Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Left to Right: Macks Peak, Sisters South and North from Lee/Kyle Canyon Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Foxtail Canyon Wash to Left Viewed From Gradual Mid Canyon Approach Ridge
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Entering Foxtail Picnic Area on Lee Canyon Rd. Adventure Begins Here.
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Sun About to Rise Over Mummy's Head Above Foxtail Picnic Area.
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Passing Through Foxtail Picnic Area. Ghost Town at 7am, On Summer Saturday.
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
New Designation for Former Girl Scouts Camp
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Original Entrance Sign to "Camp Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp" Still Standing..
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Hudlow Hall, Main Dining Hall for Camp Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Directional Signs to Various Points at Camp Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
"Fawntown Bath" at Camp Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Campgrounds at Camp Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp. Platforms for Tee Pees?
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Forest Service Road Above Camp Foxtail. Route to Upper Ridge
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Forest Road Becomes Rugged 4WD Road, No Motorized Vehicles Allowed.
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Side Trail to Foxtail Springs. Created by Girl Scouts?
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Ascending Ridge Gully Above Foxtail Springs
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Many Fallen Trees on Ridge. Harsh Winters? Radically Steep Slopes?
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Skirting to Left Around First Cliff Barrier Above Foxtail Canyon Wash
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
View Up Face of Cliff Barrier Wall
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Passage Between the Cliff and Foxtail Canyon Wash Below
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
View Down the Ridge Toward Foxtail Canyon Wash
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Cliffs and Rocks Begin to Taper Off Above
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Continuing Up Ridge Above Cliffs to Right of Foxtail Canyon Wash
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Descending Back into Foxtail Canyon Wash. Less Obstacles at This High Altitude
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Don't Rub Against These!! 1-2-Inch Spikes Embed in Skin Forever!
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
View Down Upper Foxtail Canyon to McFarland Peak, Reference Point for Return
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Continuing Higher Up Foxtail Canyon Wash
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
McFarland Peak While Closing in on High Ridge Summit of Lee/Kyle Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Incline Leveling Off Near Lee/Kyle Canyon Summit Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Angling to the Right Toward Lee/Kyle Canyon Summit Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Tip of Lee Peak in View to Southwest
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Fletcher Peak, La Madre Mountain, Harris Mountain from Lee/Kyle Canyon Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Heading Southwest on Lee/Kyle Canyon Summit Rim Toward Lee Peak
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Harris Mt (left), Griffith Peak (right) and Saddle Between from Lee/Kyle Rim
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Tip of Mummy Mountain (left), Fletcher Peak (right)
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Charleston Peak (right) and Kyle Canyon South Ridge
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Kyle Canyon South Ridge Stretching Toward Griffith Peak (left)
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
View Straight Down Toward Charleston Village in Kyle Canyon
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Tip of Lee Peak. Mid-Descent Ridge Begins from Hill Just Below to Right
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Bristlecone Pines Growing Out of the Limestone Shelf High Point on Ridge
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Charleston Peak (center) from Ridgetop Limestone Shelf.
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Griffith Peak from Ridgetop Limestone Shelf
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Left to Right: Macks Peak; Sisters South, North and Black Rock
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
McFarland Peak from Limestone Shelf
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Sheer Cliff Over Right (South) Edge of Limestone Shelf
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Mummy Mountain from Limestone Shelf
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Closer View of V-Shaped Summit Canyon to Mummy Summit (center)
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Weather Station Ridgeline Marks Point to Turn Left, Descend to North Loop Trail
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Arrival on Mt. Charleston Upper North Loop Trail. Descent Ridge 1/4th mi Ahead
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Charleston Peak from Upper North Loop Trail
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Angling Down Descent Ridge Toward Lee Canyon. Traversing Steep Slopes
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
McFarland Peak (left), Mack's Peak, Sisters South & North from Descent Ridge
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Angle of Descent Momentarily Tapers Off as Ridge Top Widens
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Cairn Marks Place to Angle Left and Descend Through Gap in Cliffs
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Hug the Base of the Cliff on This Narrow Passage Above Slope
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
View Down To Lee Canyon Ski Area
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Navigating Rocky Sections on Lee Canyon's Lower Mid Ridge Descent
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Arrival at Water Reservoir at Ridge Base. Turn Right for Foxtail Picnic Area
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Stairway Off Ridge into Foxtail Girl Scout Camp and Lower Picnic Area
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Approach | Spring Mts, Nevada
Back at "The Beast" on Lee Canyon Road Just Below Foxtail Picnic Area!

Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Foxtail > Kyle Upper Rim > Mid Ridge Descent Circuit Adventure

Scoping Out Potential Summit Routes from Viewpoint Near Sisters North

Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada – Overview

Route Overview

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.

90% Wilderness Navigation Along the Lee to Kyle Canyon Circuit Route

The altitude gain is approximately 3000ft (8,000-11,000ft) and once you reach the Foxtail Springs area all trails disappear and the entire trip is pure wilderness (except for a brief 1/4th mile stretch far above on the upper North Loop trail). Foxtail Springs is also the point where the steep loose rock avalanche slopes begin, so have wilderness navigation skills and experience and ability to navigate those steep avalanche slopes. I did not see a single person throughout this 10-hour adventure and it’s almost 100% likely you will not see anyone. I had no phone coverage. So, carry everything you need because you are entirely on your own.

Spectacular Views Along the Lee to Kyle Canyon Circuit Route

The wilderness is pristine and literally radiates beauty at every point as you ascend from mixed pines into the high altitude bristlecone pine zone. The cliffs of Mummy Mountain are too your left. Turn around often during the ascent to see expanding views of the Sisters South, North and Black Rock Sister and Macks Peak. McFarland Peak will become your reference point if you choose to descend by the route you ascended in Foxtail Canyon. From the summit of the Lee/Kyle Canyon upper ridge you’ll see the mountains surrounding Kyle Canyon including Mummy Mountain with its V-shaped summit approach canyon, Fletcher Peak, La Madre Mountain, Cockscomb Ridge, Harris Mountain, Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak and Lee Peak. At the base of Kyle Canyon there is Charleston Village and Cathedral Rock. In the distance is the Las Vegas Valley and many points beyond. For more on navigating the Lee/Kyle Canyon upper ridge between Lee Peak and Mummy Mountain see the 4-Peak Circuit Adventure.

Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada – Route Starting Point

Take Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas. Turn left onto Lee Canyon Road (Hwy 156). Continue on Lee Canyon Road about 16-18 miles, passing that road’s intersection with Deer Creek Road. Continue on Lee Canyon Road to take turn-around and park in a long parking area on the East (left) side of Lee Canyon Road just below the entrance to the Foxtail Canyon picnic area. Note: The tables in the picnic area are by reservation only, so, unless you’ve made a reservation do not plan to set up a picnic at one of the tables.

Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada – Route Observations

Passing Through the Foxtail Picnic Area

Starting from Lee Canyon Road, the first couple miles approaching the Foxtail Springs area are very gradual on mostly good roads. You’ll pass through the Foxtail Picnic Area. The warning signs that say, “By Reservation Only, No Walk-ins” refer only to picnickers, not wilderness travelers. They’re warning not to set up a spontaneous picnic in one of the reserved picnic areas–all areas are reserved. It’s a beautiful, well designed and managed picnic area.

Passing Through the Abandoned Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp

As you ascend above the Foxtail Picnic Area the road becomes unpaved and soon arrives at the abandoned Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp. It’s my understanding that the Girl Scouts were faced with the need to upgrade their entire water system at over $1,000,000 and so closed the camp down a few years ago. However, the buildings are all in pristine condition. Be respectful and do not enter any of the buildings or structures in the camp area. I’m not aware of plans to re-activate the camp. If the camp is reactivated, you will need a course redirection along the gradual ridge to your right until you circumvent the camp and can re-descend into Foxtail Canyon above the camp. That might be difficult because the ridge becomes pretty cliffy around the camp.

Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp to Foxtail Springs

Above the Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp the road becomes a forest service road and soon enters a wilderness area boundary, quickly becoming a rugged 4WD road (though no motor vehicles are allowed) and then a narrow trail. Take a right just before a long sandy ridge to continue upward on what appears to be an old Girl Scouts trail to Foxtail Springs. The springs area is beautiful — water dripping down from the roof of a cove in the cliff face. The Girl Scouts appear to have created a kind of shrine in the area with their hand made hanging ornaments. Please leave history alone.

Ascending the Ridge Above Foxtail Springs

On this day I bypassed Foxtail Springs and instead angled right to continue ascending the ridge above the Foxtail Canyon Wash. This is where it becomes very steep (about 6-inche elevation gain per step) and the ground surface is loose rock and dirt. There are many fallen trees. Be careful to ensure the fallen trees are well anchored at both ends in the rare instance you will need to climb over them. Quick note: Why the ridge instead of the canyon wash below? The canyon wash has numerous rocky, cliffy barriers. The ridge, though steep, has no barriers.

Though the route is steep and a bit tricky, my thoughts were not so much on navigation as on the beauty of the place which appeared entirely untouched and natural. Towering trees, blue sky, majestic cliffs.

When you reach a rocky bluff, circumvent it to the left, staying above the upper edge of the Foxtail Canyon wash to your left. There is a good passageway that will take you between the length of the rocky bluff above and the wash below.

Ascending Above the Rocky Bluff

Above the rocky bluff area I descended into the Foxtail Canyon Wash which became far more manageable with few if any obstacles. However, the surface is rocky, so you might alternately remain on the ridge above the wash. After some time in the wash I re-ascended above the wash, this time angling above the left side of the wash. Now the ascent became very steep (nearly 1 foot elevation gain per stride), but I was closing in on the Lee/Kyle Canyon Ridge summit! There was the feeling of seeing blue sky on the horizon above and a gradual rounding of the slope which indicated the summit was ahead! I was angling upward and a bit to the left in hopes of connecting with the upper Lee/Kyle Canyon Ridge near the approach to Mummy Mountain. Look around often if you intend to later descend this same route. A good reference point is McFarland Peak. When you head back down the ridge just head straight for McFarland Peak.

Arrival on the Lee/Kyle Canyon Summit Ridge!

Words cannot describe the spectacular views you experience when you top the Lee/Kyle Canyon Summit Ridge! Suddenly, Kyle Canyon with all its surrounding mountains (noted above) come into view. In addition, there was welcome familiarity of the route along the ridgetop which I have taken from just below Lee Peak to Mummy Mountain. See the 4-Peak Circuit Adventure and the Fletcher, Mummy, Lee Circuit where I traversed that entire length of that ridgetop.

Heading Toward the Upper North Loop Trail Connection

On this day, realizing that my energy was near spent following the steep 3000ft ascent, I knew continuing to Mummy Mountain summit would be quite draining. My conditioning base was three 5-mile runs per week and the long Saturday mountain adventure. This was my first ascent of the season above 10,000ft (the ridgetop is around 11,000ft). I’ll soon make Mummy summit from Foxtail, but it will require an increase in my conditioning base and a little more high altitude conditioning.

However, today I decided to turn right on the ridgetop toward it’s connection with the North Loop Trail below Lee Peak. There is a place of incredible beauty on the ridgetop toward Lee Peak. It’s a massive limestone high clifftop shelf with a bristlecone pine forest seemingly growing right out of the rock. And the views in both the Kyle and Lee Canyon areas are spectacular. I think it’s my favorite place on earth!

Arrival at the Upper North Loop Trail Connection Point

After refueling and resting a bit in that beautiful spot I continued along the ridgetop toward Lee Peak and the connection with the upper North Loop Trail. The North Loop Trail is always below the cliffs to your left as you’re heading toward Lee Peak. Stay high hugging the Kyle Canyon edge of the clifftop as you navigate the ridge. When do you descend to the North Loop Trail? The North Loop Trail has been ascending and will eventually meet the ridgetop. The connection point is well marked. When you see the unmistakable structure of a weather station (see the slide show on this page), just past the weather station head left over the edge of the ridgetop. By this point the ridgetop is a gradual 50ft slope from the upper North Loop Trail. No climbing involved.

Along the Upper North Loop Trail to the Lee Canyon Gradual Mid Descent Ridge

Travel about 1/4th mile along the upper North Loop Trail toward Lee Peak. Just before a slope begins to rise to your right, take a right traversing along the South side of the slope. You’re now on what I call the Lee Canyon Gradual Mid Descent Ridge which will take you on an easy class 2 descent all the way back to the Foxtail Picnic Area.

Though I had ascended and descended this relatively easy ridge just a week ago, curiously, today I got disoriented and was not entirely sure I was on the correct ridge until half-way down! I had not marked the beginning of the ridge so it was just my best guess that I was on the descent ridge. I was paralleling my earlier route, but a little higher in elevation (perhaps only 50-100ft off) and so nothing looked familiar! There should have been a very faint trail in the upper section, but it was not to be seen today. All I knew was that if I stayed below the rocky cliffs to my left until those cliffs and bluffs momentarily ended, then followed a wide, more gradual ridgetop for about 1/4th mile, then descended angling left through a gully through the cliffs, then hugged a long cliff base (at that point to my right) until once again descending to the open ridgetop and finally down to the large green water reservoir structure, I’d have arrived back at the Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp, lower picnic area and finally Lee Canyon Road.

First Landmark Recognized on the Descent Ridge!

Yes, basically that is how it worked. I began on the East side of the ridge with cliffs to my left. About half way down the descent ridge along the wide open ridgetop stretch I recognized a landmark for the first time: A log I had sat on the week before. However, to get to that point had required a lot of wandering and course corrections in the unfamiliar surroundings on the ridge above.

One Additional Wrong Turn and Course Correction

Yes, I found a cairn I had placed the week before that marked the spot where I was to descend through the cliffs to the left, then continue along the lower edge of a long cliff base that would at this point now be on my right (along the West side of the ridge). However, I had forgotten, or not realized that the cliffs were terraced and I needed to descend in the gully passage past the upper terrace to the lower terrace. Instead, I hugged the lower edge of the upper terrace, eventually reached a dead-end cliff, had to retrace my way back to the descent gully, descend through the lower terrace, turn right and hug it’s lower edge to again arrive on the ridgetop below.

Descent to the Green Water Reservoir Structure

My route down the lower portion of the ridge was still a bit sketchy. I simply could not remember or recognize many of the points along the way down. More course corrections. Last week it had been so much easier!!

Remember along the lower ridge section to take a few steps to the rocky ridgetop viewpoints to your right to look down upon the Foxtail Canyon Wash. At some of these viewpoints you can see your entire route up Foxtail Canyon all the way to the Lee/Kyle Canyon summit. It’s a great review of what you’ve achieved during your adventure.

Finally, I reached the green water reservoir structure and took a right back down to the Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp, the Foxtail Picnic Area and Lee Canyon Road.

Alternate Lower Descent Route

Alternately, at the water reservoir, you could continue on the descent ridge where you will find an old road just to the right of the reservoir. I believe you could continue down the descent ridge all the way to Lee Canyon Road, avoiding the Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp and Picnic Area below. I’ll try that next time.

Summary
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Article Name
Lee to Kyle Canyon | Foxtail Canyon Route | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Description
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.
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LasVegasAreaTrails.com
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