Hoover Dam: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour – Hoover Dam, Nevada

EXPERIENCE

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 30+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Hoover Dam in 3-5 hours.

Once downloaded, your tour to the Hoover Dam will begin in fabulous Las Vegas, right on the Vegas Strip. As you cruise through the Las Vegas Valley, you ll get a glimpse into the city s appropriately Wild West beginnings, from its start as a humble rail town to its early days as a rowdy gambling den. You ll also find out how the Great Depression and the Hoover Dam changed the city forever.

Once you leave Vegas behind, you ll get acquainted with the mighty Colorado River which played the dual role of lifegiver and destructive force of nature before the Hoover Dam s construction. Ever wonder what it took to tame such a powerful force? You ll find out here!

Then, get to know the big names behind the Hoover Dam project, like Frank Hurry Up Crowe and the Six Companies. Plus, learn how the water from the dam was intended to be distributed& and how that s changing today.

Next, you ll arrive in Boulder City, one of the state s newest cities, and one created exclusively for the construction of the Hoover Dam. As you cruise through this unusual town, you ll hear about a dramatic standoff between the dam s builders and the Six Companies, as well as the truth behind the brutal working conditions the laborers suffered under.

After that, you ll reach Lake Mead Viewpoint, offering stellar views of the artificial lake created by the Hoover Dam. Then you ll hear how workers actually built the dam, from the daring feats of the high scalers to the genius engineering that went into pouring the concrete.

If you d like to hike the route of old railroad tracks, you can do that next at the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail. Then, continue on to Lakeview Overlook, another fabulous spot to take in the scenery and snap some pictures of Lake Mead.

As you approach the dam itself, you ll have the option to stop at Boulder Dam Bridge Overlook for the best view of the Hoover Dam you ll find anywhere. Then, you can choose whether to drive across the dam or park and walk along the rim yourself!

Finally, you ll arrive at the Hoover Dam Lookout on the dam s far side, and hear what this dam means for the present and future of the southwest. Your tour concludes here.

HIGHLIGHTS

Walk or drive across the Hoover Dam
Capture jaw-dropping photos of the dam from the Boulder Bridge Overlook
Get the full story behind the design and construction of this marvel
Hear about the daring feats of the famous high scalers
Tour at your own speed, without the hassle of a bus

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in Hoover Dam