Hoover Dam Marathon
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Hoover Dam Marathon
The Hoover Dam Marathon takes place at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, with event activities centered at Boulder Beach Picnic Area and Special Events Beach. The event date is December 5, 2026. The route uses paved sections and historic trail sections within the park and is an officially remeasured and certified course eligible as a qualifier.
Distances offered:
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
- Marathon Relay
The course begins at Boulder Beach and quickly reaches the River Mountains Loop Trail, a paved, wide trail running parallel to Lakeshore Drive. The route moves through the Mojave Desert and connects to the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail near mile three. That trail follows an old railroad alignment with several 1930s tunnels and sits on a ridge overlooking Lake Mead and the marina.
Runners pass an area that is home to power plants before descending six switchbacks to the upper level parking area at Hoover Dam. The route includes a counterclockwise loop along the dam edge with views of Hoover Dam and the Bypass Bridge. The course does not cross over the dam. Marathoners complete two loops of the described circuit while half marathoners complete one.
Surface details: packed dirt trail makes up roughly 14 miles of the full marathon and about 7 miles of the half marathon; the remainder is paved asphalt. A sturdy road running shoe is recommended; trail shoes are not necessary. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
