Hoover Dam is an easy detour on your return trip to Las Vegas from the Grand Canyon. Hoover Dam is worth the stop if you have a few hours to spare. Over 8 million people a year visit the dam and many plunge into an exciting tour of historic Hoover Dam. Some want to straddle the state line, being in two time zones at the same time. A fascinating marvel of engineering. A visit only takes about 2-3 hours’ time. For us, this was our last stop on our Grand Circle adventure of the Utah 5.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! Read the full disclosure policy here.
Table of Contents
Distinguished History of Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is one of the seven industrial wonders of the world, one of seven modern civil engineering marvels of the U.S., and one of the world’s top engineering wonders of the 20th century.
The Hoover Dam is a 700-hundred-foot-tall, concrete arch-gravity dam. It provides immense amounts of clean power and helping the surrounding states manage the water resources. On April 20, 1931, construction began on the Hoover Dam, the largest of its kind. What an amazing accomplishment of human ingenuity constructed with the tools they had in that period. They completed it on March 1, 1936. It looms 726 feet above Black Canyon, having a concrete base of 660 feet; and 1244 feet across the top. The electricity generated provides energy for Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California. Hoover Dam Website.
Hoover Dam is open year-round except on Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. The Visitor Center is open from 5 am – 9 pm. Security will inspect your car before parking. This is a federal facility and carrying a firearm on the premises in a federal offense, so leave your firearm at the hotel or home.
What Things Can We Do at Hoover Dam?
Historically before 911, your trip to Hoover Dam would drive directly over the dam. However, in today’s climate of security, the Intestate bypasses the dam. This is a good detour, even if you just take in the view. It can easily occupy an hour or two of your downtime.
First off, don’t fall for the paid parking garage ($10). If you’re willing to walk a short to moderate distance, free parking is available on the opposite side of Dam. There are lots of interesting things you can do not just at Hoover Dam but in the nearby Lake Mead Recreation area, too.
1. Step-back in Two Time Zones – Hoover Dam
Walking across the dam gives an amazing sense of scale. On one side you see the expanse of Lake Mead. Although the water was historically very low, the lake extends 110-miles. On the opposite side, you can see the sheer canyon walls as the dam drops to the riverbed below where the Colorado River continues its journey towards the Gulf of California.
There is a plaque on the top of the dam at the halfway point on the bridge. This is the Nevada/Arizona state line. You can stand in two states and two time zones by straddling the line. There is a clock on the Nevada side (Pacific Time Zone)and a clock on the Arizona side (Mountain Time Zone). We found it most interesting that you can stand in two time zones at Hoover Dam. On the Nevada side, there are several other plaques and monuments dedicated to those that lost their lives during the massive construction project. The most moving memorial is a bronze plaque commemorating the 96 men who officially died during the construction of Hoover Dam. It part it reads, “They died to make the desert bloom.”
2. Walk through History in the Visitor Center
For many visitors on a Hoover Dam tour, their first stop is the Hoover Dam Visitor Center. The visitor center charges an entrance fee ($10) to see the exhibits. The exhibits are really interesting and explain the engineering and construction in great detail. Admission also gets you into the 1940s era topographical map presentation in the original exhibit building. Watch the video presentation and immerse yourself in the history of Hoover Dam. The interactive displays walk you through the vision, the design phase, building construction, and operations at the dam. Interesting that Herbert Hoover himself envisioned the concrete arch-gravity dam would subsidise itself through the generation of hydroelectricity and eventually pay for itself. He was correct at a cost of 49 million. The dam recouped the cost with interest in 1987.
You can walk onto the observation deck for a better view of the dam and Lake Mead. Lake Mead is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, and it is the largest reservoir in the United States in terms of water capacity.
NOTE: All visitors must go through the TSA security checkpoint to enter the Visitor Center. They allow only bottled water on the tours.
Parking, Gift Shop & Observation Deck
There is a bathroom in the parking garage. To access the bathroom in the visitor’s center, you must pay the entrance fee. If you take any of the tours, you will need to purchase tickets and I thought the tours were expensive. However, if you cannot get to Glen Canyon (which is cheaper to tour) then I would be remiss if I did not recommend the tour.
They have a gift shop in case you need to buy more water, hat to keep the sun off your face, or anything you may collect. There is a café that offers sandwiches and drinks, a little overpriced, I’d suggest that you pack a cooler and bring beverages and snacks and just grab a bench or a lookout area of lake Mead and sit in the shade or car and enjoy the view.
3. Purchasing Tickets for your Exciting Historic Tour of Hoover Dam
There are three levels of tickets: (no online ticket sales available)
Note: Currently tickets are on a first come first serve basis.
- Visitor Center & Exhibits $10.00
- Power Plant Tour- 30-minute guided tour $15.00
- VIP Tour – 1 hour guided tour includes the power plant and elevator to the interior of the dam. $30.00
- All tour prices include entrance into the Visitor Center. Tours operate 9am-5pm.
Exhilarating VIP Tour of Historic Hoover Dam
The VIP tour is remarkable. The VIP tour leaves on a schedule and you are buying a ticket for a specific time. You descend the elevator, 530 feet to see the inner workings. The fully narrated guided tour details the inner works of the dam. The narrative covers the turbines, penstocks and hydroelectric generation capabilities of the Hoover Dam. This tour you walk through the inspection tunnels. It was amazing to see out from one of the ventilator shafts in the dam wall. I found the tour to fascinating, not to mention inside the dam is so much cooler temperature considering the outside temperature was over 100 degrees.
4. Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
To fully take in the panorama of the Hoover dam stop on your way out to walk the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. It can be accessed by crossing back over the dam, taking the switchbacks up the hill to the parking lot approximately a mile away further along. From the parking lot, it is a short walk up multiple concrete steps to the Bridge. Bring plenty of drinking water, or refill your water bottle at the many drinking fountains.
O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is another monumental engineering feat. – they built it from both sides and met in the middle with only a 9.5 mm correction needed. The new bridge spans 1,900 feet across Black Canyon and 900 feet above the Colorado River.
We had a slight breeze, so we walked across the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to take some pictures. The views are incredible! The height can be a little intimidating for those that fear heights. There are interpretive signs detailing the building of the pedestrian bridge.
5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
At 247 square miles, this is the largest reservoir in the United States. Why not take advantage of spending a day walking the sandy shoreline or kayaking through one of the many secluded coves? The beautiful azure waters make this an inviting destination for those that enjoy a day on the water. Boaters, swimmers, and avid hikers will find amazing landscapes in this year-round playground. We took the scenic drive along the lake shore, stopping several times at the overlooks with breathtaking views.
The waters of the lake are chilly 60 degrees, but that does not seem to chase the swimmers away at Boulder Beach. This area is popular with day travelers and campers. They waive the entrance fee if you have the “America the Beautiful pass.” The Boulder Beach Campground has nearly 150 large paved tent/RV sites. Each site has a fire pit/grill and table. Potable water spigots and restrooms are throughout the campground. Group camping is also available for reservation only. The Lake Mead RV Village is next to the campground and includes RV sites with full hookups and 24-hour shower and laundry facilities.
Leave no Trace: All plants, wildlife, geologic features (rocks), and archeological artifacts are protected. They permit no collecting in the recreation area.
6. Boating on Lake Mead
In Boulder City, there are two marinas. The Las Vegas boating marina and the Lake Mead marina. It’s a charming little place with boats, mooring and rentals, a small store, and a nice restaurant-The Harbor House Cafe. This floating restaurant hovers over the crystal clear waters of the lake. Today, the A/C is a welcome reprieve from the 100-degree temperatures. It is a magnificent spot for a light lunch without breaking the bank. If you choose to you can rent a pontoon boat, or jet ski.
Note: Feeding the Carp seems to be a popular tourist attraction at the marina. Carp seems to swarm in large numbers for either bread or popcorn. We don’t condone feeding wildlife. However, the carp population has eaten much of the grass in the lake. The ecosystem is out of balance.
View of the water and hills at Lake Mead, Nevada. Photo by Nikater.
7. Thrilling Kayaking on Lake Mead
Who does not want to soak in hot springs with names like boy scout, gold strike, and Arizona? Well, if you book a kayak adventure, you will get an opportunity to bask in these hot springs. Evolution Expeditions has the perfect kayak tour for any skill level. The Hoover Dam & Hot Springs tour begins at Dam, giving you a water level view. The paddle is 12-miles, a full day so not for the faint of heart. You paddle to Emerald and Sauna Cove. Your professional guides provide a light lunch and narrated the history of the dam and lake. If you are lucky, you can spot Bighorn Sheep, Eagles, and other wildlife native to the area.
We recommend you to wear a bathing suit and fishing shirt. Also remember, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water shoes and a dry bag for camera, valuables and a change of clothes. This tour is first-come, first-serve as the National Park Service only issues a few permits on certain dates.
8. Tunnels, Slot and Hiking Trails. Oh-My!
There are nine wilderness areas within the Lake Mead NRA. You can park for free and walk 4.5 miles to the Hoover Dam, passing through five tunnels that were carved through the mountains to help build the dam.
The Railroad Trail
This is a popular 8.2-mile out and back trail near Boulder City, Nevada. If you are a history buff, this is a must see. The mostly flat trail follows an old railroad bed high above Lake Mead. Just off Lakeshore drive, you can park for free and walk 4.5 miles to the Hoover Dam (just remember, you have to walk back again). Many families and dog walkers frequent this trail. The information signs will guide you through the construction of the railroad and the tunnels that were carved in the mountains. We found the five tunnels were very intriguing. They originally built the railroad tunnels to take materials to the Hoover Dam construction site. Excellent photographic opportunities, with stunning views of Lake Mead.
Note: You really should have sturdy walking or hiking shoes to traverse the trails. A quality trekking stick would be advisable on the trails with loose gravel. Remember to have a refillable water bottle to quench your thirst in the heat.
Remarkable Owl Canyon Trail
This is a fairly easy 3.5-mile loop. Owl Canyon Trail is along Lakeshore Drive, the parking area at 33 Hole in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The trail is not well marked. Be sure to download the AllTrails map before you go. Just before reaching the canyon, take the left fork. After you descend into the slot canyon, there is plenty of shade. I would recommend doing this trial in the early morning before it gets too hot. They named the canyon for the white owls that live here. They stain the walls with excrement, “white wash” left behind by the many barn owls. We did not see any owls on our day hike, but saw a coyote. and regurgitated owl pellets.
Lake Mead offers fantastic sport fishing with plenty of largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, rainbow trout, channel catfish and bluegill to entice anglers. Beautiful rock formations line the shores of the lake. Even if you do not catch fish, the views are spectacular. The grass rushes that line the lake’s edge are home to many waterfowl species — ducks, geese, swans, and redwing blackbirds.
Prosfilaes/Wikimedia Commons
9. Hidden Gem See the Original Wild West
Inside the recreation area is a true hidden gem. A wild west ghost town that was flooded when Lake Mead first filled up in the 1930s has reemerged in recent years. Once submerged 60 feet below the lake now because of the drought, the town of St. Thomas is now permanently high and dry. They found the town in 1865, the Mormon settlers at the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin rivers, prime fertile ground for farming. The town, at one point, had a residency of 500 people. We can see today only the foundations of the buildings. The National Park Service protects the ruins as a historic site within the northern Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Getting there from Las Vegas, head north on I-15. Take exit 93 towards Overton. Just outside town, take the left on Old St. Thomas Road. The 3-mile dirt road is mostly washboard but is traversable. The 2¼-mile interpretive trail has 14 signs detailing the history with archival images of the original town.
Final Thoughts on our Electrifying Plunge into Historic Hoover Dam
Today, the temperature is 117 degrees. If you plan to visit in the summer, expect higher temperatures and larger crowds. I’m thinking next time January through March may be a better time to visit the dam. Make memories: the history behind the dam is fascinating. There is more than just the dam to see. You could spend a few days here. However, if you are on a budgeted schedule, take the shorter tour of the Glen Canyon Recreational Area. The exciting Hoover Dam VIP tour is definitely an easy day trip from Las Vegas or on the trip to Grand Canyon National Park.
Have you been to Hoover Dam? Did you take the tour, hike or kayak during your stay? We would love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
