Overview | Amargosa Overlook | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Where is Amargosa Overlook?

Amargosa Overlook is the overlook that is overlooked due to its isolation off the beaten path. It’s a limestone ledge that juts out from a ridge just to the North of Southern Nevada’s Charleston Peak revealing spectacular 180-degree views to the East, West and South. This adventure takes the long route–nearly 13 miles out and back from the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead in Lee Canyon. There’s a shorter route from the Upper Bristlecone Pine Trailhead, but on the day of this adventure that trailhead was closed. 

Pristine Wilderness Colors That Pop!

On that final ridgeline just North of Charleston Peak, the colors seem to pop as nowhere else in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. The Blue of the sky, the green of the Bristlecone Pines and the gray of the limestone are uniquely brilliant. The ridgeline itself is pristine, untouched wilderness. Trails and paths disappear the further out you venture along the ridge until you may feel as if you were the only human to tread upon that ground. Along the way there are rugged openings in the limestone cliffs with massive sculpted pillars that frame views of Charleston Peak.

Unique Views from Amargosa Overlook

The unique views from this long peninsula ridgeline are seen from no other vantage point. The North side of Charleston Peak is visible and so close you can almost touch it. A little further to the Southeast is Lee Peak, then there’s Mummy Mountain to the East. Below is the massive but little-known Wallace Canyon, opposite Lee Canyon and leading toward Pahrump. Wallace Canyon is obscure, undeveloped and pristine due to its isolation off the beaten path. There it is immediately below Amargosa Overlook! And extending to the West is the beautiful Amargosa Valley desert terrain. On a clear day you can see all the way to Telescope Peak on the West side of Death Valley.

Best Time of Year to Visit Amargosa Overlook

Amargosa Overlook is definitely a Summer adventure. On the day of this adventure temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley exceeded a scorching 110 degrees, approaching 120 degrees in places. Yet, on Amargosa Overlook and its approach ridgeline, the temperature never exceeded 80 degrees, and there was a light refreshing breeze! Winter, Spring and Fall are a different matter. Given a loss of about 5 degrees for every 1,000ft elevation gain, a 40-degree day in the Las Vegas Valley could lower temperatures on the 10,154ft Amargosa Overlook to below zero degrees! Add snow and ice on the limestone slabs and ledges and you could be in for some trouble. 

Route Starting Point Directions | Amargosa Overlook | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Take Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas and take a left at the Lee Canyon Road exit (Hwy 156). Travel up Lee Canyon Road to the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead which is near the end of Hwy 156 before the road makes its final ascent to the Ski complex. The trailhead is well marked.

Narrative Guide | Amargosa Overlook | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Getting Your Initial Bearings

As you head up Lee Canyon Road toward the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead and Lee Peak comes into view at the summit of the canyon, Amargosa Overlook would be off the the right, hidden behind some intervening ridges. There are good trails most of the way, until you reach the final ridgeline, so this is not really a pathless wilderness experience. You’re unlikely to get lost. You’ll gain about 2,700ft along the way, which is a little over half of the elevation gain were you to ascend Griffith Peak.

Adventure Route Summary

From the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead you’re going to begin by ascending a fire road with a very gradual incline, then take a right onto the Bonanza Trail. Soon you’ll switchback your way to the Bonanza Trail’s upper ridgeline, then almost immediately take a left onto the unmarked trail leading toward Amargosa Overlook. The trail circles around to an long ridgeline heading West. Once on that ridgeline the trail begins to disappear, but staying to the upper left above the cliffs will guide you all the way to Amargosa Overlook.

By the way, the alternate, shorter but steeper route from the Upper Bristlecone Pine Trailhead is shown in purple on the map on this page.

Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead to the Bonanza Trail

As you begin heading up the fire road from the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead, there’s a prominent peak dominating the horizon ahead. That’s the South Sister, but the unique perspective and angle of view from the fire road may make it hard to identify. As the fire road winds around you’ll pass through a beautiful Aspen grove. Shortly thereafter Lee Peak, upper Lee Canyon and the ski area will appear below. To the East is Mummy Mountain and the upper ridgeline between Lee Canyon and Kyle Canyon connecting Mummy Mountain and Lee Peak. Then, you’re at the Bonanza Trailhead, which is a main route toward McFarland Peak, Bonanza Peak and ultimately the town of Cold Creek. Bonanza Peak is a 26-mile marathon round trip from this point!

Bonanza Trail to the Upper Bonanza Trail Ridgeline

The Bonanza Trail is well-defined and easy to navigate. Almost immediately you’re switchbacking your way to the upper ridgeline as the terrain is transformed into a majestic Bristlecone Pine forest. Now, in addition to South Sister, North Sister appears, along with the saddle between the two peaks. That’s another amazing adventure! There are also ever-expansive views of Mummy Mountain to the East. Before you know it, you’re in the beautiful pristine wilderness of the Bonanza Trail’s upper ridgeline.

Amargosa Trailhead to Amargosa Overlook’s Ridgeline

Within a couple hundred feet after reaching the upper ridgeline there’s a sign reminding you, though you already knew it, that you’re in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. At that sign an unmarked trail splits off to the left. That’s the trail leading to the Amargosa Overlook. I had passed this intersection many times, wondering where that unmarked trail led. Today I found out!

Amargosa Overlook Trail to the Amargosa Overlook Ridgeline

Take that left along the nice, well-defined trail heading South in the direction of Lee Peak. You’re actually on the same ridgeline as McFarland Peak and Bonanza Peak, though heading in the opposite direction toward the Southwest end of that ridgeline above Lee Canyon. In less than a mile, at the end of that ridgeline, there’s a saddle. The well-defined trail suddenly plunges downward toward the Upper Bristlecone Pine Trail and Trailhead. But notice the fainter pathway leading up the huge hill to your right (West). You want to take that trail which will wind around the right side of the hill, eventually reaching the Amargosa Overlook’s long ridgeline. There are no switchbacks up the hill, just a very steep trail heading up the slope. Near the ridgeline above, the trail seems to disappear in a confusion of fallen trees. Just know that you want to take a right along the upper ridgeline where the hill meets that ridgeline. Make a note of the spot where you reach the ridgeline. There were a couple stones on a log to mark that spot. It’s important because that’s where you will need to head downward on the return trip, and it’s much less obvious during the return! Miss that spot and you may miss reconnecting with the Amargosa Overlook Trail and Bonanza Trail!

Amargosa Overlook Ridgeline to Amargosa Overlook

Navigating along the upper ridgeline is easy. Just stick to the upper left edge, where the cliffs drop off below to the left. There’s plenty of room to safely navigate with no less than six feet distance from the cliff edge. Avoid descending the slope on your right in search of a pathway further below the upper edge of the cliff line. Navigation below to your right is much more complicated. On the other hand, the views along the upper left edge are spectacular. Now Charleston Peak is fully in view, along with the entire ridgeline from Charleston Peak to Lee Peak to Mummy Mountain. The massive Wallace Canyon is below. Ahead, along the ridgeline you are traversing, the high point just before Amargosa Overlook is now visible.

Eventually, the ridge will angle to the left, taking a brief dive before ascending to the high point ahead, mentioned earlier. Along this stretch spectacular views of McFarland Peak will appear to the North through the Bristlecone Pines. All the while, unique view after unique view, each entirely amazing, will appear of Charleston Peak, framed through Bristlecone Pines and sculpted limestone pillar openings. This stretch was my favorite, and the most spectacular, even better than Amargosa Overlook.

Arrival on Amargosa Overlook and the Overlook Beyond

I believe Amargosa Overlook was one hill beyond that high point you saw ahead earlier on the Amargosa Overlook’s ridgeline. You’ll know when you reach Amargosa Overlook. It’s a distinct limestone ledge jutting out to the left of the ridgeline. There is an additional high point further ahead on the ridgeline. I went to that next high point hoping to get a better view of the Amargosa Valley. That high point was easy enough to reach, but surrounded by Bristlecone Pines with not much of a view of Amargosa Valley to the West. The two high points: Amargosa Overlook and the next high point beyond reminded me of two similar high points in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge. The first, with sweeping views, is called Angel’s Rest. The second, surrounded by tall Douglas Fir trees and with little view is called “Devil’s Rest“.

Conclusion

Amargosa Overlook, situated in a pristine wilderness area where the colors pop and the surrounding views are unique and spectacular is a “must see” adventure for those wanting to explore the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. With a fire road, some nice trails and a distinct ridgeline to guide the way, this easy, class 2, non-technical route is available to most hikers. You just need to know where to turn onto the unmarked trail.