Harris Springs Canyon, Nevada | Mountain Biking from Centennial Hills in Las Vegas
Harris Springs Canyon parallels upper Kyle Canyon Road around 5-8 miles below the Charleston Village area. The most notable feature of the canyon is the incredible slot canyon at its lower opening near the intersection of upper Harris Springs Road and Kyle Canyon Road. Though the canyon parallels Kyle Canyon Road it seems as though it is in an entirely untouched wilderness area as there are no sounds of the vehicles just over the ridge on Kyle Canyon Road. Very often as you round a bend there is a direct view of Charleston Peak. Route Details: About 20 miles to the intersection of Kyle Canyon and upper Harris Springs Roads, then 2-4mi RT in the canyon / Approx. 8,439 > 10,255ft; **Good Route from Upper Harris Sprs. Rd.** Click image or title above for more…
Harris Mountain | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
See the Harris Griffith Circuit page on this website. That adventure shows the Harris Mountain summit approach from South Climb Trailhead at Cathedral Rock. A future adventure posted to this page will show Harris Mountain summit approach from Harris Springs and Harris Mountain Roads, which is the most popular summit approach. Route details: 12-15-miles RT from the intersection of Kyle Canyon and Upper Harris Springs Road; **Unpaved roads and established trails all the way.** Click image or title above for more…
Griffith Peak | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
At 11,056ft, Griffith Peak is the third highest peak in the Spring Mountain range and Southern Nevada. Though often overlooked by hikers whose destination is Mt. Charleston, the highest peak at 11,918ft, Griffith Peak is a great summit destination in itself. It has a unique view of the Eastern portion of Las Vegas, the Strip and the mountains bordering Red Rock Canyon and Calico Basin which are not visible from Mt. Charleston or Mummy Mt. The summit itself is more interesting than the barren Mt. Charleston summit. And finally, Griffith Peak makes a great out and back conditioning run for trail runners as the trail is a fairly good running surface, the incline is steady and steep and the round trip is just under 10 miles so one can travel fairly light and fast. Route Details: 9.3 mi RT / Approx. 7,713 > 11,060ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Cockscomb Peak and Ridge, Spring Mountains, Nevada
Cockscomb Peak and Ridge is little over a 4-mile round trip with a nearly 3,000ft elevation gain. Stretching from Hwy 157 Northward up to its highest elevation of 9692 ft, it creates a beautiful and rugged feature that can be viewed in a unique way from every high point in the canyon. As of the writing of this article there were no trails to Cockscomb Peak and Ridge which makes the approach, especially from Hwy 157, a great opportunity to practice some light wilderness navigation skills. The final mile up to the summit from the Hwy 157 approach affords spectacular views of Mummy Mountain, Fletcher Peak, Harris Mountain and the Griffith/Harris Circuit, Griffith Peak and the lower South ridge of Kyle Canyon. It’s like being on a mountaintop for that entire stretch! Route details: 5 mi / Approx. 7,785 > 9,307ft; **Mostly Excellent Trail via Trail Canyon Trail; Wilderness, no Trail from Hwy Kyle Canyon Rd** Click image or title above for more…
Charleston Peak from Cathedral Rock
Behind Cathedral Rock there are two very inconspicuous routes that go straight up the side of the South Ridge of Kyle Canyon. They are actually washes that I understand have been used by climbers to ascend Charleston Peak during the Winter months when the South Climb Trailhead and parking lot has been closed and blocked off and the upper elevations are snowed in. One of the most beautiful year-round springs in the Spring Mountains flows through this route in the area above Cathedral Rock. The route to the top of the South ridge of Kyle Canyon may take up to 4 hours from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead. Route details: 18 mi / Approx. 7,713 > 11,918ft; **Wilderness, No Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Charleston Peak Snow Dust | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
This is a very magical view of Charleston Peak during a dusting of snow in mid-October. The conditions were just right to coat every pine needle of every bristlecone pine tree with an intricate glistening layer of snow and ice. Route description: 17 mi / Approx. 7,713 > 11,918ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…
Angel Peak via Lucky Strike Road | Mt. Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada
There is a rather wild desert area below Angel Peak that can be accessed through the rugged 4WD Lucky Strike Road. Both ends of Lucky Strike Road contain some class 2 climbing sections, so your vehicle needs to be very sturdy. The 3-mile stretch immediately below Angel Peak can be pretty brutal, being a cross between a 4WD road and an avalanche slope! However, the sunset views of the Sheep Range and Gass Peak on that stretch are spectacular, and at night the Las Vegas Valley lights up like Christmas! This is an experience of Lucky Strike road on a mountain bike. Route details: 17.1 mi / Approx. 4,500 > 8,500ft; **Unpaved Road, Poor Condition** Click image or title above for more…
01 Potosi Mountain Overview | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Potosi Mountain, Nevada is a huge 8,517ft mountain at the Southern tip of the Spring Mountains featuring many challenging hikes and climbs at every difficulty level. Spectacular views are everywhere! There are many ways to get to the summit. The main Southern approach is a very steep maintenance road. Northern approaches involve locating openings in the surrounding cliffs. The openings are there, but it helps to know where! Best time of year for adventures in the higher elevations here: Fall and Spring. You may need to navigate snow during Winter months. When Las Vegas Valley temperatures rise above 95 degrees, the higher elevations can become uncomfortably hot and even dangerous. Follow the thumbnail images on this page to plan your next adventure on Potosi Mountain. Click image or title above for more…
01 Mt Charleston Wilderness Overview | Lee Canyon Trails
In addition to Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness of Nevada is the second major canyon area. Lee Canyon is a destination for skiers and has a major ski lodge with 3 ski runs and ski lifts. Even during the Summer months, the ski area is open and converts to a Summer recreational destination. in addition to the commercial aspect of Lee Canyon there are a number of wilderness trailheads. Only one, The Bristlecone Pine Trailhead, is clearly marked with trailhead parking. But we have found a number of other unmarked “hidden” trailheads in Lee Canyon to beautiful, lightly traveled, wilderness destinations! Best time of year for adventures here: Early Summer to Mid-Fall. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Expect to navigate snow at other times of the year. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…
01 Mt Charleston Wilderness Deer Creek Road Trails Overview | Spring Mountains, Nevada
Deer Creek Road is the passage way between the two major canyons in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness: Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon. There are a number of trailheads on Deer Creek Road to wilderness destinations. In addition there are recreational camping and picnicking destinations on Deer Creek Road along with youth camps. So, as you breeze along Deer Creek Road on your way between Kyle and Lee Canyons, watch for trailheads that lead to a premier rock climbing destination, the main Mt. Charleston North Loop Trail and “back door” hidden access to the vast, beautiful, secluded wilderness area surrounding Mummy Mountain. Best time of year for adventures here: Early Summer to Mid-Fall. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Expect to navigate snow at other times of the year. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…
