6 Peak Circuit  Strategy | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Overview | 6 Peak Circuit  Strategy | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Note: All images on the slide show on this page were pieced together from previous climbs. Once I’ve completed the 6 Peak Circuit I will post images taken along that route on the day of the adventure. It is possible to complete a six-peak circuit in the Spring Mountains in Nevada in one day. This adventure is pretty remarkable in that it involves summiting 6 peaks, each over 10,000ft in less than 24 hours! Your total distance will be about 28 miles, total altitude gain about 10,000ft and total time about 17 hours. This achievement will take some serious strategy and conditioning. The strategy and conditioning came together during an attempt in the Fall of 2019 in which I set out to complete five peaks but only made the first two! How could that be? I think I have the answer which I have documented on this page. Once I’ve completed the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains in Nevada, I’ll create a page documenting the adventure.

Which Peaks Are in the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada?

In order of ascent:

1. Harris Mountain (10,014ft)
2. Griffith Peak (11,056ft)
3. Charleston Peak (11,918ft)
4. Lee Peak (11,289ft)
5. Mummy Mountain (11,528ft)
6. Fletcher Peak (10,319ft)

Strategy for the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada

What time of Year to begin the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada

The first strategic question is what time of year is best for this circuit adventure? You’ll need both maximum daylight and a snow-free route. The most difficult stretch is below the North side of Charleston Peak where snow on the avalanche slope trail can create dangerous conditions, the potential of getting off-course and otherwise slow you down—and you’ll need to maximize every hour of daylight. I got off course going down the North Side of Charleston Peak in early July, 2019 due to snow, so my best suggestion is go for later July. Of course, the snow pack in 2019 was uncommonly thick, so you might scope out the North side of Charleston Peak during a conditioning trip in June. However, if you’re stopped by snow during that conditioning trip, you’ve lost a day of high-altitude conditioning during the crucial month of June, so my best wisdom is to stick with late July.

What time of day to begin the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada

Even in late July when the days are longest and the trails are snow-free, you’ll want to ensure most wilderness areas are traversed during daylight hours, and while you’re in the dark you’re traversing good trails. Therefore I suggest a 3:00pm start which puts you at Griffith Peak by nightfall giving you the greatest chance of traversing good trails from nightfall to sunrise.

Circuit Direction for the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada

The Spring Mountains in Nevada create a natural circuit which begs to be completed in one day. Starting and ending at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead makes it possible to complete the circuit entirely with just one vehicle. The next strategic question is, which direction to go?

My Best Wisdom Regarding the Direction to Loop

My best wisdom is to park at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead and take the circuit clockwise. Begin by taking the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead / Harris Mt / Griffith Peak route to the summit of Griffith Peak, continue on to Charleston Peak, Lee Peak and Mummy Mountain, descend the Eastern slopes of Mummy Mountain, then continue on to Fletcher Peak, finally descending to the Trail Canyon Trailhead and taking Kyle Canyon Road back to your starting point at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead. An interesting variation would be to park at the Trail Canyon Trailhead, head down the road to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead and end the 6 Peak Circuit at the Trail Canyon Trailhead, saving you the pain of having to walk those final two miles to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead.

Directions to Start Point | 6 Peak Circuit  Strategy | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Driving to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead is pretty easy: Up I-95 North from Las Vegas, take a left at the Kyle Canyon exit, continue about 20 miles up Kyle Canyon Road, pass the traffic circle at The Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway, pass the Deer Creek Road turnoff and Mt Charleston Lcodge and then onward for less than a quarter mile to The Fletcher Canyon Trailhead parking on your left.  In all, it’s less than 40 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Here are the directions to the Trail Canyon Trailhead if you choose to start from there (route variation listed above): Take Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas for about 25 miles. Turn left onto Kyle Canyon Road at the Kyle Canyon Road Exit on Hwy 95. Take Kyle Canyon Road about 20 miles. You will pass through Charleston Village. Just before Kyle Canyon Road takes a sharp left at the upper end of Charleston Village continue straight onto Echo Canyon Road. There is a sign for Mary Jane Falls at that point. In a half mile park at the Trail Canyon Trailhead parking area. Walk up Echo Canyon Road for another quarter mile to the Mary Jane Falls Trailhead.

↓ Narrative Guide ↓

Narrative Guide | 6 Peak Circuit  Strategy | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

I’ve pieced together images of the key points along the route in the Slide Guide above.

Start by summiting Harris Mountain

This IS my best choice as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Advantages: Once you hit the summit of Charleston Peak the remainder of the circuit to the finish feels more like a downhill excursion. Also, in terms of overall energy, this direction is easier. When your energy is most spent near the end of the circuit you’re taking it easy sliding down the Northeast side of Mummy Mountain, regaining your strength to ascend the final summit: Fletcher Peak. From Fletcher Peak to the finish, it will feel like coasting downhill! You’ll take the North Loop Trail from Raintree to the North Loop/Trail Canyon Junction, then continue 2 miles to the Trail Canyon Trailhead. You’re done!… unless you parked at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead, in which case it’s only about 2 miles easy downhill to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead. Disadvantages: I see no major disadvantages to this circuit direction, except, you may have an initial stretch of wilderness between the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead and Harris Mountain Summit in the dark. In that case, be sure to have made that stretch previously in the light!

Parking at the South Climb Trailhead and starting by summiting Fletcher Peak

This is NOT my best choice as the disadvantages seem to outweigh the advantages. Disadvantage The longest stretch from the beginning to the summit of Charleston Peak is more uphill and energy draining. So, in terms of energy expenditure, this direction is harder and could turn your six-peak circuit into a 2-peak circuit by the time you finish ascending Mummy Mountain. Advantage I see no advantages to attempting the circuit in this direction, except your initial stretch in the dark is on good trails. However, if you’re exhausted by the time you get to Mummy Mountain summit, you may want to turn around and head back home! I did just that on my first attempt in that direction. Ascending the steep steep NE slope of Mummy Mountain is the killer! Far better to coast down at the end of the loop when you are feeling the success of near completion!

4 Wilderness Stretches to Navigate

There are 4 wilderness stretches on this circuit. You pretty much need to walk these stretches due to the rough terrain. Be sure to have previously navigated these wilderness stretches in the light! From the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead to Harris Mountain Then to Griffith Peak This wilderness route is described in text and on video on the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead / Harris Mt / Griffith Peak Circuit page of this site. From the North Loop Trail to and Beyond Lee Peak This wilderness route is described in text and on video on the Lee Peak page and 4-Peak Circuit page of this site. From Lee Peak to Mummy Mountain There is an upper wilderness route between Lee Peak and Mummy Mountain along the top of the North ridge of Kyle Canyon. It’s a bit tricky and adds about one hour, but saves ascending and descending 1,500ft. That extra hour can be a time to relax and recoup energy for the rest of the circuit. From Mummy Mountain to Fletcher Peak You can make it from Mummy Mountain to Fletcher Peak via the North East side of Mummy Mt. Descending this route via the fairly steep avalanche slope might be restful. Use your hands to lower yourself, and even slide a bit (a kind of effort with a different set of muscles you will have not have used prior to this point).  This wilderness stretch takes about 5-6 hours when ascending in the other direction and should take between 3-4 hours when descending. Taking this wilderness stretch saves descending and re-ascending about 1,500ft which is what would happen if you took the other route descending the West side of Mummy Mountain to the Trail Canyon/North Loop junction and then reascending 1,500ft to the summit of Fletcher Peak.

Suggested Timing

Start from the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead: 4am near the longest day of the year. Fletcher Canyon Trailhead / Harris Mt / Griffith Peak route to the summit of Griffith Peak (4 -11:00am) Charleston Peak (11am – 3pm) Mummy Mountain (3pm – 7pm) Fletcher Peak (7pm – midnight) Fletcher Canyon Trailhead (midnight – 4am) If you parked at the Trail Canyon Trailhead, you’re done, and very happy you didn’t park at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead! If you parked at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead that final 2 miles between the Trail Canyon Trailhead and the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead may seem like a marathon, even though it’s all downhill on a road!

Distance, Altitude Gain and Time Estimates:

Total estimated distance: 28 miles. Total estimated altitude gain (counting both ascent and re-ascent): 10-11,000ft Total time estimate: 17-24 hours

Conditioning for the Six-Peak Circuit in the Spring Mountains, Nevada

We’re assuming you’re running about 6 miles/day 5 days/week, resting one day and doing one of the following adventures one day/week.

Base Conditioning of 8,000ft by June 1st:

Create your base altitude conditioning of 8,000ft in March through May in the Sheep Range, Gass Peak and La Madre Mountain from Red Rock National Conservation Area or from Kyle Canyon Rd.

Conditioning to 11,900ft and 20-mile Mountain and Wilderness Distance by Late July:

From June 1st begin by alternating summiting Mummy Mountain 11,500ft (From the Trail Canyon Trailhead – Mummy is snow-free first in the season), Griffith Peak and finally Charleston Peak.

Wilderness Conditioning:

Seed in the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead / Harris Mt / Griffith Peak Circuit, the Fletcher/Mummy/Lee Circuit. and the Mummy Mt. NE Cliff Descent

Lighter Rest Adventures

Also seed in a few shorter adventures to give your body a rest. I suggest Bristlecone Pine Trail, Rain Tree and Fletcher Peak from the North Loop Trailhead and Cockscomb Ridge (from Trail Canyon area).

Conditioning Ready!

By this point it’s late June and you’re ready for the 6-peak circuit! You now are altitude conditioned, physically conditioned and you know the route. Again, see the video on this page for an example of what could happen if you attempt a circuit adventure under-conditioned. See the 4-Peak circuit page as an example of the level of conditioning that could handle a 6-peak circuit adventure. Check current trail conditions and closures on GoMtCharleston.com