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Lee Canyon Trails Overview | Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
(Click Through to Individual Trails and Wilderness Routes Below)
(Mileage Below is Round Trip. Altitude and Mileage are Approximate)
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What to Look for in Lee Canyon, Nevada
Commercial Recreational Opportunities and Summer Home Communities | Lee Canyon, Nevada
In addition to Kyle Canyon and Deer Creek Road, Lee Canyon is the third great wilderness area in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. Dominated by the huge commercial Ski Complex in upper Lee Canyon and Summer home communities, this canyon immediately has a more commercial recreational nature than the other wilderness areas in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. The ski complex features a range of year-round recreational activities from Winter skiing and snowboarding, to Summer mountain biking, Mountainside Yoga, Youth Adventure Days, Disc Golf, Ski lift rides and more.
Picnicking and Camping Opportunities in Lee Canyon, Nevada
There are three beautiful picnic areas in Lee Canyon: Old Mill Picnic Area, Foxtail Group Picnic Area and the picnic area at the Sawmill Trailhead. Add to this the McWilliams Campground and Macks Canyon Road Dispersed Camping, Champion Road Dispersed Camping, Dispersed Camping along Lee Canyon Road overlooking Lee Canyon and Blue Tree Group Campground Dispersed Camping.
Hiking Opportunities in Lee Canyon, Nevada
Though you’ll need to look a little harder, there are some magnificent hiking opportunities to be had in Lee Canyon. The Sawmill Trailhead area at the opening of Lee Canyon features 6 beautiful trails exploring the transitional terrain along the Eastern slopes of the Spring Mountains. The most clearly marked trail in upper Lee Canyon, near the ski area is the Bristlecone Pine Trail where you can see brilliant yellow Quaking Aspens in the Fall and ancient Bristlecone Pines year-round.
Hidden Hiking Opportunities in Lee Canyon, Nevada
More hidden is access to the Bonanza Trail traversing the upper spine of the Spring Mountains North all the way to McFarland Peak, Bonanza Peak and the Town of Cold Creek. Access to the Sisters Peaks is hidden at the upper end of the Old Mill Picnic Area. Some cool back-wilderness traverses all the way to Kyle Canyon and Mummy Mountain are hidden above the residential area on Avalanche Trail Road, above the Foxtail Group Picnic Area and above Lee Meadows. Because access to these backcountry wilderness areas are hidden and largely unknown, the wilderness is relatively untouched and pristine in comparison with wilderness along some of the more established trails in Kyle Canyon. You can feel the difference. The backcountry above Lee Canyon glows with radiance: The green Bristlecone Pine forests and colorful Alpine wildflowers in the upper meadows contrast with the brilliance of the blue sky! Here you will discover how to get to these beautiful places!
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Great Starter Trails and Adventures in Lee Canyon, Nevada
Sawmill Trailhead Trails
6 Beautiful Trails on the Spring Mountain’s Eastern Slopes
Bristlecone Pine Trail
6.8 mi / Approx. 8,690 > 9,400ft
**Excellent Trail**
Foxtail Canyon Springs
5 mi / Approx. 8,450 > 9,800ft
**Faint Trail**
Amargosa Overlook
Taking the 13mi Roundtrip Hike to the Overlook Can Be Tricky, but Heading Up the Bonanza Trail as Far as You Can Toward that Destination is Hugely Rewarding!
Lee Canyon is the Most Hopeful Place to See Wild Horses!
Likely Spots are in and Around Lee Canyon Meadows and Along the Northern Ski Run in the Summer
The Sisters, Macks Peak, McFarland Peak and Bonanza Peak
The Sisters South
8 mi RT/ 8,399 > 10,197ft
**Mostly Trail, Some Wilderness**
Black Rock Sister
8 mi RT/ Approx. 8,300 > 9,668ft
**Wilderness Route**
The Sisters North
8 mi RT/ 8,250 > 10,197ft
**Mostly Wilderness, Some Trails**
Sister’s Circuit
Approx. 10 mi / 8,300 – 10,197ft
**Mix of Trails & Wilderness**
McFarland Peak Summit
Approx 19 mi RT / 8,300 – 10,749ft
**Mix of Trails & Wilderness**
McFarland Peak Base via Bristlecone Pine and Bonanza Trails
15 mi RT/ Approx. 8,690 > 9,600ft
**Excellent Trail**
Macks Peak Base from Lee Canyon Rd via Macks Canyon Rd
14 mi RT/ Approx. 7,000 > 9,500ft
**Road, Trail, Wilderness**
Bonanza Peak from Lee Canyon via Bonanza Trail
26 mi RT/ Approx. 8,483 > 10,397ft
**Excellent Trails**
Cross Over from Lee Canyon, Nevada to Reach the High Peaks in Kyle Canyon!
Each link leads to multiple awesome summit routes from all the canyons.
Mummy Mountain
16 mi RT / 11,528ft Elevation
**All Routes Include Stretches of Pathless Wilderness**
Lee Peak
12 mi / 11,289ft Elevation
**All Routes Include Some Pathless Wilderness**
Charleston Peak
17 mi / 11,918ft Elevation
**Excellent Official Trail + Wilderness Routes**
Griffith Peak
9.3 mi / 11,056ft Elevation
**Excellent Official Trail + Wilderness Routes**
Lee Canyon to Kyle Canyon Routes, Nevada
It’s a pretty incredible experience starting out in Lee Canyon, ascending remote, pathless ridges, and suddenly finding yourself looking over Kyle Canyon with all the familiar peaks: Griffith, Charleston, Lee, Mummy and Fletcher! These unique routes will get you there!
Lee to Kyle Canyon Upper Rim
Overview of Routes
10 mi RT/ Approx. 8,300 > 11,000ft
**Wilderness Route**
Lee to Kyle Canyon Gradual Mid Ridge
14 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,535ft
**Mostly Wilderness**
Lee to Kyle Canyon – Ascent via Foxtail Canyon Route – Descent via Gradual Mid Ridge
15 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,000ft
**Brief Initial Road, Then Wilderness**
Lee to Kyle Canyon East Ski Run Route
10 mi RT/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,535ft
**Ski Run Wilderness**
Adventures in Process
Additional Projected Adventures
Reagan & Clinton Peaks
Lee Canyon to Mummy’s Head > Nose > Chin > Summit Circuit Return via Deer Creek Road
Charleston Peak Western Approach
Wilderness West of Charleston Peak (from Bonanza Trail area?)
Beyond Bonanza Trail Ridge Southward
Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead to Bonanza Trail Ridge
Sisters South > Macks Peak > McFarland Peak > Lower Bristlecone Pine Trailhead
Upper Bristlecone Pine Trailhead to Pahrump
