A VIEW FROM ...

NEVADA'S HISTORIC RAILROAD TRAIL

Along the Historic Railroad Trail in Nevada | Photo by Cindy Barks

Between the fascinating railroad history and the stellar Lake Mead views, the Historic Railroad Trail in southern Nevada's Clark County packs quite a punch into its 3.7-mile route. Following the route of an early-1930s railroad that was built specifically to serve the construction of the nearby Hoover Dam, the trail offers a unique insight into that mammoth engineering feat. Check out the TrailBlog for an extended intro about this iconic route and to view these images in a blog format.

NOTE: Typically, the trail provides access to the Hoover Dam, but that section has been closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is uncertain when this section will open back up, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; however, the first 2.5 miles of trail remain open.

Photo essay by Cindy Barks. Produced by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

To view the slideshow and captions, click on the first image and scroll using the arrows.

Historic Railroad Trail Runners Elizabeth Gangale and Julia Rude | Photo by Cindy Barks Turning Point, Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail Panoramic | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail tunnel | Photo by Cindy Barks Audrie Bojorquez and Luis Cisneros along the Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail from overlook | Photo by Cindy Barks Red volcanic rock cut along Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Lake Mead from Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Railroad sign along Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail tunnel | Photo by Cindy Barks Hoover Dam section closed | Photo by Cindy Barks Alan Bible Visitor Center along Historic Rails Trail Trailhead | Photo by Cindy Barks View of Historic Railroad Trail from Alan Bible Visitor Center | Photo by Cindy Barks View from Alan Bible Visitor Center to Historic Railroad Trail | Photo by Cindy Barks River Mountains Trail Trailhead | Photo by Cindy Barks View of Lake Mead Marina from trail | Photo by Cindy Barks Alan Bible Visitor Center Courtyard | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail at dusk | Photo by Cindy Barks River Mountains Loop Trail Trailhead | Photo by Cindy Barks Hard Times in the Desert Trail Sign overlooking Lake Mead | Photo by Cindy Barks Historic Railroad Trail rock tunnel | Photo by Cindy Barks Big horn sheep in Hemenway Park | Photo by Cindy Barks Boulder City Historic Downtown | Photo by Cindy Barks Lake Mead Marina | Photo by Cindy Barks The majestic Hoover Dam (currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) along the Historic Railroad Trail in Nevada | Photo courtesy Rukmal Kirtisinghe via Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0

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Rails to Trails magazine is dedicated to exploring America’s remarkable rail-trails and trail-networks, with a focus on the opportunities they provide and the impact they have in communities nationwide.

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