After flying over the Hoover Dam yesterday, I decided to visit the massive structure today. I overslept and woke up around 11 am, cursing myself. I had planned to visit a special national park, but now there wasn’t enough time. So, I stuck to my usual routine: grabbed breakfast at the 7-Eleven across the street, ate in the hostel’s air-conditioned kitchen, and made a new plan for the day.
Frustrated with myself, I decided the Hoover Dam would be worth a visit. I had really wanted to see both national parks, but now I could only manage one since they were each at least three hours away from Las Vegas. After a while, I set the GPS for Hoover Dam and hit the road.
A Scorching Hot Day
Today was scorching—the hottest day so far, reaching 40 degrees Celsius. There was never a breeze in Las Vegas, but what made it unbearable was the dryness. There was no moisture in the air. Since arriving, I had developed more eczema around my wrists and arms. It didn’t bother me much since I had cortisone cream, but it gives you an idea of just how dry it is out here, haha.
After just 5 minutes of driving, the air conditioning made the car comfortable. I headed towards Boulder City, and it took about 50 minutes to reach the Hoover Dam. Upon arrival, I had to pass through a security checkpoint, which made sense due to terrorism concerns. The car in front of me was being searched, but I was allowed to pass without issue. I guess I didn’t look suspicious.
Parking at Hoover Dam
Parking cost me $10, which felt a bit steep, but it was a day rate. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the heat hit me again, even worse than before. It was unbearable and completely ruined my mood. The human body isn’t meant for these conditions—no wind, no humidity, and relentless sun. It felt like hell. I walked in the shade as much as possible. I had parked on the 4th floor, and there was no way I was taking the stairs in this heat. I opted for the elevator instead.
By the time I reached the ground floor, I was already sweating despite being outside for just 5 minutes and walking less than 100 meters! I headed to the restroom, which was wonderfully cool. It seemed like many others were using it as a shelter from the heat, haha. After a quick break, I continued my walk to the dam.
It was scorching. I noticed some cool statues and took a few photos. Crossing the street, I tried to capture the dam, but it was so massive that my camera lens couldn’t do it justice. I needed a different vantage point. I considered the lookout inside the visitor center, but it required an entry fee. So, I headed back towards the parking lot, where there was an escalator leading down to the visitor center.
Hoover Dam Visitor’s Centre
While walking, I realized Las Vegas had destroyed my shoes. I had hoped they’d last until I got back home, but no such luck. Now, I’d have to buy new ones. Fortunately, I still had my sandals and hiking boots, haha.
Tired of the heat, I decided to buy a ticket for the visitor center. I took the escalator down and entered the building, passing through a security check where they scanned my bag and I went through a metal detector. Everything was fine. I paid the $10 fee and headed to the overlook. There, I took more photos of the dam (see two rows above).
Hoover Dam was truly impressive. Its primary purpose was to generate electricity, but it also aimed to control the Colorado River. The river had previously caused flooding, and the dam allowed for better water management, including irrigation. Ultimately, the dam created Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world. Hoover Dam and Lake Mead became major tourist attractions, which spurred the construction of more high-end hotels in Las Vegas. Gambling was legalized there in 1931.
Creation of the Dam
The construction of the Hoover Dam in 1931 drew workers from all over the United States. Remarkably, the project was completed years ahead of schedule. How did they manage to build the dam?
Two large protective dams were constructed upstream and downstream of the Hoover Dam. Additionally, a tunnel was created through Black Canyon to divert water, providing a dry area for construction of the Hoover Dam. The towers visible behind the dam are intake towers, enabling control of water intake at any time. Water is then directed through the generators to produce electricity.
After visiting the overlook, I explored their collection of facts about the history and workers. In total, I spent an hour and a half at Hoover Dam. I briefly considered walking across it, but the heat was just too intense.
Lake Mead Visitor Center
I left Hoover Dam and headed back to Las Vegas. About 10 minutes into the drive, I stopped at a lookout point for Lake Mead. I parked at the visitor center, which appeared deserted. “They must have all melted in this heat,” I joked to myself. I walked over to the garden next to the building, where I had a limited view of the lake. After taking some pictures, I hurried back to the car.
I drove towards the lake shores but pulled over when I saw the entrance outpost. I didn’t want to pay any more fees—I was done with spending money. Today, I had already paid a lot for an average outlook and an overpriced parking area. It was a matter of principle.
The Journey Back to Las Vegas
Time to head back to the hostel. I drove back to the main road and turned right (the first picture below shows the road toward Hoover Dam and Hoover Dam Lodge and Casino, the direction I had just come from). As I drove, I took a few pictures on the highway when it felt safe. You have to be cautious about that in the US, I reminded myself. Approaching Las Vegas felt incredible; seeing the city looming on the horizon was truly surreal. In the third picture below, you can see the Strip. I had come from the east, and the Strip stretches in a straight line from southern Las Vegas to the northern part. Fremont Street lies to the northeast. It was so easy to navigate this city—I loved it.
Plans for Tomorrow
Back at the hostel, Sean bombarded me with questions. Finally realizing I had a car (I had mentioned it the day before, but I guess he hadn’t understood then), he sort of invited himself along to the national park tomorrow. I thought, why not? Splitting the cost would be practical, and it would be amusing to travel with this lively French guy. Plus, he could teach me some French—haha! Occasionally, I’d throw in some French curse words and phrases like “putan de merde,” “bordele de merde,” and “suis mabit salop,” all thanks to Romain who taught me that in Australia, haha.
In the evening, I stuck to my routine: relaxing on my bed with my laptop and staying up way too late. We planned to leave around 7 am the next morning, and fortunately, I woke up on time this time.
