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…
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This beautiful route ascends through the Foxtail Canyon picnic area and an abandoned Girl Scout camp and then gradually weaves around passing just right (south) of the beautiful Foxtail Canyon Springs before ascending to the upper rim of Kyle Canyon. A left (North) turn there will take you along the summit of Kyle Canyon’s upper rim to Mummy Mountain’s main summit area. However, in this adventure we turn right to traverse the high Lee/Kyle Canyons ridge top before connecting with the Mt. Charleston upper North Loop Trail then descending back to the Foxtail Picnic Area via Lee Canyon’s gradual mid-ridge making this a circuit adventure. Route details: 15 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,000ft; **Brief Initial Road, Then Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Gradual Mid Ridge Approach | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This approach to Kyle Canyon’s upper rim appears to be the most gradual approach from Lee Canyon. It begins roughly across from the Lee Canyon Meadow and gradually ascends to a plateau that connects with the Charleston North Loop Trail about a mile or two South of Lee Peak. This route is mostly pure wilderness: wild and beautiful. You will see no one during the entire route. In fact, though I looked closely for footprints and signs of human passage along the way, I found little of that. There were occasional faint use trails that appeared unused for years, and there were a few old cairns at a couple key points. But it looked as though absolutely no human had ascended this ridge for over a year or more, and then perhaps only one human ascent per year at most. Route Details: 14 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,535ft; **Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Macks Peak | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Macks Peak is located in the Spring Mountains near Las Vegas, Nevada. There are 2 summits: SE summit, elevation 9,924ft and NW summit, elevation 10,036ft with a long ridgeline between. Once you rise along the approach ridge over about 8,500ft the wilderness assumes a beautiful, untouched alpine feel with various wildflowers, pine forests and eventually Bristlecone Pines. There are spectacular 360 degree views all along the approach ridge including the Sisters peaks, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak and Mummy Mountain along with the high ridgeline between, Angel Peak, the Northern part of the Las Vegas Valley, Gass Peak and the Sheep Range. Route details: 14 mi RT/ Approx. 7,000 > 9,500ft; **Road, Trail, Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
McFarland Peak from Bristlecone Pine Trailhead | Lee Canyon, Spring Mountains, Nevada
The route to the base of McFarland Peak via the Bristlecone Pine and Bonanza Trails is a true show stopper! Most of the route winds through an ancient pristine Bristlecone Pine forest. As if that were not enough, all along the way there are spectacular views including Mummy Mountain, the North Ridge of Kyle Canyon from Mummy Mountain to Lee Peak and then on to the summit of Charleston Peak, the Sisters Peaks bordering Lee Canyon, Pahrump Valley and Telescope Peak in the Panamint Range on the far side of Death Valley as a faint high point in the background and of course the full spectacular Western side of McFarland Peak with its sheer majestic cliffs. Route Details: 15 mi RT/ Approx. 8,690 > 9,600ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…
McFarland Peak Summit | Lee Canyon | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Navigate to McFarland Peak’s challenging and spectacular summit from the Old Mill Trailhead in Lee Canyon, Nevada. Discover the most direct route to isolated McFarland Peak and the easiest approach to the summit. This is a good, cool temperature Summer adventure. Click the image or title above for more details.
Mud Springs Loop | Lee Canyon | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Mud Springs Loop is beautiful, though heavily forested. For this reason, the hiker often has no larger point of reference and can get lost in a maze of rabbit trails, and the directional markers are missing when you most need them. All that aside, Mud Springs Loop is a fun wilderness navigational challenge! Click the image or title above for details.
Mud Springs Loop Clockwise | Lee Canyon | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This is the complete 15-mile outer loop in a clockwise direction from the Sawmill Trailhead including a traverse of Macks Peak Eastern Base. Click the image or title above for details.
Mummy Mountain Forehead | Mt Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
Starting from Lee Canyon Road, pass through ancient bristlecone pine forests along majestic limestone cliffs to visit one of the distinctive features that makes this mountain look like a mummy! The best time of year for this adventure is Summer. Click the image or title above for details.