Sisters South to the Sisters North | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Overview | Sisters South to the Sisters North | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

There is a popular circuit route including Sisters South, Sisters North and Black Rock Sister, all three on a ridge above the West side of Lee Canyon. The route can be taken in either direction and includes about a half day of challenging hiking and climbing (Class 3 at most) in a beautiful pristine wilderness setting. Though the overall distance is nothing more than can be accomplished in around 6 hours, there are a few challenging stretches where you might want to have someone with you who has previously accomplished this circuit.

Route Summary

The route begins at the Old Mill Picnic Area on Lee Canyon Road. From there, take the Sisters South trail to the summit ridge of Sisters South. Take a left to ascend a brief but challenging class 3 stretch to the summit. Continue along the summit toward Sisters North, shortly descending to the East side of the mid-saddle between the two peaks. Continue along the East edge of the saddle navigating another brief but challenging narrow class 3 ledge, eventually descending to the West side of the saddle. From there, ascend the West slope of Sisters North, navigating another brief challenging class 3 stretch, then continuing along the Southern side of the slope to Sisters North summit. Descend the steep loose rock slope on the North side of Sisters North. At the saddle below you can either make a brief detour over to Black Rock Sister or descend a trail in a long gully Eastward back to Lee Canyon Road. Once on Lee Canyon Road, turn right to arrive at your starting point at the Old Mill Trailhead in about a half-mile. On this day we did not include Black Rock Sister, but you can view a previous adventure there on this page and video.

Spectacular Views Along This Route

As noted, the entire circuit is through seldom-traversed pristine wilderness. Along the way you will see Lee Peak, Charleston Peak, the Bonanza Trail Ridge, McFarland Peak, Bonanza Peak, Macks Peak, Sisters South, Sisters North, Black Rock Sister, Angel Peak, the Sheep Range, Gass Peak, Mummy Mountain and the entire length of Lee Canyon from Lee Peak to Highway 95. In short, you’re seeing the Northern stretch of the Spring Mountains along with a number of surrounding wilderness areas!

Best Time of Year for This Adventure

Late Spring through Fall avoids snow and ice that can make the Sisters South-to-North saddle and the descent down the North side of Sisters North somewhat treacherous. Although, with snow and ice navigational gear like crampons and an ice axe and experience in these conditions, snow could make some of the loose rock slopes actually easier to traverse. No promises. I can only vouch for traversing this grand circuit adventure in snow-free conditions.

Directions to Start Point | Sisters South to the Sisters North | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Take Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas. Turn left onto Lee Canyon Road (Hwy 156). Continue on Lee Canyon Road about 16 miles. You’ll continue on Lee Canyon Road past the intersection with Deer Creek Road. Go completely around the first turn-around on Lee Canyon Road at the Old Mill Picnic Area to park at an unmarked wide parking area on the opposite side of Lee Canyon Road.

↓ Narrative Guide ↓

Narrative Guide | Sisters South to the Sisters North | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Old Mill Picnic Area to the Sisters South Summit Ridge

From the parking area on the East side of Lee Canyon Road, cross Lee Canyon Road, enter the Old Mill Picnic Area and head up its main road. At the upper end of the picnic leave the road and take the rock-lined trail. In about a quarter-mile take a smaller right split onto the Sisters South trail. Continue to parallel a gully wash, crossing the wash a few times until the trail makes its final crossing and ascends the high ridge to your left. The steep ascent up the good trail on this ridge eventually leads to an upper saddle at the ridgeline summit. From that saddle you could take a left up an adjoining ridge to connect with the Bonanza Trail. But today, you’ll take a right up the opposite adjoining ridge toward Sisters South. As you ascend the ridge toward Sisters South, just note that you want to stay high and reach the ridgeline summit. There will be a pathless stretch leading to the ridgeline summit. Avoid the split-off trail to your left that will take you down into Macks Canyon! Once on the ridgeline summit a trail will reappear guiding you toward Sisters South. Continue on the trail to the steep final approach through a majestic ancient bristlecone pine strand to the Sisters South summit ridge.

Ascent to Sisters South Summit Ledge

Take a left on the Sisters South summit ridge where soon you’ll be confronted by a brief but challenging class 3 climb to the limestone summit ledge above. There’s a squeeze during the ascent and it helped to ferry my backpack up separately with the aid of my climbing partners. Once over the class 3 section it’s a brief easy stretch to the limestone summit ledge, where you’ll find the summit box.

Navigating the Sisters South Summit Ledge and Goldilocks Zone Along the Saddle Below

Continue along the rocky summit ledge toward Sisters North. The ledge is narrow in places, but all basically an easy class 1 walk. Watch for cairns that mark where you need to descend the East side of the summit ledge (to your right). The winding descent from the summit ledge has a brief class 3 stretch, but it’s easier than it looks from above! Descend to a mid elevation on the Sisters South-to-North saddle. You want to take a left along the Eastern edge of the saddle. In terms of elevation, your route along the saddle at this point is along a rocky stretch in a Goldilocks zone below the upper saddle ridge and above the lower saddle avalanche slope. If you navigate the Eastern edge of the saddle too high or too low things become more difficult. Stay in the Goldilocks zone. For the most part, the route is easy.

The Ledge of Death

There is one brief stretch along a very narrow limestone ledge I nick-named “The Ledge of Death“. There is just enough room on this ledge for your toes while you’re grasping for a hold on a crack above at shoulder-height, holding onto the narrow branches of small but tough juniper plants growing along the crack. All the while during this dangling operation there’s a significant exposure below! This is the scariest, most challenging stretch on the entire circuit adventure. The ledge is not horrible, but it can be a bit unnerving.

Completing the Saddle’s Rocky Zone and Scoping Out the Route Ahead

Once across “The Ledge of Death“, continue along the Goldilocks zone on this rocky saddle. Soon you’ll descend the rocky area to the left (West) side of the saddle. The descent has a couple steep but brief class 3 stretches, but the rock is solid and there are good holds if you carefully watch and take your time. On the rocky ledge before the descent, take time to look across to Sisters North and scope out your route up the West slope to Sisters North summit. Notice that there is an opening through the cliff line on the West slope. You’ll eventually want to pass through this opening between the lower and upper cliff line on the West ridge. It helps to scope out this route while you can see the big picture from above. Now, descend the rocky section on the saddle toward the West ridge of Sisters North. Once below the rocky stretch on the saddle, you’ll land on a nice little trail that will guide you to the West ridge of Sisters North.

West Ridge of Sisters North to Sisters North Summit

The West ridge of Sisters North has a cliff line dividing it into an upper and lower area. Begin ascending the lower area of the Western ridge along a faint, switchback trail heading for an opening in the cliff line that will take you to the upper area of the Western Ridge. The opening through the cliff line is another brief but challenging class 3 stretch. Once above the cliff line, the Western ridge angle of ascent becomes more gradual as you continue along the Northern edge of the ridge, eventually circling around to your left and then ascending the rocky area to the Sisters North summit! That final ascent is pretty much class 2, weaving in, around and up the rocks. From Sisters North Summit you can easily look back across the saddle to Sisters South. It seems such a short distance to contain all the adventure you just experienced on the saddle. Take time to enjoy the 360-degree view from the summit which gives you another great perspective on the Northern Spring Mountains!

Descending the North Slope of Sisters North

Now on Sisters North summit set your sights on the saddle below to Black Rock Sister. After a couple initial switchbacks the route down the North side of Sisters North becomes a real plunge! This is the steepest loose rock slope I’ve experienced. Any steeper and it would be near vertical. Hang on and carefully navigate downward. I highly recommend that if you have others in your climbing party, you descend this slope one at a time because you are likely to dislodge both small and large rocks that will hurtle down the slope at a terrifying speed. At the base of the steepest stretch there is a slight jog to your right below the base of a protective cliff. Falling rocks can’t get you there, so this is the time to signal to the next climber above that its time to begin their descent. From the base of that protective cliff shield to the saddle below there’s a nice switchback trail.

Options on the Saddle

You can either continue on the saddle to Black Rock Sister, which is basically a huge black volcanic boulder, or you can stay on the zig-zag trail and head down the gully to your right toward Lee Canyon Road. If you do visit Black Rock Sister, it might be good to note where that downward gully trail begins. It may be easier to make the trip to Black Rock Sister an “out-and-back” detour, returning to the gully trail which is far easier to navigate than another very steep plunge from Black Rock Sister to Lee Canyon Road. We did not go on to Black Rock Sister on this day, but you can view the adventure to that great vantage point here.

Descending the Gully Trail to Lee Canyon Road

Back at that gully trail at the base of the steep North slope of Sisters North, continue down that gully trail. It’s steep at first, but not as steep as the plunge down the North slope of Sisters North! This trail zig zags down from the saddle, eventually leveling off a bit and continuing through a beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest to Lee Canyon Road. Once on Lee Canyon Road take a right to return in about a half-mile to the parking area across from the Old Mill Trailhead.

Summary

Though the Sisters South to North Circuit Adventure is no long marathon experience (as opposed to the Lee Canyon to Bonanza Peak Adventure), there’s a lot packed into this short distance. You may feel you’ve been on a much larger adventure than the surprisingly short trek on Lee Canyon Road back to the Old Mill Trailhead might indicate. Between the challenging rock climbs, steep avalanche slopes, route finding puzzles, and spectacular, scenery, you’ve created some enduring life memories!