Charleston Peak | Mt Charleston Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

At 11,918ftm Charleston Peak is the highest mountain in the Spring Mountain Range and in Southern Nevada. Here you get the best view of the entire North-South Charleston Loop including all the mountain peaks mentioned above, along with a great view of Charleston Village over 5000ft immediately below, then all the way down Kyle Canyon to I-95 and beyond. The approach trail is about 8.5 miles in length from the South Loop Climb trailhead, but many make this an 18-mile circuit adventure. Route description: 17 mi / Approx. 7,713 > 11,918ft; **Excellent Trail** Click image or title above for more…

Cathedral Rock, Mt. Charleston Wilderness, Nevada

The 8597ft Cathedral Rock is located in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness of Nevada. The trail to the top is only 1.3 miles long, but has tremendous views of Kyle Canyon, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak, Mummy Mountain, Fletcher Peak and Harris Mountain giving Cathedral Rock one of the best views to be had anywhere given a 2.6 mile round trip hike. Route details: 5.5 mi / Approx. 7,713 > 8,585ft; **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 Lovell Canyon Overview | La Madre Mountains Wilderness | Spring Mountains, Nevada

Lovell Canyon is a beautiful, little known canyon beginning at the Southern base of the saddle between Griffith Peak and Harris Mountain and extending all the way to Hwy 160 near Potosi Mountain. Lower Lovell Canyon skirts the entire length of the Rainbow Mountains Wilderness and provides a unique access to that wilderness. Upper Lovell Canyon is bordered by Sexton Ridge and Wilson Ridge. Lovell Canyon is within the La Madre Mountains Wilderness area. There are improved car camping areas throughout Lovell Canyon and it is a popular recreation destination for those who know of its existence. Lovell Canyon Road spans the 13-mile length of lower Lovell Canyon, ending at the Lovell Canyon trailhead and camping area. This area provides access to numerous hiking opportunities in Lovell Canyon along with wilderness excursions up Sexton Ridge to Griffith Peak and up Wilson Ridge to Harris Mountain. These two ridges border upper Lovell Canyon. Best time of year for adventures here: Late Fall to early Spring below 5,000ft; Early Summer to Mid-Fall above 5000ft. Temperatures at the higher elevations are usually in the mid-70s even when Las Vegas Valley is up to 115 degrees! Winter temperatures in the lower elevations will average in the 40’s to 60’s. Expect to navigate Winter snow above 8,000ft. Follow the thumbnail images to view individual adventures in Lovell Canyon, Nevada. Click image or title above for more…

01 Valley of Fire State Park Overview, Nevada

Valley of Fire is Nevada’s first State Park, formally opened in 1934. It is a place of majestic and beautiful Aztec red, white and calico frozen dunes from the Jurassic Era; amazing rock formations that seem to defy reasoning; ancient native American petroglyphs, petrified logs and bighorn sheep. If you had just 7 days to visit Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, what are the most important points of interest you do not want to miss? In this 7-day tour I visited and documented over 30 points of interest. In addition, I created a 7-day strategy for getting the most out of your week at Valley of Fire State Park. Finally, I explored, documented and discussed in more detail two outstanding features of the park: The weird rock formations and ancient petroglyphs. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60 degrees. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

01 Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Overview

The 48,438 acre Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area is over 4 times the size of Red Rock Park and located to the South East of the Las Vegas Strip. Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area is divided into a few major sub-sections. On the Northern end, the 14. 763 acre McCullough Hills area, accessed off of I-11 between Henderson and Boulder City is a network of hiking, running, mountain biking and horse trails. To the South in the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area is the is the North McCullough Wilderness. Here you will find the Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site with over 300 ancient native American rock art panels. A popular trail of interest winds through Petroglyph Canyon. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60 degrees. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

01 Gass Peak Overview | Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada

To stand on Gass Peak, towering 6,000ft above the Las Vegas Strip, is to see a view of Las Vegas not even surpassed by the view you’d experience in an airplane! Here you will see numerous attempts to summit Gass Peak from the North end of Rainbow Avenue in Las Vegas. The attempts eventually succeed, followed by a total circuit of the massive Gass Peak and a grand crossing beginning at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge visitor center off Hwy 95 and Corn Creek Road and ending on the North end of Rainbow Avenue in Las Vegas. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60 degrees. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

01 Sheep Range North of Las Vegas, Nevada | Overview

The Sheep Range is located in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge just North of Las Vegas, Nevada. The refuge was named for its purpose to protect the bighorn sheep population and is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 States. The motor vehicle entrance to the Sheep Range is off Nevada Hwy 95 at Corn Creek Road. There is a beautiful interpretive center with a desert interpretive walkway and ample parking for about 30 vehicles. There is a 4WD road system entirely circling the Sheep Range with additional roads branching off to trailheads and camping areas. Just South of the Sheep Range sits Fossil Ridge, an ancient rocky ridgeline with Nautilus fossils aging near 450 million years old dating back to the era when there was just one continent on Earth, Pangea. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

01 Muddy Mountains Wilderness Overview

The Muddy Mountains Wilderness in Nevada is largely untouched and unknown. Yet, it is massive, one-third the size of the state of Rhode Island. And it is just outside Las Vegas being roughly between Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The area is rather barren and brown…thus the name Muddy Mountains. However there is an incredible slot canyon, Anniversary Narrows, and the hills are rich in minerals. The Muddy Mountains Wilderness is only accessible by 4WD vehicle, mountain bike or on foot. There are slot canyons and spectacular overlooks. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60 degrees. Follow thumbnail images to view the details you will need to plan your adventures here. Click image or title above for more…

01 Las Vegas Metro Area Trails Overview | Nevada

Vegas Metro Area Trails, Nevada, is a category that includes trails both within the Las Vegas Metro Area and on the outskirts of Las Vegas, but not within any of the surrounding wilderness areas. Las Vegas is surrounded by some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the U.S. However, there are trails in and near Las Vegas where the hiker, trail runner, biker or climber may enjoy a wilderness experience close to home. The trails in this category fit that scenario. There are places here that can transport you instantly into a wilderness setting. Best time of year for adventures here: Mid-Fall to Mid-Spring. When temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley rise above 75-80 degrees these destinations can become uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, during the Winter months expect comfortable mid-day temperatures around 60 degrees. Follow the thumbnail images on this page to detailed adventure descriptions complete with videos and images. Click image or title above for more…