From yesterday, our first view of the dam after a steep descent down stairs to the new parking garage.

No dogs allowed on the dam so we had to be satisfied with views from the garage.

A closer view showing the art deco visitor entrance.

Turning to look downstream there is the view of the new bridge to lighten traffic on and to secure the dam.

The Visitors Center at Lake Mead had a holiday sale and free hot beverages and sweets, what an unexpected treat! It fueled us on our 7 mile roundtrip hike on the old railroad grade to Hoover Dam. Check out fantastic chronological photos of construction of the dam HERE.

The fairly level gravel trail went through 5 tunnels opening to views of the lake.

The campground we are at is in the trees to the far left.

Some of the tunnels had been refurbished after arson fires.

We had windy weather today so we stayed in for the most part and looked at the white caps on the lake. A long walk in the late afternoon took us down to the ‘beach’.

The lake level was higher in 2000.

The water level has been dropping ever since. We heard that the last time the lake was at maximum capacity was in 1982!

We had a beautiful sunny day with little or no wind. We took a short trip on Lakeshore Drive around a small section of the lake, and a short hike on part of the Wetlands Trail along Las Vegas Wash (don’t make contact with the water, it literally washes Las Vegas!).

You want me to go down THERE?

We spotted this emblem of the west on a nearby hill. He/she was checking us out too I bet!

A great place to hang out while the temperatures plunge across the country! Lower in elevation than Las Vegas and tempered by the mass of water behind Hoover Dam, we’ll enjoy the microclimate of temperatures in the 40’s with lows just at freezing.

Panorama view.

The lake level is down.