If you want to do absolutely everything suggested on this Shaka Tour and have two days to take your time with it, and if you’re traveling at a time of year where the weather is good and you want more time for hiking (not June through September when you could kill yourself by hiking in the heat) then here’s my Shaka Guide Insider tip on how to navigate this tour in two days instead of one:

Begin the tour at the Intro. Head to the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Then, follow the directions but skip the Boulder City Hoover Dam Museum and Hemenway Park for now and head straight for the Hoover Dam Lookout stop. Then spend the time you want at Hoover Dam. After that, walk the giant bridge and do the recommended stops at Lake Mead, along with hiking the Historic Railroad Hike, up to Northshore Road.

Then, turn around before heading onto Northshore Road, and go back the way you came. Head back to Boulder City, stopping at Hemenway Park, where it is more likely that the bighorn sheep will be grazing, since they tend to come down off the mountain more towards the late-afternoon. Then end Day 1 at the Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum.

View of Lake Mead from Lakeview Overlook / Photo by Lizzie Gerecitano

Spend the night in Boulder City (The Best Western and the Boulder Dam Hotel are two great options out of many, book a room in advance to be safe). You’ll have a chance to stroll through the historic district of Boulder City and enjoy the wonderful restaurants, cafe’s and shops in the evening and again in the morning (check out some of the suggestions in our Highlights.)

Then, after you enjoy your breakfast in Boulder City, begin Day 2 with a full tank of gas and a leisurely ride back through Lake Mead National Recreation Area (the price you paid at the fee booth is good for a week) and this time make the right turn onto Northshore Road and you’ll really be able to truly appreciate this Scenic route back to Las Vegas while enjoying the Shaka Guide Tour stories and information, and the stops in downtown Las Vegas. (And, this would give you some extra time to drive a little further along Northshore Road if you wanted to see more of that beautiful scenery or try the Northshore Summit hike.)

Be sure to check out Shaka Guide’s Know Before You Go for more details to help you plan your trip.