01 Mt Charleston Wilderness Overview | Lee Canyon Trails
In addition to Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness of Nevada is the second major canyon area. Lee Canyon is a destination for skiers and has a major ski lodge with 3 ski runs and ski lifts. Even during the Summer months, the ski area is open and converts to a Summer recreational destination. in addition to the commercial aspect of Lee Canyon there are a number of wilderness trailheads. Only one, The Bristlecone Pine Trailhead, is clearly marked with trailhead parking. But we have found a number of other unmarked “hidden” trailheads in Lee Canyon to beautiful, lightly traveled, wilderness destinations! Best time of year for adventures here: Early Summer to Mid-Fall. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Expect to navigate snow at other times of the year. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…
02 Lee to Kyle Canyon | Overview | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Ascending the ridge from Lee to Kyle Canyon is like crossing a bridge to another world. I’ll never forget that first moment, after long weaving through deep wilderness slopes, that I reached the Lee/Kyle Canyon upper rim. Topping that last hill, suddenly the world of Kyle Canyon with its familiar peaks was there! There are no trails from Lee to Kyle Canyon. However, this point I have found a number of wilderness routes that ascend from Lee to Kyle Canyon, each uniquely magical in nature. This page lists those routes and provides links to the individual adventure pages with the details, videos and images for each route. Best time of year for adventures here: Early Summer to Mid-Fall. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Expect to navigate snow at other times of the year. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…
Black Rock Sister | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Lee Canyon | Spring Mountains, Nevada
If you’re looking for a summit approach in the Spring Mountains with expanding non-stop spectacular views all the way to the summit after the first brief 1/8th mile, Black Rock Sister is unbeatable. Black Rock Sister, elevation 9,668ft, in the Lee Canyon area of the Spring Mountains in Nevada is the little-known orphan of the more popular and noticeable South and North Sisters. Sitting on a high point in its ridgeline, Black Rock Sister appears to be composed of a single solid mass of rock around 60ft high and 150ft wide. Route details: 8 mi RT/ Approx. 8,300 > 9,668ft; **Wilderness Route** Click image or title above for more…
Bonanza Peak from Bristlecone Pine Trail | Lee Canyon | Spring Mountains, Nevada
I’ve never been on a more beautiful trail than the Bonanza Trail. The majestic Bristlecone Pines, artistic rock formations and spectacular views along with the solitude make this trail totally unique. Bonanza Peak elevation is 10,397ft. Though it is just 2000ft above the elevation of the Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead where this adventure begins there is an additional 1,700ft descent and re-ascent just before the summit, and before that, the Bonanza trail descends and re-ascends 300ft 2-3 times. So, the total ascent for this adventure is close to 4,500ft and the distance is at least 26 miles. Route details: 26 mi RT/ Approx. 8,483 > 10,397ft; **Excellent Trails** Click image or title above for more…
Bristlecone Pine Trail in Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
The Bristlecone Pine Trail in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness is a delightful 6-mile loop that gives the hiker or runner an experience of rising up to the bristlecone pine zone without having to ascend steep inclines or engage in a long-distance hike or run. It’s actually one of the first Spring Mountains mountain adventures a person might experience as they are conditioning for higher altitudes and heavier exertion. Route details: 6.8 mi / Approx. 8,690 > 9,400ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Foxtail Canyon Springs, Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp and Beyond, Spring Mountains, Nevada
These magnificent and little-known springs are located in Foxtail Canyon off of Lee Canyon in the Spring Mountains, Nevada. The springs flow or drip year-round into a 6-ft high, 75ft long cave at the base of a 30-40ft high cliff in Foxtail Canyon. As with other springs in the Spring Mountains, the springs are surrounded by lush vegetation. A long wide shelf spans the front of the cave from which there is a spectacular view down Foxtail Canyon into Lee Canyon. Above the cliff cave one can continue upward toward Mummy Mountain and the North Ridge of Kyle Canyon. 5 mi / Approx. 8,450 > 9,800ft; **Faint Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Lee Peak | Charleston Peak via Lee Canyon Mid Ridge | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Starting in Lee Canyon across from Upper Lee Meadows, ascend the gradual mid-ridge that begins there and connects with the Mt. Charleston North Loop Trail a little over a mile below Lee Peak. Take a right on the North Loop Trail to the final summit approach for Lee Peak summit. Deviate from the North Loop Trail to ascend to the Lee Peak Summit, then descend again to the North Loop Trail. Continue on the North Loop Trail to Charleston Peak summit. Take the Mt. Charleston South Loop Trail from Charleston Peak summit to the junction below Griffith Peak summit. Descend to the South Loop Trail and descend to the South Loop Trailhead just above Charleston Village. From there take a mountain bike stashed earlier at that trailhead and return to Upper Lee Meadows via Deer Creek Road and Lee Canyon Road. Route details: 35 mi Circuit/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,920ft; **Some Trail, Some Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Lee Peak from Lee Canyon | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This adventure in process will work out the most direct route possible from to Lee Peak from Lee Canyon. View the initial exploration which begins at the Upper Bristlecone Pine Trailhead. From there, the route soon diverges left and ascends to a ski run, taking the ski run to its upper limit, then continuing to navigate upward through canyons and ridges toward Lee Peak. There’s a surprise appearance of wild horses in one of the ski runs. There’s a lot yet to be worked out with this very experimental route to the summit, and the possibility of circling around the base of Lee Peak and ascending from the South. The goal is a class 3 ascent, possibly through a rather remote untested area. Route details: 16 miles RT/ Approx 8,300 > 11,200ft **Some Trails, Ski Run, Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Lee Peak Summit Via Lee Canyon Mid Ridge | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
In the course of this amazing adventure you will pass through relatively untouched wilderness between Upper Lee Meadows on Lee Canyon Road and the summit of Lee Peak towering above Lee Canyon. The elevation gain is about 3,500 feet. You will need good wilderness navigation skills and the ability to navigate steep avalanche slopes. Otherwise, the entire adventure is pretty easy class 2 climbing skills (use of hands not needed). Route details: 18 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,200ft; **Some Trail, Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Lee to Kyle Canyon | East Ski Run Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This adventure will begin by ascending the Eastern ski run in Lee Canyon. The route will continue beyond the summit of the ski run and summit the Lee/Kyle Canyon upper rim on the right (West) side of a prominent plateau just East (left) of Lee Peak. The views straight down into the ski area and beyond will be spectacular. As you can see, this adventure is still in progress, but will be documented here once complete! Route Details: 10 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,535ft; **Ski Run Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
