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Continuing on my way from the Valley of Fire, I turned out of the park and headed toward Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. Measuring 112 miles long, when the lake is full, it offers 759 miles of shoreline and brilliant clear blue water. Stopping on numerous occasions along the way to admire the view, I paid no attention to the time, but instead to the breathtaking vistas before me.
An hour’s drive later, I soon came to the checkpoint for Hoover Dam. After passing through the secured area, I proceeded to the dam parking lot, located nearest the visitor’s center.
Being that it was the end of the day, the Visitor Center was closed, however, having done the tour on a few occasions, I was more interested in seeing the exterior of the dam and the interesting views it provides.
Walking along the top of the dam, I crossed over to the Arizona side (neglecting to change my watch!) and back again, stopping to photograph both the Colorado River side as well as Lake Mead. Looking up to the arched Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Colorado River, I could see people standing and walking along the bridge. Realizing that the parking lot I had passed on the way to the dam, contained a trail up the the bridge, I decided to head that way.
Spanning the gap of Black Canyon, the bridge connects Arizona and Nevada, creating a faster route across the river. Open to traffic, it has a sidewalk for visitors who wish to gain a better view of Hoover Dam as well as an interpretive plaza. While under construction, the bridge was referred to as the Hoover Dam Bypass, however, the name was changed to honor the former governor of Nevada, Mike O’Callaghan and Pat Tillman the former professional football player killed in Afghanistan in 2004.
Parking in the lot, near the winding concrete walkway, I joined the hoards of tourists heading to the top of pathway. Heading to the middle of the bridge for the best view, I captured some photos amidst the windy conditions and then made my way back to solid ground. Not normally afraid of heights, I must admit, the dizzying height of the structure, made me a little nervous.
With nightfall nearing, I decided that my adventurous day was coming to a close. Reflecting on my day, which started with uncertainty, I had quickly shifted gears and made the most of my day. Life gave me lemons that morning, but my decision to rent the car was most definitely my lemonade!
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Lake Mead
Hoover Dam
- http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/
- Parking Garage: Open 8:00 a.m. — Close 5:15 p.m. Parking fee: $10.00. Oversized vehicles, recreational vehicles, and vehicles with trailers must use the parking lots on the Arizona side of the dam.
- Visitor Center: Open 9:00 a.m. — Close 5:00 p.m. (Tickets must be purchased by 4:15 p.m. for access)
- Tours/Tickets: Hours of Operations: First Powerplant Tour departs at 9:25 a.m.
Last Powerplant Tour departs at 3:55 p.m. First Dam Tour departs at 9:30 a.m.
Last Dam Tour departs at 3:30 p.m. Dam Tours (limited to 20 people per tour) may sell-out a couple hours in advance of the last tour. Last Visitor Center ticket is sold at 4:15 p.m. (Tickets sold from 3:45-4:15 p.m. are for Visitor Center admission only. - Getting There: The dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Take US Highway 93 to Nevada State Route 172. The dam is on the Nevada-Arizona border.
Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
- http://www.desertusa.com/desert-activity/hoover-dam-bridge.html