We visited last saturday, which turned out to be a FREE entry day. This was a nationwide promotion…read morefor state parks. But not highly advertised. I think that this happens several times a year, every year. (Otherwise, it was $18 last year. This is the private area. Less people here. More people are at the free areas.) It was beautiful, the trees, the mountains, the scenery. Sunny, with it getting dark (chance of rain), at times, and some wind. At first, we went to a table that didn't have any shade. So we went a little further away. We went to Parking section H, which was not busy at all. Table number 71. Overlooking large white boulders. We saw chipmunks, a hawk high overhead, huge butterflies, and pesky horseflies. Also, a loud grasshopper making a mating call. (Section E was Reserved.) TIP: wipe off the tree sap with wet wipes! Good thing, my MIL brought a table cover to use. We had sandwiches, chips, cookies, bottled water, and sodas. (Some people were barbeque'ing. There are grills, but I suggest using foil, because they are black.) The blue dumpsters are in the parking lots. The dual bathroom, also located in the parking lots, is porta-potty style. There is a sign to "place the lid down". No trash bins inside. No soap to wash your hands. Good thing, I have hand sanitizer on my purse, always. (There is a purse hook inside, which is handy to use.) We went on a trail, which logged in 43 minutes of hiking, Past Discovery Trail, to the Fossil section, overlooking the mountains. Gorgeous. We brought the new pup along, and he didn't have any issues. He even jumped over a huge log on the ground! There was a random bench near the Bridge, which we noticed last year, too.

Excellent hike in the Mt Charleston mountain area, about 40 minutes outside of Vegas…read more Ample parking lot but it was definitely packed and the restrooms were kind of gross and no TP. This is a popular hike so be prepared to see humans. This is about a 2.8 mile in and out hike with the hike to Cathedral Rock mainly all incline. You are def gonna work for the views but man it is so worth it. I definitely got my workout for the day and enjoyed the views once on top. The rock definitely looks like a cathedral, no joke. The climb back down pretty easy and took half the time to get up. Really nice hike and a memorable one. If you wanna get out of the city, this is a moderate hike that will get your heart pumping and the views are so sick! Loved it!

Awesome 6.5 mile hike! Beautiful views and peaceful trail. It's mostly flat with a bit of incline…read morebut nothing difficult, my son was able to keep up easily. There were alot of chill spots to have a quick snack break or take pics. The hike went by quickly and definitely didn't feel like 6+ miles. Love Mt. Charleston!

We decided to hike the Bristlecone loop trail, which is around 6.5 miles in total…read more You can start this trail in two different ways. We chose to start from the Upper Trailhead and parked our car near the Lower Trailhead so that we could easily hop in our car at the end. I suggest taking this route only if you prefer tackling the toughest part with the steepest incline right at the beginning, like I do. Overall, let me tell you, the trail is absolutely stunning and offers a perfect blend of sunshine and shade. You'll come across plenty of trees along the way and a few amazing viewpoints about halfway through the hike. Get ready to take in the smell of clean, fresh air and trees! Oh yeah! Don't forget to pack a picnic lunch and, of course, bring lots of water. Oh, and one more thing, this trail is dog-friendly! Now, when we started our hike, it was pretty crowded. Seems like most people show up around noon. If you can, I'd suggest coming earlier in the day on a weekend to avoid the crowd. Just a heads up: There aren't any restrooms on this trail, so plan accordingly.

Amazing place and the falls is surreal. There's no signs…read moreexplaining where the falls are at so my advice is park in the lower parking of cathedral trail and look for the no parking sign walk just past it and that's the trail after a ten minute walk you will come to a sign that says little falls .02 miles away. Just follow the waterline pipe it will take you directly to the falls. Note there is a short uphill hike My advice is that you take short breaks on your way up if it's your first time going. The hike is definitely worth the sights

What a great trail. Very doable for a beginner. Such a beautiful trail and fresh crisp air. My…read morefavorite hike, perfect distance

I shared many photos during our hikes here but I realize I didn't leave a review…read more Big Falls is one of my favorite trails at Mt Charleston any time of year. I love the little bit of climbing we can do, the views we find, and as always, the people who come with us. I haven't visited this trail in so long, so I don't have fresh or new commentary. It's been over 8 years since I've been here. All the photos I see I shared here are with my old dog, who passed away, and maybe one day I'll return with my current dog.

After wanting to do this hike for years, I finally got to go this morning with a friend leading the…read moreway. Since there isn't really an official trail to follow, I'm glad that I had someone who knew where to go. Even though it's June, there is still snow in parts of Mount Charleston due to the amount of rain that we had in the past few months. The snow is melting, so there was lots of water to see on this hike, which I loved. My friend, her dog, and I crossed quite a few areas with running water, so I was glad to have waterproof boots. It was also helpful to have hiking poles, as there were parts of the trek that they came in handy, notably when we encountered some snow to get to the falls. Big Falls itself did not disappoint; it's a beautiful sight! We had it to ourselves, too, which made this hike even better. We did see a couple of people on our way back to the parking area, but it's definitely not crowded like Mary Jane Falls or Cathedral Rock. Our hike was about 3.2 miles round-trip. Be advised that the amount of running water will depend on the weather and time of year; our timing was just right today.

One of my favorite hikes in the Mt Charleston area. Mary Jane Falls is the ultimate desert escape…read more Just 45 minutes from Las Vegas, this hike trades heat and neon for cool mountain air, towering pines, and a steady uphill challenge. The switchbacks make you work for it, but the payoff is worth it -- a peaceful alpine waterfall that feels wildly out of place in the Mojave. Go early, bring water, and be ready to earn your views. Short, steep, and totally worth it.

It's always been one of my favorite trails in Mt Charleston…read more Mary Jane's is listed as moderate hike and while it's true, it has some pretty steep hills, but the switchbacks are amazingly helpful. Definitely recommend going early in the morning so you can enjoy the cooler temperatures, instead of the hot sun later on. Make sure to bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen! There is no drinking fountain anywhere on the trail. Also keep in mind, there isn't any restrooms on the hiking trails beside the very bottom at the beginning. The trail is very walkable but definitely no wheelchair accessible! We enjoyed the hike earlier this summer. There was still snow on the ground right across from us on the hillside. While we were hiking, there were beautiful wildflowers present on the ground. After the switchbacks, we had reached the waterfalls and immediately felt the refreshing smell in the air. The water was amazingly pleasant, washed our hands and enjoyed the beautiful views around us. Can't wait to go back again!

Enjoyed going thru this river and canyon on a side by side! We camp at Dumont Dunes and this is…read morelocated in that vicinity. This river is an underground river but when it rains hard there's so much water on the trails it looks so cool! Such a great experience seeing this canyon! Totally recommend!

I have been hiking in the area for over a decade and it's always been a very special…read moreplace--history, great geology, and a date shake--all are part of hiking here. The Amargosa Rover Canyon offers several trails in China Ranch and beyond. There are two ways to hike the canyon itself. The best way to enjoy most of the entire canyon is to spot cars. Leave one at China Ranch and drive the other to Tecopa, California and park where there's public parking behind the post office. From here, hike south following the trail. Mostly you'll hike on the railroad bed of the T&T Railroad (Tonopah and Tidewater) bed as it follows the Amargosa River through the canyon. At places, the trail leaves thew railroad bed and makes wide arcs on the east side of the trail. After 5 miles, you'll reach the turnoff for China Ranch and where the spur from the T&T was built to bring gypsum from the mines above the ranch from the Morrison Siding. Along the way through the canyon from Tecopa, you'll see areas with barbed wire. This is where horses and cattle were fenced in to keep them off the railroad tracks. You will see no track. The railroad stopped operating in 1940 and the rails were pulled up and used for World War II needs. About a mile and a half from the Ranch, there's a turnoff to the west (right) and this leads to a little waterfall on the river. Beyond this about 1/4 mile, there's another turnoff--again to the west--that leads to a slot canyon that is blocked by a huge chockstone. Both side trails have signs but they have faded a lot over the years. When you almost reach the 90º bend in the river, the trail goes up a hill and heads east (left) toward the ranch. Before going up the hill, take time to look at the wood left from when this was where the gypsum was loaded onto ore cars over 100 years ago. Follow the trail from here to China Ranch. On this last bit, you'll come to a building. My first photo of this building is from 2005. The building was called the Tuff Building and the sign that was there said it was first a bar and then an assay house. The building was supposed to have been repaired that years. 1w2 years later, another portion has fallen over including the concrete piece from the doorway with the 1903 construction date in the concrete. I'm sure when I hike here next year, the rest of the southerly wall will be down too! What a shame! There are several hikes. After this 6.5 mile hike, you'll want to have a date shake and perhaps some date cookies. You earned them. On another day(s), you can explore the other trails in China Ranch. After your shake, take the car you left at the ranch and ride back to Tecopa to get the one where you started your hike. This is the way to see almost the entire canyon.

I recently visited Goodsprings because I wanted more day trip options from Henderson outside of the…read moreusual haunts (e.g., national parks and nearby towns/cities in NV, UT, CA, & AZ). I found this trail on the AllTrails app, and it seemed perfect for a Sunday hike (when I typically do shorter hikes to recover from my epic Saturday adventures). While I ended up visiting on a rather drab and dull day with overcast skies, I still spent almost two hours on the trail when I easily could have done the 2-mile hike in 45 minutes to an hour. Highlights included: HISTORY: First of all, Goodsprings is an inhabited ghost town. While the town itself is filled with lots of fascinating Old West history, the interpretive signs along the trail were top tier. I learned about: - The Old Spanish Trail - Carole Lombard's plane crash - The unique geology of the mountains - Mining & minerals abundant in the area - Natural springs - Early inhabitants of Goodsprings - The significance of trains & railroads AN INCREDIBLE SUNSET: I saw one of the most dramatic sunsets as the sun turned the mountains strawberry red right before my eyes. I'm sure the gray skies contributed to this phenomenon, so I'll keep that in mind for future wintry gray day adventures. :) THE TRAIL IS USER FRIENDLY: The trail is wide, easy to navigate, well-maintained, and there are clear markers throughout the entire trail. Translation: the trail is beginner friendly. | There is also a bathroom at the trailhead along with covered picnic tables. Translation: this trail is great for multigenerational families and has space to accommodate those who would prefer to read or play board games instead of going hiking with friends, family members, and other companions.

This trail opened almost three years ago. I hiked it a month after its dedication. Two us decided…read moreto hike the trail on January 2, 2020 to start out the new year with a good hike. This hike in Goodsprings, Nevada, is 2.25 miles total if you take the longest segments of the trail. The town of Goodsprings had a population of 229 from the 2010 census. The theme for the trail is the mining that took place in this area in the 1900s. About 4 miles from the trail, there are many abandoned mines in the Yellow Pine Mining District. We have visited many of them. At the trailhead, there's a picnic table in a covered area, restrooms, and a map of the trails. You can do an easy loop or you can take the harder loop that goes to the highpoint of the ridge behind the trail. The two of us decided to do the harder loop which leaves from the right side of the pavilion and goes along a dirt road that goes to the abandoned mining district. The trail gradually ascends. There is a fork in the trail where you can loop back to the parking lot and have a short hike. Keeping along the "main" trail, the Yellow Pine Railroad Trail, you come to some railroad tied placed as they would have been when the railroad ran along here bringing ore from the mines to Goodsprings. Then there's a replica of a train car decorating a bridge over a wash. From here, the trail keeps heading west and then loops around and you start the upward hiking to the highpoint. At the top, you have some good views of the mountains in the area and a view of Goodsprings. This is a different trail name and you hike along the top of the ridge. At the far end of this section, the trail heads back to the parking area and it's downhill. We saw no animals. The prevailing flora is typical desert with some cacti, Joshua trees, and creosote bushes. This is a good, trail to do in our Covid-19 era. We passed one person on the hike--not bad at all. You can do the full 2.5 mile loop either clockwise or counter clockwise. I suggest counter clockwise. Enjoy and happy hiking!

This is a moderate 2.6 out and back trail right off Kyle Canyon Road. Easy to drive by but map it…read moreand you should end at the parking area. The hike ascends up a bank and into a creek bed. You will climb up the creek bed until you see an old mining trail off to your left. Get on this trail for an easier hike. The All Trails app states the elevation gain is about 583 feet, I say it is closer to 700 feet. This trail reminded me of a mini Trail Canyon Trail as a lot of uphill in the beginning with not too much leveling out. Lots of pretty wildflowers to view and I even saw a mushroom growing. You will continue to climb till you see a tall tree with the name of the mining company nailed to it. Head right to view the mines. As you climb, you will notice the trail becomes more lush and green due to the water trickling down. After winter I am sure this becomes a stream. Climb up the granite and off to your left you will see the first mine. All barred up so no going in, but you can still look inside and see where the water is coming from. Lots of rocks and logs laying inside as well. Keep heading up and the grade becomes suddenly much steeper. Lots of scree to maneuver up and then some more granite to climb over to get to the second mine. Gloves would come in handy right about now. Again this mine is also barred off but this mine is completely dry. It looks like it could be fun to explore if it was open but glad both of these mines are closed as someone would most likely get hurt. Along the trail you will see debris leftover from the mining days like old tram buckets or carts, old cans and containers all rusted from the weather. I am not sure what was mined up here other than maybe ore or other minerals?? I looked up both the name listed on the tree and Stanley B and found no information. On the way down the trail can get tricky and we ended up coming down what appeared to be a road about 200 yards from where our car was parked. It was cool to discover these old mines hidden high up in the Spring Mountains and another great workout! Outside is the place to be for me on my days off!

The open mines have been closed with bat gates so there's no exploring. This reduces the danger of…read moresomeone getting trapped in an abandoned mine. It is still a great hike.

Easy 5 minute detour just past the Chevron and we find a little town gem here! Basically they are…read morecaverns carved from miners in the 1920s and people lived there til the 70s. From Highway 127, there's an unpaved road that leads past the cemetery next to Chevron. After the Cemetery, there's a small spot to park. A lot of the homes are locked (Probably cause of vandals, anyways it seems like the locals are taking care of this place), though you can look in through the windows. Apparently some people took refuge here in cave #7 from Charles Manson after they found that that they were targeted next by him. Nice place for some creative photo ops, but definitely a place to check when passing through!

Gayle and I took a morning walk through Dublin Gulch (past the cemetery) and enjoyed the various…read moreminer-carved caverns that also provided home spaces well into the 70s and beyond. It's an easy stroll, and I found peering into these abodes to be fascinating.

We went on a windy day and although the views are great, the wind was not. We parked at the casino…read moreand they have a nice little trailhead that's well marked. Overall, I would recommend the trail but not when it's windy. It also provides little areas of shade so super hot days are probably not the best either. This trail does have areas of higher traffic. It also has so incline to it.

Semi tough trail and climb. Can get windy and extremely cold. Check the weather and dress…read moreappropriately. I definitely brought my water back pack and did it's job. We climbed to the radar tower and the climb down is worst. Knees hurt but the remedy is Blueberry Hill pancakes. After 6 miles...it was worth is. Bring a group but at-least 3-4 people to help motivate each other. Try it!