I missed the Dam Tour!
Hi everyone, back in February 2021, I went to Nevada on an accidental and unplanned vacation. To maximize my time there, I went on a road trip with the family to check out Hoover Dam.
I have wanted to check this place out since I was a kid. I was looking forward to the tours, but to my surprise, the tours were canceled temporarily due to Covid. Dam, COVID-19, I should’ve known better. But enough ranting; this post is not about what I could not do but about what I could learn and see at the Dam and thus, sharing it with you, the reader.
Hoover Dam straddles the state lines of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed during the Great Depression and now serves over 18 million people in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
The Dam also holds the largest reservoir in the US when full, Lake Mead.
Originally named Boulder Dam for the adjacent community of Boulder City, which housed the workers, a Congress resolution in 1947 officially changed its name to Hoover Dam. Hoover was the president of the United States at the time.
The Dam is recognized worldwide and seen in the media, especially in movies. I will never forget Clark Griswold getting lost inside the Dam. If you do not know what I am talking about, watch Vegas Vacation (1997), a classic, or more recently, housing Megatron in the first Transformers movie (2007).
So, what do you need to know before spending a day in Hoover Dam so that you can have a great time?
Let’s read on.
Hours of operation & two time zones
Grounds are open daily from 5 am-9 pm except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Visitor Center and power plant tours run from 9 am to 5 pm. Please note the last tour leaves at 3:45 pm.
Also, if you have children under eight years old, they cannot attend the Powerplant tour.
The time observed is Pacific time, and not to be confused with Mountain time (clocks move forward one hour) on the other side of the Dam located in Arizona(pretty neat). One could simultaneously step in two different states and time zones, and you can do so in the middle of the Dam.
Stay away from weekends and holidays for better visits as traffic levels increase.
We arrived around 9:15 am and saw many people walking the grounds already. People come early here.
Safety & Security
There is a mandatory security checkpoint. If you decline to be inspected, you will be asked to leave. So, if you want to spend a day at Hoover Dam, you must go through this.
Weapons, knives, or sharp objects are not allowed inside, and you are not allowed to stop your vehicle anywhere on the dam under any circumstances; watch out for pedestrians, though.
Also, drones are not allowed for those of you who have flyers. Usually, there are two guards, one for verbal communication with you while the other checks the car.
For me, this was a quick thing.
Parking
When parking in the visitor parking garage on the Nevada side or in the first lot in Arizona, you will be asked to pay $10. However, if you go further down into Arizona, parking is free, but at the cost of a longer hike. I did it, and it took me a good half hour with the mandatory stops for sightseeing in between. But I can see how this can be gruesome for those with disabilities or poor health—not recommended at all.
If you or a family member have any disabilities or underlying medical conditions, please use the parking garage. Please do not use any other parking spots as they are not accessible.
Weather
No matter the time of the year, you are in the desert. Remember that. You are in an open-air environment with little to no shade from the sun. During the day, the heat can be exhaustive, dehydrating, and even fatal; yes, the heat can kill you. Safety signs are posted throughout the facility as a kind reminder.
Weather will always be a factor whenever you spend a day in Hoover Dam, regardless of the time of year. The hottest month in that region is often July, with temperatures averaging from low 76-106 °F. If you are looking for the coldest month, that will be December, with averages of low 37°F to the high 50s.
However, remember that December can be busy due to the holiday season. Nights often get chilly.
Do yourself a favor and wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Please come prepared with sunscreen and sunglasses. You could also bring a hat, but if you do, make sure it’s tight because, on a windy day, you may never see it again. Keep your favorite hat at home. Since I went in February, I have worn jeans with a button-up T-shirt and a jacket over them. It did the job for me.
Your best bet is always to check the weather forecast before your trip, which will help you plan your attire for the day.
While food is not allowed in the facilities, bottled water is ok. Bring one. A few water fountains spread throughout, but with COVID-19 being a thing, they were out of service. There is also an onsite Café and gift shop next to the garage.
In Arizona, near the turn-around, I encountered another gift shop with souvenirs, drinks, and snacks. It is quirky, small, and off the beaten path. The attendant was friendly and helpful. It was there that I tried Cactus Cooler for the first time.
The Tours
Even though I could not do any tours, I did ask the essential questions for this blog.
There are three tours, one a self-guided Visitor Center tour, which costs $10 per person. This tour can only be purchased onsite.
The second tour is the Power plant Tour. For $15, this tour also includes the self-guided tour, which takes you into the generator rooms and original construction tunnels, among other places. Tickets can be purchased online.
Then there is a Dam tour for $30, including everything from the previous tours and additional areas, including riding the original elevator to the top of the Dam.
This tour is not handicap accessible and not for kids under 8.
What else can you see or do outside the tours?
Hoover Dam has many outdoor areas that may be worth your while.
We were working backward from Arizona. There is a lookout where you can see the Dam from its highest point facing west. Lesson panels with information, including facts and trivia, are scattered throughout the area. History lessons are aplenty.
The Dam is an attraction in itself; why else did you come here?
The spillway is essentially a ginormous hole that redirects the water if it ever gets too high. There are four intake towers, two in each state, with the two closest to the Dam having clocks depicting the time zones and their states.
The Stateline sits in the middle of the Dam (I had taken a picture but accidentally deleted it and couldn’t recover it—I was so upset).
It was neat to be able to stand in two states simultaneously.
There is a small plaza with murals dedicated to those who died during its construction, along with other commemorative plaques and a grave for the Dam’s pet dog.
There is the walkway to the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, the world’s highest concrete bridge. The parking lot is inside the dam and is free of charge. Before this bridge was built, you had to cross the Dam to go from one state to another. It was a bottleneck, for lack of a better word. Now, the bridge functions as a bypass, and it’s the main component for the future of the Interstate 11 project.
The bridge allows pedestrians to walk on it and catch views of the area and surroundings. I decided to skip this, as I am not a man of heights myself, plus having my little one with me. I can imagine the view to be excellent; however, if you can make this a part of your day in Hoover Dam.
Soon after leaving the dam, another scenic overlook of Lake Mead offers a great picture opportunity. It was a bit windy when I went, but it was tolerable.
A few trails are nearby—the historic Railroad Hiking Trail and the Hot Springs Tail. Unfortunately, I was on a bit of a schedule, so I could not do any of them.
Get out
The Grand Canyon West, which hosts a terrifying but impressive skywalk in addition to the canyon, lies about 2 hours southeast in neighboring Arizona.
Then there is marvelous Las Vegas, which requires no description and is my home base for this trip.
Boulder City, home of the Hoover Dam-Boulder City museum, lies 15 minutes away.
When you visit, ensure that a day in Hoover Dam can take you half a day or more.
Depending on how much time you want to invest to absorb it all. I cannot imagine visiting this place during the summer. I highly suggest you go there as soon as you can. That way, you can maximize your day and escape the afternoon heat.
Want to make half a day of dam stuff? I suggest you spend the morning in the Dam and the afternoon touring, shopping, and dining in Boulder City.
I was very impressed by the size and scope of the Dam. It is indeed a marvel of engineering. I had a great time and cannot wait to return, and next time I will not miss the damn dam tour!
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