The notebook of Lake Mead et Hoover Dam
Follow the path that tutes the sky.
Great dam, desert reservoir and canyons from Colorado.
At your own pace
Identity summary
2 to 5 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Lake · Desert · Heritage · Nature
Variable accessibility
Sweet rhythm
General presentation
Lake Mead et Hoover Dam
Great dam, desert reservoir and canyons from Colorado.
Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Historic Railroad Trail provide the most telling landmarks of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Together, they make up a destination where the shores and lakes, desert areas, heritage and natural spaces meet, with atmospheres that change over the stages rather than just one uniform decor.
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For a stay of 2 to 5 days, a quiet rhythm works well. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be checked step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Hoover Dam
- Lake Mead
- Historic Railroad Trail
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Place indismissible
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam bar the Black Canyon with rare geometric power: curved concrete, art deco towers, electric lines and Colorado compressed below. The visit or views from the neighbouring bridge highlight the contrast between prowess of engineering, mineral desert and visible decline in water levels of Mead Lake.
Lake
Lake Mead
Lake Mead extends its waters between the dry reliefs of Nevada and Arizona, with clear bays, marinas and shorelines marked by variations in level. It is also a place for boating, swimming or panoramic roads, but the landscape also tells very concretely the tension between water, desert and urban growth.
Culture and heritage
Historic Railroad Trail
Historic Railroad Trail is the old railway line used in the construction of the Hoover Dam, with several tunnels dug in the rock over Lake Mead. The road is wide and regular, appreciated on foot or by bike, and offers constant views of the water, desert hills and approach to the dam.
Nature and panorama
Black Canyon
Black Canyon The Colorado is located between dark walls just downstream of the Hoover Dam, in a narrower and more mineral setting than the open banks of the Lake Mead From water, kayaking or excursion, you can discover hot springs, steep cliffs and unusual views of the structure from the bottom of the river.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
