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Railroad Tunnels Trail - Return to the Trailhead
(aka Historic Railroad Trail)
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Railroad Trail
Railroad Trail
Shaded picnic table at Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area (view SE)

Overview

The Railroad Tunnels Trail (RRT trail), designated by the US Department of the Interior as a National Recreation Trail in 2015, is a pleasant 4.4-mile (round trip) trail that follows an old railroad bed high above Lake Mead and runs through five 25-ft-diameter tunnels cut through volcanic ridges. With lots of bikers, joggers, and dogs, hiking here isn't a wilderness experience, but it is a fun walk through historic tunnels in a scenic desert setting.

Presented here are photos of the return from the Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area to the Railroad Tunnels Trailhead. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and photos, see Railroad Tunnels Trail.

railroad tunnels
RRT trail departing the Bureau of Reclamation Rest Area (view NW)
railroad tunnels
Don't forget: emergency call box if needed (view NE)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail entering the Tunnel #5 trench (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail traversing the Tunnel #5 trench (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching the Bureau of Reclamation gate (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching Tunnel #5 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #5; the other end is not visible (view NW)
railroad tunnels
Hiker inside Tunnel #5 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #5; the other end becomes visible (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #5 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting Tunnel #5 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing Tunnel #5 bench (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues past Tunnel #5 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail heading towards Tunnel #4 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
Approaching Tunnel #4, the Scenic Knob becomes visible (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 bench (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching use-trail to Scenic Knob (view NW)

Detour Around Tunnel #4 to Scenic Knob

railroad tunnels
Use-trail to Scenic Knob departs RRT trail (view N)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail climbs over a high point (view N)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail descends from high point towards Scenic Knob (view N)
railroad tunnels
Saddle before Scenic Knob; note trail continues left (view NW)
railroad tunnels
Trail to Scenic Knob (view N)
railroad tunnels
Just like stairs (view NE)
railroad tunnels
Approaching top of Scenic Knob (view N)
railroad tunnels
Top of Scenic Knob (view NE)
railroad tunnels
View from atop Scenic Knob (view W)
railroad tunnels
View from atop Scenic Knob (view NW)
railroad tunnels
View from atop Scenic Knob (view N)
railroad tunnels
View from atop Scenic Knob (view NE)
railroad tunnels
View from atop Scenic Knob (view SE)
railroad tunnels
Atop Scenic Knob (view S back towards use-trail)
railroad tunnels
Off the Scenic Knob, use-trail continues towards Tunnel #3 (view W)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail continues around Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail continues around Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail returning to RRT trail (view SW)

Continuing on RRT trail through Tunnel #4

railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail entering Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting Tunnel #4 (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing use-trail from Scenic Knob (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at Tunnel #3 bench (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
Tunnel #3 with timbers and shipping container (view SW)
Railroad Tunnels
Tunnel #3 with timbers and cribbing before the shipping container
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #3 shipping container (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #3 (view SW)
railroad tunnels
Keep an eye out for washouts on the edge of the trail (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
Another washout eating away the edge of the trail (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing information sign (Hard Times in the Desert)
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RRT trail approaching Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at entrance to Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail entering Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #2 shipping container (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting Tunnel #2 (view NW)
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RRT trail passing Tunnel #2 information sign and bench (view NW)
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RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #2 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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RRT trail approaching Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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Hikers on RRT trail inside Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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RRT trail approaching entrance to Tunnel #1 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail entering Tunnel #1 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
Timbers inside Tunnel #1 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail inside Tunnel #1 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching exit from Tunnel #1 (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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RRT trail approaching Tunnel #1 information sign (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing Tunnel #1 bench (view NW)
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RRT trail continuing past Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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RRT trail without shade past Tunnel #1 (view NW)
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RRT trail approaching another bench (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing another bench (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail curving left around a ridge (view NW)
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RRT trail approaching another information sign (view W)
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RRT trail at information sign (Ringed by Mountains)
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RRT trail with grand view of the River Mountains (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing towards the trailhead (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching the Cement Plug dump area (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at the Cement Plug dump area (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching the Cement Plug sign (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing the Cement Plug sign (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching road-cut with earthquake faults (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail in road-cut with earthquake faults (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail exiting road-cut (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching an information sign (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing an information sign (Desert Wildlife)
railroad tunnels
Hoover Dam Lodge comes into view (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching two information sign (view SW)
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RRT trail passing second sign; Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead to the left
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RRT trail at trail to Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead (view SW)
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RRT trail at trail to Hoover Dam Lodge Trailhead (view S)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing past the spur trail (view SW)
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RRT trail approaching telephone wires (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing another bench (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching a small road-cut (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing under powerlines (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail turning a gentle curve (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching another information sign (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing info sign (A Network of Railroads)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continues long and straight without shade (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching a road-cut (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching the vehicle gate (view SW)
Railroad Tunnels
Colorful volcanic ash (evening light) view SE)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at the vehicle gate (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing past the vehicle gate (view SW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching a fork in the trail (view W)
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RRT trail stays right on the Six Companies Railroad bed (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing on the Six Companies Railroad bed (view W)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail continuing on the narrower trail (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail passing a trail sign (Dogs on Leash)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at another fork (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at short-cut use-trail to trailhead (view NW)

Short-Cut to Trailhead

railroad tunnels
RRT trail at short-cut use-trail to trailhead (view N)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail continues towards trailhead (view N)
railroad tunnels
Use-trail arriving at trailhead (view N)
railroad tunnels
More to come ...

Main Railroad Tunnels Trail to Trailhead

railroad tunnels
RRT trail at another fork (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail (the official trail) continues straight (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching the trailhead (view NW)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail approaching intersection with paved trail (view NW)
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RRT trail stays right onto paved trail (view N)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail bends right towards trailhead parking (view NE)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail arriving at parking area (view NE)
railroad tunnels
RRT trail at trailhead parking (view E)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240326

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