Hoover Dam

March 9/2015 Weather 78 sunny, low tonight 55.    Great day to ride out to Hoover Dam.  We took the scenic ride through Lake Mead National Recreation Area - south along Lakeview Drive.  Used our National park pass at the entrance.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Saw a great campground on the way Lake Mead Village with pull in sites right on the water.     When driving into Hoover Dam you can drive across the Dam and park on the Arizona side and walk back over the Dam or park in the parking garage that sits in the side of the canyon wall on the Nevada side.  We mention this since we thought no one could drive over it anymore, but you can ..... however it is not a thru road.   Either way you can walk across the Dam or drive.  

There is enough concrete in the Dam you could make a sidewalk around the world

Hwy 93 crosses the Colorado River on a huge bridge.  The only way to see the bridge expanse is from the Dam or a helicopter.  It's an impressive view sitting arched into the Colorado Canyon walls.  Also you can walk across the bridge and view the Dam, access is from SR172 only.

Bypass Bridge over the Colorado River and in view of Hoover Dam

 Take your time and see it all.  There are two tours available, we took the short one as the other was full for the next few hours.  Hoover Dam is an engineering marvel.  The enormous size of the project, years to build, amount of concrete, number of workers, size of turbines, started in 1932 and was finished early and under budget.  That would never happen in this day and age!!!  Here is a link if you want to dive into all the facts and details  Hoover Dam.  We walked away in awe of what man is capable of doing.  If you ever get to Las Vegas you have to visit the dam.  Definitely mind boggling modern wonder of the world.

Colorado River side of the Dam, Bridge above

Lake Mead stopped at the Dam