Pinyon Pine Loop Trail | Lee Canyon | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This adventure mainly covers the Pinyon Pine Loop Trail accessed from the upper parking area of the Sawmill Trailhead in Lee Canyon. The Pinyon Pine Loop Trail is a peaceful, serene emersion in nature including juniper and pine forested areas and high ridges with spectacular views of Mummy’s Head, Macks Peak, McFarland Peak, Bonanza Peak, the Sheep Range, Gass Peak and points North of the Sheep Range. Route details: 8.5 mi RT/ Approx. 6,496 > 7,688ft; **Excellent Trails But Easy to Go Off-Track** Click image or title above for more…
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.
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…
Lee Peak from Lee Canyon | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This adventure in process will work out the most direct route possible from to Lee Peak from Lee Canyon. View the initial exploration which begins at the Upper Bristlecone Pine Trailhead. From there, the route soon diverges left and ascends to a ski run, taking the ski run to its upper limit, then continuing to navigate upward through canyons and ridges toward Lee Peak. There’s a surprise appearance of wild horses in one of the ski runs. There’s a lot yet to be worked out with this very experimental route to the summit, and the possibility of circling around the base of Lee Peak and ascending from the South. The goal is a class 3 ascent, possibly through a rather remote untested area. Route details: 16 miles RT/ Approx 8,300 > 11,200ft **Some Trails, Ski Run, Mostly Wilderness** Click image or title above for more…
Foxtail Canyon Springs, Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp and Beyond, Spring Mountains, Nevada
These magnificent and little-known springs are located in Foxtail Canyon off of Lee Canyon in the Spring Mountains, Nevada. The springs flow or drip year-round into a 6-ft high, 75ft long cave at the base of a 30-40ft high cliff in Foxtail Canyon. As with other springs in the Spring Mountains, the springs are surrounded by lush vegetation. A long wide shelf spans the front of the cave from which there is a spectacular view down Foxtail Canyon into Lee Canyon. Above the cliff cave one can continue upward toward Mummy Mountain and the North Ridge of Kyle Canyon. 5 mi / Approx. 8,450 > 9,800ft; **Faint Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Bristlecone Pine Trail in Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada
The Bristlecone Pine Trail in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness is a delightful 6-mile loop that gives the hiker or runner an experience of rising up to the bristlecone pine zone without having to ascend steep inclines or engage in a long-distance hike or run. It’s actually one of the first Spring Mountains mountain adventures a person might experience as they are conditioning for higher altitudes and heavier exertion. Route details: 6.8 mi / Approx. 8,690 > 9,400ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…
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 Peak | Charleston Peak via Lee Canyon Mid Ridge | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Starting in Lee Canyon across from Upper Lee Meadows, ascend the gradual mid-ridge that begins there and connects with the Mt. Charleston North Loop Trail a little over a mile below Lee Peak. Take a right on the North Loop Trail to the final summit approach for Lee Peak summit. Deviate from the North Loop Trail to ascend to the Lee Peak Summit, then descend again to the North Loop Trail. Continue on the North Loop Trail to Charleston Peak summit. Take the Mt. Charleston South Loop Trail from Charleston Peak summit to the junction below Griffith Peak summit. Descend to the South Loop Trail and descend to the South Loop Trailhead just above Charleston Village. From there take a mountain bike stashed earlier at that trailhead and return to Upper Lee Meadows via Deer Creek Road and Lee Canyon Road. Route details: 35 mi Circuit/ Approx. 8,000 > 11,920ft; **Some Trail, Some 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 | 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…