail at trail to Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead (view S) |
 RRT trail continuing past the spur trail (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching telephone wires (view W) |
 RRT trail passing another bench (view W) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching a small road-cut (view W) |
 RRT trail passing under powerlines (view W) |
 RRT trail turning a gentle curve (view W) |
 RRT trail approaching another information sign (view SW) |
 RRT trail passing info sign (A Network of Railroads) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching a road-cut (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching the vehicle gate (view SW) |
 Colorful volcanic ash (evening light) view SE) |
 RRT trail at the vehicle gate (view SW) |
 RRT trail continuing past the vehicle gate (view SW) |
 RRT trail approaching a fork in the trail (view W) |
 RRT trail stays right on the Six Companies Railroad bed (view W) |
 RRT trail continuing on the Six Companies Railroad bed (view W) |
 RRT trail continuing on the narrower trail (view NW) |
 RRT trail passing a trail sign (Dogs on Leash) |
 RRT trail at another fork (view NW) |
 RRT trail at short-cut use-trail to trailhead (view NW) |
Short-Cut to Trailhead
RRT trail at short-cut use-trail to trailhead (view N) |
 Use-trail continues towards trailhead (view N) |
 Use-trail arriving at trailhead (view N) |
 More to come ... |
Main Railroad Tunnels Trail to Trailhead
RRT trail at another fork (view NW) |
 RRT trail (the official trail) continues straight (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching the trailhead (view NW) |
 RRT trail approaching intersection with paved trail (view NW) |
 RRT trail stays right onto paved trail (view N) |
 RRT trail bends right towards trailhead parking (view NE) |
 RRT trail arriving at parking area (view NE) |
 RRT trail at trailhead parking (view E) |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240326
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