It's great they made this into an official hiking trail . I hiked this in 1987. No benches , no signs. Was rough going. I parked at the casino that was nearby, believe it was called the lucky strike. Made it to the old rail line and I popped out of tunnel 3 or 4 and found myself face to face with one of those bighorn sheep less than 40 feet away. Thing was huge. He made a slight move towards me and I'm thinking oh shyt. Then he shot up the side of that cliff like you wouldn't believe. I continued on with my eyes peeled high and low only to find the last tunnel was sealed. Awesome experience I'll never forget.

@DocNo27

Жыл бұрын

Gold Strike. Had tons of character (and an awesome coffee shop). It's a shame it burned down - what they replaced it with is another soulless corporate piece of crap.

@lizz3104

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your interesting story old timer. Jk I love any history that has to do with our beautiful state of Nevada. ❤

I’ve hiked that tail many many years ago, while going through one of the tunnels, I noticed a loose brick/ rock on the wall, I pulled on it and low and behold was a piece of paper with a pencil, people had added their names to the list of those that were lucky enough to find it, so of course we added ours, and tucked it back and put the rock/ brick back in its place.

This shit is SO cool! I love the leftover bits of history like this. This isn’t the Hoover dam, but without this the Hoover dam wouldn’t exist. Every person working on the dam would have seen it and known about it, but afterwards it was just left behind, like a footprint in a cave. So many tiny parts of history like this are forgotten in favor of the larger or shinier ones. Thanks for showing me this, I love it!

10:27 "... it's incredible to think about the backbreaking labor of the men who build this railrod trail using 1930's equipment." So true. Thanks for sharing another of your visits.

The thing I appreciate is your attention to detail, whether it's a random marker in the desert, an abandoned driveway or this important part of our nation's history. Thank you ☺️

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, i appreciate it.

I've been a resident of Nevada since 1965 and I had no idea about that boneyard and trail . Thanks for sharing , Imy family did the Dam tour in 1964 ish , I recently did it again , because of the security now the tour is a small example of what it once was .

I just did this late May 2023. All told I was on the trail for 5 1/2 hrs start to finish with a 45 minute break at the Hoover Dam gift shop. Even though I’m a Floridian and use to warm weather it was a bit of a challenge. So glad I did it and so happy my memory is preserved on your excellent video.

That hike looks like the best way to see Hoover Dam,

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Avoids paying for parking too!

I've been to the dam a number of times but never knew about that old railroad trail. Thanks.

Imagine being the Mom and Pop stucco installation company near Las Vegas and they come to you and say, "Have we got a job for you." Those tunnels are massive - they probably put their kids through college once those jobs were completed.

Hey Steve, another great adventure thanks to you and your videos. We biked the trail 3/24/24, and it was so neat - beatiful views, warm in the sun, cool in the tunnels, and so exciting to arrive at the dam from the trail. Fellow Sidetrackers: if you're not familiar with this area, best time is between October and May at the latest - otherwise it is dangerously hot, and this and other trails will be closed. Steve, we love your videos, keep on trucking!

I was there in 1972. I did not know about the railway. I love your adventures.🚗🛤

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

My husband and I hiked this trail in 2021, highly recommend it.

Great video. Never had an idea that this trail existed!

As i came from Sydney, Australia and I stayed in Phoenix for 3 weeks last March, So one day, I visited Hoover Dam for couple of hours and it was very interesting. So I want to thank you for great sharing and it is so much appreciated. Cheers.

EXCELLENT STEVE!,,,NOT 5G BUT BIG ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD..,,359M,WELL SHAME ON THE AIR INDUSTRY MUCKING UP THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKY LIKE THAT,ITS REAL BAD HERE IN MAINE AND ABOUT EVERY DAY.. THAT TRAIL LOOKS COOL AND BONE YARD EVEN COOLER.. BEST WISHES,SAFE TRAVELS

Steve, I felt like I was right there with you. I never knew about the trail. Thanks again!

Thanks. Of all the videos I've watched about the dam, I've never seen this mentioned.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

thanks for teaching me something you really enjoy, think I learned to like learning and wow I learned why people like scenic views and stuff.

1970 and hoover dam was a magnificent sight to see. We walked over the damn that was open at the time on a trip from Tucson to Las Vegas.

Great video. We will Be sure to take the railroad trail on our next visit.

Very enjoyable video. Well done.

Real nice calm-soothing presentation.

Thanks for taking my suggestion! Another great vid!

Nice one Steve. Yeah just think every foot of that railroad and tunnels right. Ragtown is new to me, but of course a lot of the guys found some bars up the road right lol. Well we’ve got snow in the mountains hope some makes it to Lake Mead.

Went in the front entrance to the dam, really enjoyed the train trail and history thru the "back way".

Very very interesting!! Didn't even know such a thing existed until now! Knew about the Hoover Dam, of course, but nothing about former rail lines being turned into hiking trails.

I’ve been to the dam but drove in and then took a tour of the inside. I wasn’t aware of the railroad trail. That was very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 👍☮️🌞❤️

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised there's nothing at the dam about it. I'm sure a few people would like to check out the boneyard at least.

I don't live far, I'm going to have to check that out! Thanks Steve.

Great video! I hiked this trail in the mid 90's. You confirmed what I remember, one of the tunnels was sealed off, #5. Thanks for sharing.......

Thank You for letting “walk” with you. Shame the lake level so low. It was very interesting. Again, THANK YOU 🙏

Excellent video!

Another Great video and interesting history. 👍

well done as always

Excellent tour..... thanks

Thank you for giving this presentation. I have visited the dam several times, but not since the new bridge was built.

I would love to do this hike one day

I actually went here for the first time a few months ago. It truly is amazing and that little deli inside literally had the BEST burger I've ever had and it wasn't very expensive.

Wow I never knew the trail existed. Another great video

Thank you for the trek. I feel the need to go do this one for myself.

Added to my to-do list. Next time we visit Vegas we'll be taking our bikes to ride this trail. Thanks!

I hike all the way to hoover dam. Quite an interesting story about this trail

Wow, that was a huge effort (both for the builders, and you hiking up it!)

I love how you’re always filling my “to visit” list with new and interesting sites. Check one off- no worries, there’s always something coming in.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

That's the great thing, you never run out of things to see.

My eldest son, ex brother in law and I went on an adventure years ago. I had a book: “Ghost Towns of Washington”. We visited every one in the northeast quarter of the state. It was an unforgettable trip.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

That sounds pretty fun.

Another great adventure, Steve !!! Thanks for taking us along !!!

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

I wish I had know about that trail when I was at Hoover Dam. Great Video as always Steve.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

I bet the inside of those tunnels are really cool in the summer.

I wish that there was a nice little tram-style railcar that would use the Railroad Pass RoW between Henderson and the Dam for a cute little tourist-route!

@gobbleguk

Жыл бұрын

@@robtorres I was quite surprised that NDOT or whoever was in charge of building the Boulder City Bypass decided to actually preserve the railroad by building the bridge over I-11

I did not know about this trail, I lived in Henderson a couple of times. Been fishing below the dam that was an awesome experience, been inside for a tour too. Thanks for the share.

Only found out about the tunnels because of ghost adventures 😂 glad you covered them too. Love these videos you do.

Thanks so much for this video. Your comments and attention to detail is appreciated. I've been a Hoover dam aficionado since I was little. Finally visited it in 2014. Next time, I'll be walking this trail.

I look forward to your weekly travels. Thanks for allowing us to come along.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching every week.

Always interesting trails and places you explore. Thanks for providing all those details along the way.

I’ve watched multiple vids on this trail/route and yours is by far the best. Great job!! 🤘🤘

My grandad worked as a high scaler on the dam .I hope to see it someday

I had no idea this was here. I would have loved to do that hike when I was there.

I've been on that dam tour! 😄 I still have my souvenir hardhat. Fascinating but if you're trying to get somewhere, it is not the first thing you want to do since it does take a decent amount of time, but it's history you HAVE to see at some point! I always loved driving that road over the dam. I did it many times before the bridge as constructed. I kind of wish they hadn't have closed it on the one side because it was a nice drive. What I would have preferred was to limit it to light passenger vehicles only just to limit the traffic jam that you used to see. Maybe with like a 50 cent or $1 toll per vehicle. Have to imagine that this would have been a good money maker.

Looking at those railroad trestles, I always marvel at the amount of lumber used. Considering the location out there on the desert, it must have cost an additional small fortune to truck all that lumber in from the forests. Very interesting video. Thanks.

@jennifernichols9468

Жыл бұрын

Nah they brought everything by train

A true marvel of human accomplishment. Thx for this very peaceful, insightful and enjoyable tour.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Excellent video, Steve. Thanks for sharing. I always look forward to your interesting and informative tours. Until next time, stay safe. 💙

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I appreciate it.

I got up there a few years ago on tour, I've never regretted it! Because I worked on another hydroelectric job up in Yosemite National Park back in 1980! We had the power plant built entirely inside of a mountain it was amazing to see! It's still running today and I'm retired!!

Another great video. I've been in this area many times since the 80s and didn't know this trail was here. Thanks!

Great job. Dams and railroad! The best 👍. Thanks for sharing your story 🤠

Another great history lesson and travel adventure - Thanks!

Your trips l find very inspiring, l feel right there with you. If your wife and son are with you show them!

Great low key walk, but you filled it with information! I live in Boulder City, having moved here from San Diego. I’ve been able to explore the pieces of history still remaining from the dam builders. I love the area! Thanks for encouraging more visitors to come enjoy our area!

Absolutely love this video sir! You did a superb job in telling the story and describing what it would feel like being there. I think you found your calling!

Fantastic trek Steve ! You guys have exercised like Olympians these past years.....Thank you for taking us !!! Cheers from Detroit 🇺🇲

@faryldaryl3975

Жыл бұрын

Funny you mention that. For some reason it never occurred to me before this vid, but when he go to the parking lot I thought "Man, even with the grey hair this guy's heart must be like a locomotive."

We did that hike about 4 years ago very interesting😉 Great content MrSteve☺️👍

Awesome adventure. Thank you for sharing. Safe and fun travels to you.

Sidetrack Steve, Another fascinating video! I love RR history. Too bad they don’t have a tourist RR going thru there. I love your music too. 🤔😃🚂🚃🚃🚃🎼🎵🎶🎸

Looks like a peaceful adventure!

I truly enjoyed this video. Very informative, now i know what i need to know before i go on that trail myself! Thank you!!!

Wow Steve, Great Video. I have Driven Right by here & Never Stopped. I was in kind of a Hurry Driving to my Family Reunion. This Video was Full of History & Great Information. You Did a Really Good job. Thank you for Sharing ❤ I Enjoyed it

Very interesting hike, I have drove through there many times but I never knew of that trail. I liked seeing the train tunnels. Hey by the way, you need an Arizona Diamondbacks Hat! 😁

Great video and details of the history of the dam. I first visited it in 1958 as a 6 year old kid and very impressed.

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this!

Consider a visit to Boulder City. The information we learned there really tied together with the dam information. I am old enough to remember that Hoover Dam used to be called Boulder Dam.

That had to of been brutal work in the heat!

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

I'd definitely want to be on the night shift.

I really enjoy the historical context you provide in your videos. Gives me a much broader view of what it all means and how it relates to what we are living today, as well as what it took for us to be where we are. Thanks, always worth while! 🙂

This was awesome, thanks for posting! What an interesting hike!

I love this trail! It's fairly common to spot chuckwallas around the tunnels.

Thank you for sharing this video I really enjoyed it thanks to check out in the future.

Although I’m not 100% certain, I think at the end of the video you captured the pillbox on the top of the hill that was constructed to protect the dam during WWII. It’s a pretty interesting piece of history too.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

I feel like when I was a kid you could get near it, but last year I noticed there were no trespassing signs up there.

What a coincidence! I was at Hoover dam just a few weeks ago. I accompanied a friend of mine whose father helped build the dam. She was donating letters and journals he wrote, patches that were sewn to their work clothes and pictures taken during his time on the build. I wish I had known about the railroad trail. I’ve gone to the dam dozens of time and had no idea. It was quite chilly the day we were there, and we had to bundle up. It was impressive seeing you in a T-shirt with that 54° digital sign behind you. You’re a better person than I am. 😂

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Wow. That's great that she was donating her father's items. Being from San Diego the 54 was a little chilly but I knew once we started walking it would get hot. Later that night we went to the Neon Boneyard in Vegas and I was freezing!

@boomtownrat5106

Жыл бұрын

@@SidetrackAdventures my friend is getting up there in years and she has no heirs so she thought that the dam’s archives could give those things a good home. Have you and your family been to the Old Mormon fort just north of downtown LV? The fort’s story is interesting, especially it’s Civil War history when it was known as Fort Baker. Back in early 2000s I gave a lecture to the Las Vegas Civil War Roundtable, that used to meet at the old Fort. The state has done a nice restoration of the fort and there is some original buildings there and they’ve got a very nice visitor center.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

@@boomtownrat5106 I haven't been there. We will probably be back in Las Vegas soon so I'll have to check it out.

Another great video!

Great video. I’ll plan to visit this trail next time I’m in Vegas.

One of your best! I really enjoyed it. Great job.

Elegantly done, Mr. Adventures! This episode is very cinematographic as well as informative, interesting, etc. Thanks for your painstaking work documenting the real world.

Excellent video Steve! I want to check this out now.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

It's a lot of fun.

Great research on all your videos. Thanks

Thank you for your continued great content!

Thank you so much for your informstive journeys through history. Wish I had this information a few years agon when I wintered in Yuma. I would have explored off road a lot. I did hike up the Brown Range just E of Yuma. Was a challenging hike. Didn.'t make it to the crash site but tried. Thanks again.

Great video👍 Out of all the times we've done the trail we never went far enough to know there's a bike rack there! We're going to bike and walk the dam next time for sure, thanks for that info. You picked the perfect time for the trail too it's hiking season in the desert🌵 There is a little shortcut (steep!) you can drop down to the trail behind the lodge also if the main lot is full or you want to hike a tunnel and return. The boating though... I'm sure anything below 65 or so is FREEZING on the lake (at least for the warm blooded folk)😂

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

I figured it was too cold but it was surprising to see no boats since the last time I was there was in the summer and there were boats everywhere.

Another great video, Steve. Thank you!

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

Great video thanks for the info. Will be taking a trip out there early December will differently bike that trail especially when I didn’t know it existed.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Would be great on bike. The Lake Mead part was really well graded. They don't allow bikes at the Hoover Dam but there is a bike rack right before you get to the parking garage.

One of your more scenic and well-done presentations. Very informative and well-researched. Thank you for a very pleasing excursion!

Ah! Another one you beat us to! 😂 Fantastic video as always! Wish we had time to walk the trail when we were there.

@SidetrackAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. If you a chance to do the trail its worth it. Also saves on paying for parking at the dam!