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.

Beautiful hike where if you go all the way way to the canyon it gets even quieter at the end…read more The canyon part does have some rock scrambling. Came in early February and there were some spots with snow and ice. Parts with ice can be slick so be careful. Beautiful views, nice trail, and pretty scenery all around. There is a bathroom in the parking lot.

Great trail, lot of variety and mostly along the creek/canyon bed that narrows to a lot canyon…read morewhere you have to do some bouldering and pull yourself up in places. We had several patches of snow towards the end in mid March but that made it fun, hiking poles were a bit helpful in the snowy areas. There were also a few small waterfalls from the snow melt. Suggest wearing good boots for traction any time of the year.

First of all, many thanks to Christie L. for extensively researching this hike and setting up a…read moregroup event for us to scale this highest peak in Vegas! We went on a great fall day, and it's definitely a bucket list hike to set out to accomplish while living in the valley. As always, safety first. Note that you will need a high clearance 4WD vehicle (such as a Jeep) to get to the trailhead. Take more water than you think you will need and pack snacks or a lunch to eat at the summit. Our group agreed that hiking boots with good traction would be better for the terrain than sneakers. If you don't have good trail-finding skills, I suggest you go with someone who does, because there are times where it's difficult to follow but it is the best route. On the trail, keep an eye out for the silvery Cholla cactus, endemic to this area. I work out regularly and still found this hike to be more intense than I'd expected, partly due to the difficulty finding the trail but moreso due to the ever-changing terrain (from rocky to slippery slate to sandy to volcanic and back) and the steepness of the route. Going up, we took several breaks and went off trail, taking 4 hours to ascend, but the trail was more easily found on the way down and we took virtually no breaks and made it in 2 hours. Between 3 different fitness trackers, we got distances between 8-9 miles rather than the 6.5 round-trip stated on Bird & Hike. This is a challenging hike to undertake, but the views are incredible- you can see Lake Mead to the south and the grid-layout city view of Vegas is comparable to what you see from a plane. Many thanks again to Christie & Co for planning, navigating, and including me on this great hike!

Do you see that tower at the top of the mountain north of the valley? That's where you'll find Gass…read morePeak. You may or may not be able to see the tower easily but trust me it's there. I think there's even a few blinking lights that's visible at night. The peak lines up almost directly with the Strip so you can easily see the farthest east and farthest west edges of the valley from the top. Getting to the trailhead requires you to do some off-roading a few miles in the middle of the Desert Wildlife Wildlife Refuge. Using a 4x4 vehicle isn't required but it certainly helps and makes it easier. You don't want to be stuck out there. I probably could've made it with my non-4x4 SUV. The hike itself can get difficult because a number of things but it's not extremely difficult. I would do a few easier hikes to prepare for this one especially if you haven't done a hike for a while. There is no shade so it can be hazardous on windy, sunny, or rainy days. There are parts of the trail that disappear. There are also parts of the trail that are steep or slippery where if you were to lose your balance or footing you'd get severely hurt. But for most parts the hike is just hiking or walking on an incline. I've read different info on how long the hike is so I'll just say it's at least 6 miles so you'll probably going to be out there for a few hours especially if you take lots of breaks, breaks are a good thing. Make sure you write your name in the notebook at the top or not. I'd do this hike again. I kind of want to know how the view is at night or at sunrise or sunset.

This place has been a go to for great hikes near home! It not much to look at and you've probably…read moredriven by it plenty of times but once you get out on some of the interesting trails it becomes clear that there is beauty in the desert in the hills. The wife and I frequently walk on these trails for the work and boy does it work you out! Sometimes we run the trails, if we really feel like punishing ourselves. With trails like Toque, middle earth, the verbs, and Jenny from the block, you can easily get a 5 to 6 mile workout in on these trails and if you feel up to it you can scale to the top from a trail on the back side. I also take my Mountain bike up on some of these trails for some good fast fun coming down. It's a lot of good fun if you like this kind of stuff.

Funny thing about this magnificent trail is that i found it on Yelp! Its literally at the very top…read moreof Alexander and a very close to Mi Casa. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead along with covered picnic tables and restrooms at the trailhead. We knew the trail wraps around the backside of the mountain so once we stepped foot on the trail, we beared to the right and headed NW. I wore my fit bit and can tell you our round trip from beginning to end was right at 10,000 steps. We took several water & photo op breaks along the way so maybe 2-3 hours. We are slow pokes and proud of it. The weather today could not have been any more perfect. About a 5 mile loop today. Speaking of photo ops, the scenary on this trail is breathtaking! All the rain we had these past 8 weeks made much of the entire mountain ( especially the south facing side ) covered in wild flowers! Everyone talks about driving to the Mojave Desert or Death Valley to see the wild flowers. Heck, stay in town and hit up this trail. Many species of cactus and Yucca trees. My favorite is the red barrel cactus. This trail is AAA +++. Bring the kids and have your own adventure on the backside of the mountain away from the hustle & bustle of the city. The front half of the trail runs behind a office building complex along Cliff Shadows parkway. I am already looking forward to my next hike back here. Of course, bring hiking poles, a hat, sunglasses, plenty of water. This is the time of year to hit it before the dreaded summer heat kicks in. Lace up your hiking shoes and have at it!

I've hiked the Bonanza Trail twice and don't plan to do it again. It's a strenuous hike of about…read more10 miles round trip to the summit and back. To get to the trailhead, you have to drive US 95 north past the two roads that lead to Kyle and lee Canyons at Mount Charleston. You turn left where the sign says Cold Creek. The road goes between the two prisons along US 95. Drive west about 10 miles to the village of Cold Creek. The last section of the road is rough and it's best to have a high clearance vehicle. There is a parking area at the trailhead and a group camping area. From here, you go cross a meadow for about a half a mile to get to the first of many, many switchbacks. One website says there are 80 switchbacks. The elevation gain makes the hiking tough. Part way up the switchbacks, you'll come to an old burn area and you can see how the forest has tried to recover. None of the large trees are growing much and it will take a long time. After what seems an interminable hike, you reach the saddle. From the saddle, the trail heads south in the direction of Mount Charleston. The Bristlecone Trail in Lee Canyon is only 8 miles down the trail. As you start toward the limestone peak to the left of the trail, there is a small use trail that goes to the peak. If you get to the cairn in one of my photos, you've gone a little too far but you can get to the summit from there. From the saddle, as the trail heads south, find a spot where you can head to the left and get on top of the limestone cliffs. If you go left too soon, you'll have a climb up the cliffs. If you stay more to the right, you'll be able to get to the summit without any climbing. I used my GPS unit to find the summit. Once at the summit, it's time for a well deserved rest and a chance to enjoy the view. Find the ammo box and sign the register. There is cell phone coverage for almost the entire hike so doing it alone is not a problem. After your rest, retrace your steps. This is a different trail for another reason. It's one of the few trails I hike in the Spring Mountains that you can see the parking lot for a good part of the hike. That's interesting but not essential information. I would not recommend this hike on a windy day. The winds at the summit can be fierce and you'll be fighting your way up the mountain. If you do this hike, take plenty of water, wear good hiking boots, and a GPS unit for finding the summit is always a good idea. Happy hiking!

Trailhead is located in the small town of Cold Creek, about an hour or so from Vegas (depending on…read morewhat end of town you are coming from). You are almost guaranteed to see wild horses every time you drive up the road to Cold Creek, so be careful, drive slow and let them pass. This is great hike to get in shape for Mt. Charleston Peak or any other peaks around there. It will def put you in check. It's all trail, well maintained, there are a few spot where you will need to climb over a tree stump that hasn't been cleared off my Forest Service just yet, but it's all Class I trail, no scrambling at all. There are 80 switchbacks, yes 80, although the elevation club is only 3000 feet of elevation climb, you definitely feel your heart beating and your lungs doing double time in certain areas. This trail is easy to follow, you will reach a false peak about halfway to the top, and about a third of the way to the top, when you reach your very first DOWNWARD switchback, do not follow the trail, look up towards your left, you will see a cairn, that is the trail you need to follow. This other trail will take you all the way to Lee Canyon, which is another 10 miles. Once you are at the peak, you have a great view of Mt. Charleston Peak, you can see down into Pahrump, and to the East you can see to the other side of the I-15. I've done this hike twice, I don't plan on doing it again. My hamstring tendon was killing me for about two weeks after due to the 80 switchbacks downhill. Quick stats 10 miles RT 3000 feet elevation gain Strenuous Bring 2-3 L of water Sunscreen, even though it's usually 20 degrees cooler than Vegas, and it's mostly a shaded trail, the sun is still hitting you on most of the trail. Bring a lightweight windbreaker, it can get windy at the peak. PS. The last mile or so of the road that leads up to the trailhead is not paved and very rocky, definitely not accessible with a low profile vehicle, If you don't have a 4 wheel drive or HCV, you can park and walk, it will just add a few miles to the hike.

After hiking at Cathedral Rock Trail, we decided to hike Robber's Roost Trail. It is a 0.5 mile…read moreheavily trafficked loop trail located in Mt. Charleston. Directions from Las Vegas: Travel north on U.S. Highway 95, then take State Route 157 west., then transfer onto State Route 158. Travel 3.2 miles north on State Route 158 (Deer Creek Road) from State Route 157 (Kyle Canyon Road). On the right is a parking area and the trailhead is on the left. This hiking is best from March until September. The trail is a short loop trail that climbs up a canyon to a couple of caves. It then winds through a forest of pinion pines and mountain mahogany before returning back to the main trail.  It has an interesting history. Legend has it that Robber's Roost was a hideout for bandits during the days of the old Mormon Trail. The caves not only offered shelter, but also an excellent vantage point for spotting would-be attackers. We saw rock climbers. The hike ends at a cliffhanger and caves but if you're experienced you can go on and up over the caves.

Up on the Robbers Roost Trail Mother Nature takes away stress, sadness, and negatively and roosts…read morethe hiker with joy, energy, and a relaxed state of mind. The Robbers Roost Trail is a half mile hike that delivers the hikers a million miles to an exalted state in the stratosphere. Literally it is up in the stratosphere. The Robbers Roost Trailhead sits off Deer Creek Road at an elevation of 7,870 feet. To give you an idea of how high up it is, is to compare it to downtown Las Vegas which is at an elevation of 2,030 feet. If the Stratosphere is 1,149 feet high at a 3,179 elevation then the Robbers Roost Trailhead is 4,961 feet higher than the Stratosphere. At this high elevation, it could take the body time to adjust after climbing approximately 6,000 feet on a 25 minute ride from the Kyle Canyon Road turnoff at US 95. On the course of the hike there is an additional elevation gain of 180 feet that tops off at 8,050 feet at the slot canyon. This nature Wonderland up in the stratosphere is in the Spring Mountains (Mount Charleston) off Deer Creek Road between Fletcher Peak and the North Loop Trailhead. Headed north on Deer Creek Road from Kyle Canyon the parking lot will be on the right. From the small trailhead that lacks a restroom, the trail crosses Deer Creek Road. Immediately it enters the pine forest bordering Deer Creek Road. From the start of the trail the limestone cliffs are visible above the Juniper pine trees. The reward of this loop trail are the large and small cave intruding into the limestone cliffs, the slot canyon, and mesmerizing vista of the heavily pine forested Hills reaching toward Angel Peak. The trail gains elevation as it reaches 8,050 feet. The landscape gradually changes from Juniper pine to desert Mahagony and pine fir. In mid September there was a magnificent wildflower bloom. As the elevation climbs up; rocks are the stepping stones to the top of the steps. On the way up, it intersects with a trail to the left. This is the end of the loop. Continuing up the canyon narrows and the vistas become more breathtaking with each step. Pine forested slopes interspersed with wildflowers reach toward the troposphere. Up above woodpeckers hammer away on pinetrees while Mount Charleston chipmunks harvest for food below. Eventually the trail tops off by the slot canyon and caves. I have been all over Mount Charleston. I have to say that this spot is one of the most meditative places to be in the moment. A beautiful moment. The colossal rocks make for nature chairs to sit back and relax. The slot canyon creates a mini ecosystem that seemed to be cooler. When I looked up at the cascading rock facings, rock climbers were in action. Robbers Roost is a rock climbing destination. As a matter of fact the north facing has rings used for rock climbing. At the bottom of the north facing is the large cave that is accessible with some scrambling. To the left of the north facing is a slot canyon that blocks out the sunlight. Further left of the slot canyon is the South facing with the small cave. Down below is the majestic view of the pine forest. I see the Spring Mountains as a nature Disneyland. When there is a legendary tale about an area in it, I will suspend disbelief to appreciate the place more. Whether or not it really happened legend has it that at this meditative spot, Mexican bandits used it as a hideaway in the Pioneer Era. In the caves that hikers explore today, the story goes that these bandits stole from travelers along the Mormon Trail and horded the stolen goods in these caves. Who doesn't like a good story whether or not it's fact or fiction. Moreover, who doesn't like a good hike? From this point, the hike continues downhill. Past the small cave the trail topography changes from rocky to a smoother surface as it transitions back into the Juniper pine tree forest. A switchback gently carries the trail to the junction. At the junction, a right turn leads back to the trailhead. I hiked two laps on the hike. The time to hike this minus breaks is between 30 to 45 minutes. This is a hike with the potential to extend to hours. The trailhead parking lot also serves the Showgirl trail system with miles of trails through pine forests reaching all the way to Kyle Canyon Road and the Visitor Center.

A nice little loop trail for locals (this is not a tourist destination). There are plenty of…read morebenches so you can walk a bit, sit and relax in nature, and then keep walking. I love reading here. There is also a little gazebo halfway down the trail, but I wish they had a table or two in it instead of more benches. This would be a nice spot to eat lunch! The trail is within biking distance of me and has an unprotected bike lane running to it. I requested a bike rack for this reason, and they actually installed one this year! Yay! One thing that could be improved is connectivity. There is a large stretch of road running to the trail with no sidewalk? There is a senior living community right next door that has no walking access to the trail, which I think is a shame.

This trail is underwhelming as it seems it was built for the affluent people living around the…read moretrail. Its just one big circle and nothing amazing. This place is nice for dogs. The have cute paw prints and its dessert like theme depresses me. The people that walk this trail don't say hi or smile.

It is absolutely stunning over here! This is the second time I've hiked this and I love it…read more It's about a 35 minute drive from the strip. There is an entry fee of $22 but they do have a discount for military. You can also make reservations online. There's plenty of parking and the entry fee includes a scenic drive as well. Make sure you come early to beat the heat and don't forget your water. Do I recommend this hike? Absolutely! What are you waiting for.

Second time here. It is impossible to tire of this magnificent feat of nature…read more The trails are "fairly" arduous but I managed to do them with my two fake knees. This is a spiritual and sacred place.