Nice hike with a partially shaded trail that ends up with some rock scrambling. Be prepared to walk…read moreover a lot of rocks on this hike (that is basically the challenge of it). When it rains, there is a waterfall in the back of the canyon that is lovely. Otherwise, its still pretty with dramatic rocks and some nice views. The parking lot is small, so plan accordingly to get a parking spot before your hike. Sometimes it's a challenge.

My local friend took me on this amazing hike when temps were hovering 100 degrees. The canyon is…read moremostly shaded and there was nice scrambling to the top. Not much water due to the lack of rain, but I didn't know what was at the end of the trail and I was absolutely amazed when I found out. Spectacular and so unexpected. Trailhead has limited partaking and when we left there were people waiting. Please come and create your own adventure.

The trail is washed away and is no longer accessible. They have yet to fix this. Also, all of the…read moresurrounding picnic areas are closed so there's really nowhere to stop for a picnic table.

What a great little hike!…read more I took my two littles, ages 2 and 4 on this little paved hike. Since it is paved, a person can easily bring a stroller or wheelchair on it and during this hike, we saw plenty of them as it is a popular hike for families and groups due to the abundance of picnic tables you can use throughout the hike. The parking lot for the trailhead is on the opposite side of the street. The parking lot is one of the larger ones and there are bathrooms available there as well. Once you cross the street, you will then be on the paved path that walks parallel to the street for a good block or so and then it veers off, slightly downhill, into the forest. There are numbered picnic tables along the hike so it is super easy to bring snacks or lunch and have a picnic. I didn't see any trash cans so PLEASE be sure to pack up your trash and take it back to you. I saw plenty of wheeled coolers and ice chests so you could definitely pack one of those in as well. Mid-hike there were also little forts that have been built (which is fun for the kids - one even has a table inside) and another set of bathrooms. There is also a very small creek that runs along the path, When we were there it did start to rain very hard so we ended up staying on the paved path as the small creek was starting to get larger in size and we didn't have a change of shoes for the kids. Overall - a nice, easy hike for anyone in a wheelchair or stroller. You could pack a lunch and spend a good amount of your day there exploring and taking in the beautiful scenery.

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.

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.

Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail is inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area…read morewhich is about 21 miles from downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. USA, baby! Not a five star experience for the simple fact that the trail was not clearly marked. I mean, come on, this was created for children. Adults need to be present, but I'm the kind of parent that encourages my kids to figure out stuff on their own. Kind of hard when there are areas that look like the trail, but they weren't. For that matter, snap a photo of the map before you head down the 0.6 mile loop. Other than that, the trail is super easy for active kids. Mine hustled me through it in about 30 minutes. Lol. The elevation does not get incredibly steep, but if you're carrying other children it might get slightly to moderately difficult for a short while. Nothing too dangerous. My kiddos loved walking over the boardwalk, pretending to be mountain lions in a cave-like area, staring up at the colorful rocks, throwing rocks in the dry arroyo, reading some of the trail info, and pretending to slide down a slick bedroom-sized rock formation. The waterfall and creek was bone dry when we were there on 6/8/21. The weather was in the upper 90s. Parking is free and plentiful with your pass into Red Rock. There are restrooms near the lot.

With this PLANdemic going on. We try to stay busy, and made sure that our little 1 1/2 year old…read moregets his outdoor time to burn energy off. I was looking for a good hiking trail that was kid friendly, and I stumbled upon this. It is located in the Red Rock conservation area. There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle. Which isn't bad since it is 13 miles of scenic drive/area. We definitely enjoyed this hike.It took us about an 1hr to 1 1/2hr to finish the trail, and that was with our little boy and our puppy. We only took one snack break, and our little boy walked most of it (with a little bribery with a lollipop ). The hike has enough shade, so it wasn't too hot. I love how it wasn't too steep, so it wasn't scary for our little one. The hike had enough scenery, and we definitely enjoyed it. I heard there's a small waterfall, and pond, but we weren't able to see it due to it being dried out. Lots of trees and plants for kids to see and enjoy. Just like any hike. Bring a backpack with snacks and water, wear sunscreen, and comfortable shoes and clothing. It is such a super easy hike. We will definitely do this again.

It's a lovely hike through the trees. I read online that if you lose a trail and are lost just look…read morefor mummy mountain and walk towards it. It is on the other side of Lee Canyon Road and you can get back to the parking lot from there! Here's a link to the info. https://lasvegasareatrails.com/sawmill-loop-sawmill-trailhead-lee-canyon-nevada/

My Fiancé and I went to Mount Charleston to go on a hike and came across this one. When you're…read moredriving up toward Lee Canyon, it is on the right side. It's a super easy hike that loops around. It's about 1.3 miles round trip. If you're looking for a short and easy hike for your family and dogs, this hike is for you. There is also a picnic area where you can have lunch after your hike. There are also restrooms in the gravel parking area.

There are two main trails to the summit of Mt Charleston: South Loop, and...you guessed it...North…read moreLoop. They are both wonderful, but comparing is apples to oranges. What I love about South Loop trail is its diversity. From parking lot to summit, you will experience: - tight switchbacks with towering cliffs around you in the first couple miles - aspen groves - trees rooted to rockface and seemingly to defy gravity, growing and thriving - dense pine forest with pinecones and silly rodents and deer - a beautiful high meadow with wind-swaying grass and wildflowers - the eerie yet beautiful skeletal remains of burnt trees from the 2013 Carpenter wildfire - high-elevation traverses with a southwestward view of the Pahrump valley west of Vegas - and finally a moonscape-esque, barren, shale-covered final pitch to the summit, with its magnificent 360-degree view of the entire Vegas-and-surrounding valleys. Common hiker questions: Is it worth the day-long hike? Yes. Are there water sources along the way? No. BE PREPARED. It can be hot and exposed and you'll spend many hours up there, and in fall and winter it can be quickly freezing with precipitation. Dogs allowed? Yes. Cats? Sure, why not. Enjoy! A highlight of visiting Las Vegas and getting off the gd Strip.

This trail is one of two trails you can use to reach the Mount Charleston Summit and Griffith Peak…read more It is easy to access right off the highway and the trail is beautiful, challenging, strenuous, and a fantastic work out. Total mileage gained from this hike out and back is 16.1 miles. Initially the trail starts off at an easy pace, but then heads east and the climbing begins. As you ascend you can hear in the distance Springs Fork which one of many springs on Mt Charleston. There are many switchbacks to climb all the way to the top. As you reach the top of Echo Cliffs, this is a great place to stop and take a break. Maybe have a little snack and enjoy the view of Cathedral Rock, Mummy Mountain and Kyle Canyon. As you move on, the switchbacks continue and the landscape changes into more of a meadow. As you approach the top, Griffith Peak comes into view which makes the last steep steps easier to handle. Your elevation at this point is 10,700 feet. Now at the saddle, you have two choices to either veer left towards Griffith Peak or head right to continue the climb to Mt. Charleston. As you head towards the summit, the hike is not as challenging as you are hiking through a gorgeous meadow which is a great spot to camp should you feel the desire. Once you leave the meadow area, you will be hiking along the ridge line and begin to climb again all the way to the summit of 11,916 feet. Be aware there is a false peak to the left. Don't be confused by this peak, it is not the summit. The view at the summit is phenomenal and you can see so many places such as Pahrump, Lake Mead on a really clear day, Sandy Valley and of course the rest of the Spring Mountains. This is also the highest peak in Southern Nevada. Should you opt to go left and hike Griffith Peak (11,064 feet), not as high as Mt. Charleston this peak still offers some amazing views. South Loop Trail is really an incredible hike with a great cardio workout thrown in and a sense of accomplishment when it is all over. Remember this trail is rated as difficult so make sure you have the strength and the gusto to complete it. Check it out!