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Category: Off The Beaten Path

Hike to Hoover Dam, 5 Tunnels Hike

December 2, 2011
5 Tunnels Hike to Hoover Dam

5 Tunnels Hike to Hoover Dam

GPS 36.011096º N   –   114.794076º W

The 5 Tunnels or the Historic Railroad hike to Hoover Dam is on the old historic railroad that was used to build Hoover Damn in the ’30. The trail has been removed of all the rail and ties it once had. The trail starts just off the US 93 (Great Basin Highway) on Lakeshore Road heading to Lake Mead from Boulder City. There is parking lot on the east side of the road. This trail to the dam take you through 5 larger size tunnels on the way to the dam. No flashlight are needed for this hike. The trail is a smooth gravel road and is very popular with runners, hikers and mountain bikers. It is about 3.8- 4 miles to the dam and you come out on the top level of the parking lot at the Hoover Dam visitor center. You can easily add a few more miles walking to the Arizona side of the dam and up to the largest concrete arched bridge in North America. On this hike we did both and the total distance was just over 10 miles round trip.

This is a good hike to do in cooler weather, summertime would be too hat as this part of Lake Mead tends to be about 10 degrees hotter that Las Vegas.

Trail map

Trail map to Hoover Dam

A note about the tunnels, although they vary in length, generally they measure 300 feet in length and are at least 25 feet wide and at least 30 high. The trail is very easy to hike and loses elevation as you make your way to the dam (about 300 feet). Along the trail you will see great views of Lake Mead. as you approach the dam follow the trail markers though some large gates as the trail changes from the main road to a clearly marked side trail. You will also travel through the Hoover Dam’s large electrical yard. At the end of the yard is a designated spot to pick-up hikers and it is free to get in here opposed to tying to pick them up at the parking garage which cost $7.

Panoramic View of Lake Mead

Panoramic view of Lake Mead from the trail

If  you want to get up to the new Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, also commonly known as the Bypass Bridge, you will need to make a right in the middle of the electrical yard south to the main road. From there, you cross the old highway and make your way up the 7 flights of stairs, or use the long sweeping ramps to access the top of the bridge.

The Historic Railroad Tunnel is a great hike near Las Vegas with a fabulous ending at Hoover Dam. Bring a camera, and plenty of water, for this historic hike.

Photos by: LasVegas360.com

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Coffee Cup: Boulder City, Nevada

November 8, 2011

Coffee Cup Cafe in Downtown Boulder City

In the small quaint town of Boulder City, Nevada located 30 miles south east of Las Vegas the is a cafe worth pulling over for called, The Coffee Cup.  The “Cup”, as the locals refer to it, has been around since Hoover Dam was being built and the town of Boulder was created. The original “The Coffee Cup” was located a few doors down from the current location on the corner of Boulder Highway and Ash Street. This was the original historical location but is now a cafe called Mel’s Diner. Down the street at the current location of the Coffee Cup, there was a place called the “Green Hut” it then changed to “Harry’s Cafe” and now is the Cup. The original neon sign was modified with the an old part of the original “Cup” sign. If you take a good look at the logo at the top sign matches the current neon at Mel’s Diner. In the Spring of 1994, “Coffee Cup” opened for business at 558 Nevada Way in the Old Town area of Boulder City, Nevada.

Diners Drive-ins Dives

Diners Drive-ins Dives

Now, in May of 2007, the Food Network’s, Guy Fieri did a feature of this eatery and showcased it on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” or Triple “D”.  Featuring the pork Chili Verde omelet, owner Al Stevens’ signature dish.  Well its been over 4 years since Guy mad his famous visit.  I needed to go out and see if it was still holding up to the hype.

Let me tell you. I order the Huevos Rancheros with the Pork Chili Verde sauce and it was delicious. Big chunks of port over crispy corn tortilla that gave it a great crunch. The hash browns were grilled to golden brown perfection.  Followed up with a never ending cup of hot coffee.  The meal was perfect and I recommend this place to everyone. The place is always busy, it’s a good sign for a restaurant, it’s a reflection of how good the food is. With a short run from Las Vegas, the Coffee Cup makes a great place to have a really good meal in a the beautiful town of Boulder City.

Huevos Rancheros with a Tasty Pork Chili Verde

Huevos Rancheros with a Tasty Pork Chili Verde

Photos by: LasVegas360.com
Except for the Triple ‘D’ one 

The Coffee Cup
512 Nevada Highway
Boulder City, NV 89005
702-294-0517

www.worldfamouscoffeecup.com

Coffee Cup Cafe on Urbanspoon

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Bristlecone Trail Hike – Lee Canyon, Nevada

August 12, 2011

Bristlecone TrailGPS: N36° 18′ 23.8386″  - W115° 40′ 41.4588″ (WGS 84)

The Bristlecone Trail starting point is know as the Upper Bristlecone Trail. It is located a the very end of the Lee Canyon Road (Highway 156). Take US 95 toward Reno, pass the Mountain Charleston turn-off continuing straight for 10 miles, make a left on Lee Canyon Road (Highway 156), follow it until it ends. It trailhead starts in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, where the turnaround or helicopter landing pad is located. This hike will take you 2-3 hours to complete, depending on stops and breaks. The trail is clearly marked and you will notice a fence on either side of the trail for the first quarter of a mile. This was installed to protect some sensitive plants for butterflies.  The first part of the trail is lined with Ponderosa Pine, Aspens, and further near the summit are the Bristlecone Pines. The hike offers great views of Lee Canyon and the surrounding area. Even with 105°+ temperatures in Las Vegas the mountain offer a cool escape from the dreaded heat.

Warnings: This hike starts out at 8,600 feet and reaches an altitude of 9,381 feet.  So if you just came up from the valley desert floor, be prepared for some heaving breathing. Also, beware that there are mountain bikers on the trails, so watch out.  The dirt road portion of the hike (last 4 miles) is quite wide and has room for everyone and has a gentle slope.

The full loop back to the parking lot is just under 6 miles.  The hardest part is the first 2 miles. Once pass the summit, it is a gentle slope to the Lower Bristlecone Trailhead. A final small hike along the roadside for 1/2 mile will bring you back your starting place. This hike is not a difficult hike – just a little long and a lot of breathing for the first 2 miles. Have fun, bring water and be safe.

Lee Canyon - Bristlecone Trail - Click for hi-res photo

View 360° Panoramic of the Bristlecone TrailHead

Base of Las Vegas Ski & Snow Resort - Summer

View 360° Panoramic of the Las Vegas Ski and Snow Resort

Photos by: LasVegas360.com

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Lone Mountain Hike

July 23, 2011

GPS: N36°14’17.88″ / W115°18’59.026″

Lone Mountain is a steep, isolated, rocky crag located in the northwest part of Las Vegas just inside the Interstate-215 Beltway. The summit stands some 600 feet above the surrounding desert and homes, giving great views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

Lone Mountain Summit, Las Vegas Nevada

Lone Mountain Summit, Las Vegas Nevada

Click Here for a 360° Virtual View

There are several routes up Lone Mountain. The Northwest Route is fairly steep, but it is short (0.51 miles) and takes only about 30 minutes if you stop to enjoy the scenery along the way. The other is a longer from the north end. Lone Mountain is good place for a quick get-away or after-work hike. Be careful hiking this during the summer heat it can be very hot. This hike would make a good sunset/sunrise climb with a great view of the Las Vegas valley.

Elevation: 3342 ft / 1019 m

photo and 360 by: LasVegas360.com

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Desert Megaphone

July 22, 2011

GPS: N35° 01′ 18″ W116° 11′ 51″ (WGS 84)

Desert megaphone

Desert Megaphone

Desert Megaphone. This odd looking hunk of metal was found during a trip to Afton Canyon, California. on December 23, 2000. No one really knows who built this contraption or how they built it. This thing is huge. It must be about 10 ft. long and about 2 ft. round. It is made of heavy steel and has been welded into place and set into the rocks by drilling holes. This desert art work has been named the ‘Desert Megaphone’ and is a great thing to talk about.

Its located by Crucero Rd in the Mojave desert. Nobody knows who built the Desert Megaphone or who put it there, but I feel it was made by someone working for the railroad long ago. Some have speculated that the ends may have been covered with skins and used as a drum.

The Megaphone is a big tube of welded steel fashioned from several train parts. From the looks of it some attention to detail was done to create it. If you bang on it with a rock it makes a loud clanging noise. Someone also attached a small brass bell to it, for what reason who knows. The direction it points also has no reason either.

Leave a comment if you have any information regarding the “Desert Megaphone” or have seen it prior to December of 2000.

Tag: 6AZEFXABEKN6
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Armagosa Sand Dunes, Nevada

GPS Position: N36o 39.00 W116o 33.83 (WGS 84)

Armagosa Sand Dunes, Nevada

Armagosa Sand Dunes, Nevada

Just a short hour and a half drive North of Las Vegas is the Armagosa Sand Dunes. Amargosa or Big Dune is a playground that covers about five square miles of dunes and dips, and its centerpiece is a peak that tops out at 500 feet. These hills, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, are a well-kept secret and mostly used by locals, but expect to find plenty of other off-roaders on the weekends. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the entire dune system is open to all types of motorized vehicles, except for a small five acre enclosure delineated by “Carsonite” posts. In addition, there are several trails leading into the mountains southwest of the Dunes which are fun to explore.

How to get there:

At the starting point of Hwy 95 and Ann Road in Las Vegas, travel on Hwy 95 North 76 miles until the Death Vally/Armagosa Valley junction. Continue through the junction and travel 8.2 miles to Valley View Rd./Armagosa Farms Rd. Turn Left and go 1.1 miles then turn right onto a dirt road and proceed 1.3 miles until you reach the dunes.

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