St. Thomas Loop Trail lies on the northern-most point of Overton Arm of Lake Mead. The trail takes you into the old town site of St. Thomas, a town that dates back to 1865 when it was first settled by Mormons.
The trail itself is relatively new, having been officially improved in 2018 with exhibits and kiosks from its original dirt path. It’s a 2.5 mile loop that takes you past old buildings and tells you the story of the town from its beginnings in 1865 to its last reunion in 2012.
When Hoover Dam was created in the 1930s, the waters of the new Lake Mead began filling up the valley. Eventually, the town of St. Thomas became submerged, and for many decades, remained completely under water.
It wasn’t until the explosive growth of Las Vegas during the 1990s and 2000s that water levels in Lake Mead began receding. Eventually, the old town site of St. Thomas reemerged, and locals began wearing a trail towards its remnants.
Today, the St. Thomas Loop Trail is a popular destination for those visiting Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The relatively short loop trail is just long enough to make for a full day’s adventure while still keeping the energy level at a low to moderate pace.
You’ll find dozens of great photo opportunities and backdrops for great selfies. Those who love meandering through ghost towns will still feel some energy left over from St. Thomas’ heyday as a stop along the old Arrowhead Trail, an automobile route that connected Los Angeles to Salt Lake City in the early part of the 1900s.
To reach St. Thomas Loop Route, enter into the City of Overton, NV via I-15 and Moapa Valley Blvd (Highway 169). You’ll have to enter into the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (pay the fee for day use or camping). Right at the fee station, you’ll take a dirt road named, “Old Saint Thomas Rd”, and take it all the way to its end. The trail parking lot is there.
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