Hoover Dam

Okay, so I pretty well know how to get there from Vegas, but it's been over 15 years since I've been to Hoover Dam so here's the question......

Can you see and take pics of the actual Dam from the Visitors Center? I've done the hard hat tour pre 9/11 so I don't want to bother doing that again, but there will be 2 in our party this trip that has never seen Hoover Dam.

 

You can see the dam, the structures at the base of the dam and the new bypass bridge from the Visitors Center.

 

That's great to hear. I can't even remember if the Visitors Center (as it now stands) was even there when I was last there. Thanks for the info, nickle.

 

Take all the dam pictures you want. Feel free to ask all the dam employees, any dam questions that come to mind.

Good luck with your dam tour.

LOL

 

I think I see Clark W. Griswold.

 

"I think I see Clark W. Griswold."

Naw, that will just be me.

Actually we wouldn't even be going if it weren't for the 2 that have never been there. However, it will be a nice break from the gambling and I've always been in awe of the place and the men that built it, so it will be nice to get back and see it again, along with the new bypass bridge.

 

here's one i took last month from below the dam.
we went on that black canyon raft tour.

 

You can take great pictures at the actual Dam (and stand in both Arizona and Nevada at the same time when you are about halfway over the walkway!) but you can also get amazing photos from the
Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge::
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_O'Callaghan%E2%80%93Pat_Tillman_Memorial_Bridge

Before you get to the Hoover Dam, you can turn off into the parking lot for the Memorial Bridge - the view of the Dam from the bypass bridge is breathtaking!

 

I fully suggest taking the full Dam Tour. Even the partial tour is great. Took my 7 year old son through the full tour last Feb. and we all had a great time. We took a ton of Dam pictures.

 

How much does the full dam tour cost?

 

No doubt the best picture site is on the walkway on the bridge

 

We were just there on Dec 12th. There is security that will have to stop for before they let you down the road to the Dam. It is free to drive over the Dam, parking near the visitors center is $10.00 per car. The tours were $15 and $30 dollars, but again, no charge to walk around the dam. It was a nice visit.

 

Like you, I did the hard hat tour Pre-9/11 with my Dad...then went back AFTER 9/11 with my gf and did the same tour (touted as the "same" at least) and they didn't allow us to go down to the PowerPlant floor and walk out by the river...
Wife and I are going to do it in a few days, and I'm going to do the $35 tour (She's never been).

 

Short tour - $15
Long tour - $30
Parking - $10

More info: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html

Bill

 

Another great Dam vantage point is from the new bridge that has a walking bridge alongside it.

 

Oh, they moved it since you last visited.

 

Try to avoid the Boulder bottleneck on any of the peak weekends or travel days. I've been stuck in traffic there and it really detracts from the Dam experience.

Bill

 

Aren't there parking lots across the dam where parking is still free? I remember parking there the last time I visited the dam (couple of years ago). Yes, it is a hike from the upper parking lots but it wasn't a problem for me, just took a little longer to get to the dam area.

 

Yes, I would recommend going early to avoid the crowds. Probably get there before 9 if possible. The area fills up around 10 and by 10:30 - 11 the place is a traffic jam during most days.

 

Did you know... The Arizona/Nevada line that used to be in the middle was put there when they made the movie Fools Rush In? The parks dept left it and even repainted it a couple times afterward, but it is gone now