Pedal-powered rail vehicles have been around for a long time. Since the 1850s, maintenance workers would use “rail bikes” to travel along the railroad tracks and perform repairs. They were even used to transport materials and crew over long distances. In the modern age, these rail bikes make a pretty unique way of experiencing Nevada’s gorgeous landscape. A company called Rail Explorers has just made it possible to tour our state’s railways like never before. If you’re looking for a unique activity that you’ll remember for years to come, you’ll want to check out this scenic railroad tour.
Rail Explorers began giving tours in 2015. Although the company is young, they have seen an incredible response to their unique railroad tours. They have locations in New York, Delaware, and Rhode Island. They recently expanded to the West with the addition of their Nevada location.
The rail bike design itself goes back to the 1800s. Rail Explorers features a revamped design of the classic rail bike which makes for a pretty fantastic way of touring through Nevada's gorgeous landscapes.
On the tour, you'll spend two hours pedaling on top of the historic railroad that assisted in building the Hoover Dam. You'll begin your tour at the Boulder City train station and traverse the railroad for four miles downhill until you reach Railroad Pass.
The tours are seasonal. They started operating in January and will continue until April 2018. You can pick either a tandem rail bike (seats two people) or a quad rail bike (seats four people). This really is the perfect activity that the whole family can enjoy.
Since the bikes are powered by pedals, the tour is a totally hands-free experience. This makes it easy for you to take as many pictures as you desire of the beautiful surroundings.
Once you reach Railroad Pass, you will be given a complimentary train ride back to the top of the hill. The train ride is an exhilarating experience in itself since it's given in one of Nevada State Railroad Museum's historic trains.
All rail explorers enjoy free entry into the museum after their tour. You definitely don't want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience. Be sure to book your tour soon (Nevada locals get a 15% discount!). For more information about Rail Explorers, visit their website here.
