Historic RailRoad Trail Quick Facts:
- Location: Boulder City, NV
- Distance: 3.7 miles one way from Trailhead to Hoover Dam
- Highlights: 5 Railroad tunnels, stunning scenery over Lake Mead, history
- Difficulty: Easy with some inclining
- Best for: Families, hiking, mountain biking, running, history enthusiants
- Time needed: 2 hours to see the tunnels and turn around. Longer if you choose to do the whole trail.
The Historic Railroad Trail in Boulder City is one of our favorite family hiking spots near Las Vegas. The trail overlooks Lake Mead and follows the historic railroad route once used by trains hauling supplies during the construction of the Hoover Dam. With its scenic views, railroad tunnels, and ease of the trail, the Historic Railroad Trail is a go-to with our kids and one of our top recommendations when family visits Las Vegas.
The trail also feels like a hidden gem because I think often the Hoover Dam is the more sought-after tourist location and eclipses the smaller related pieces of history. By visiting this trail, you get a piece of the history without the crowds. Additionally, you get the history without worrying about your kids staying quiet during the tour. There are some we will attractions to wait and visit when the kids are a little older. At younger ages their attention spans are only so long! This trail has been a good way to experience some history but also move around and explore.
Can you take a stroller?
The trail is fine gravel/dirt, so it’s great for hiking, running, or biking. However, I would be skeptical to take a stroller. A jogging stroller might cut it, but a regular stroller will be problematic to push with the gravel.
How long is the trail?
The trail has 5 train tunnels and is 3.7 miles long running from the trailhead at the Lake Mead Visitor Center to the Hoover Dam itself. I found that it is an easy trail that is wide but do be cautious if you have young children as there are steep drop-offs with no rails. I’ve hiked a portion of this trail twice with my kids, and I typically make them walk on the mountain side when going through the steep drop off sections.
Are there bathrooms and water?
There is a water fountain and a porta-potty at the midway point with a picnic table. Beyond this (and at the trailhead and Hoover Dam), I’m not aware of any other bathrooms or water access on the trail itself. The mid-way point is usually our turn around, so we can take a quick break and then make it back to the car. With that the hike takes us about 2 hours. Depending on how far you go will determine the amount of time it will take.
Overall, the views are great, and the tunnels are very neat, especially for the kids. There is signage throughout the trail where you can read the history and see old photographs. This helps bring it to life!
Also, on one occasion we saw big horned sheep on the mountains, so keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. That detail was memorable for the kids.
I highly recommend this trail!
Make it a Boulder City Day Trip
After the Hike:
Hoover Dam
Lake Mead Recreation Area
Railroad Museum in Boulder City
Lunch at Fox Smokehouse BBQ in Boulder City
Nature Discovery Trail and Rock Garden in Boulder City
After our last hike at the Historic Railroad Trail, we went to Fox Smokehouse BBQ for lunch to recharge and then took the kids to the Nature Discovery Trail and Rock Garden. The Discovery Trail is a paved trail with large desert animal statues. I brought the kids scooters and they cruised around to let out some steam after lunch. They enjoyed letting out some more energy in a different way than hiking. This made for a nice day trip.
Happy Trails!
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