This was one of the most amazing things I saw while on the West Coast--I found this site more amazing than the Grand Canyon. To experience the time and work that was placed into this human made dam is so amazing. I really wanted to do the tour-- which I believe is first pay first serve, but we were on our way to Vegas and the hubby was running me on a tight schedule. After we drove over the high bridge (which you can walk across as well) we turned right onto the road that takes you down to the dam. This was one of the scariest-winding- high- up- roads I have been on. You can choose to pay for parking close to the dam in the garage or keep driving and park in other locations that are free. We chose to park in the free parking area (which is limited), and we hiked back down toward the Dam and the bridge. There are various statues and plaques with writing and background information disseminated all around the historical location. There is also a wall listing all those that died during the process of building the dam.
This is a breath taking site to experience and it is hard to believe that this dam was created almost 80 years ago with very limited technology. Something you should notice if you visit is how low the water levels are. The water was very clear and we could see the bottom, which I thought was really weird. After speaking with an attendant she said the water level is too low and they have been in a 15 year drought. If they do not come out of this drought soon, surrounding cities and areas that use the water from the Dam will have severe consequences. With the height of the bridge and the size of the dam you can surely tell there was once an over flow of water here in the 1930s. This is def. worth the drive if you have time.