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Mount Charlston Las Vegas Road Trip |
| Towering 11,000
feet above the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and just 40
minutes from the clanking slot machines and swoosh of the roller
coasters high above the Strip, Mount Charleston, formally named
Charleston Peak, offers visitors an abundance of winter activities
as well as cool place to except the Mojave Desert’s summer
heat.
Fresh air and silence is what you will find atop the state's eighth highest mountain peak situated northwest of Las Vegas. Soaring juniper, Aspen and Ponderosa pine trees, and animals such as wild burros, deer and squirrels, make Mount Charleston feels a million miles away from the city. Unless your visit is strictly for skiing or snowboarding, Kyle Canyon will most likely occupy most of your visit. It the most popular destination within the Spring Mountain Resort boundary and it’s where the Mount Charleston Hotel and Lodge can be found, as well as Kyle Canyon Campground. The lodge is a full service hotel with an onsite restaurant and information center for those seeking a more modern refuge without giving up the outdoorsy feel entirely. If you want a bit more rustic feel to your trip, there are some neat little cabins at Mount Charleston Lodge. Each cabin comes with a spacious outdoor deck and a fireplace. |
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Mount Charleston |
| Then there is Kyle
Canyon Campground. The natural beauty of this primitive campground
is enchanting, and you can get some real life wilderness experiences
in the great outdoors here. There’s also golf, hiking, horseback
riding as well as boating, fishing, and a library. The Mount Charleston Library is worth a visit upon arrival, and is housed in a rustic cabin and staffed by only one librarian. Here visitors can pick up area trail map as well as obtain information about upcoming local attractions, including murder mystery dinners, concerts at the hotel or local guided and unguided nature hikes. And when it comes to hiking, nothing beats the Mount Charleston National Recreation Trail. A difficult 7-mile-in-length backcountry track that has a difference in elevation of 3,065 feet and takes more or less one and a half days to traverse collectively. So bring your backpack and bedroll and be prepared to sleep under a canopy of stars if you try to compete the journey all at once. First up is the Charleston Peak Trail North Loop. An outstanding backwoods trail that gains nearly 3,000 feet in elevation over it 5.2-mile span. Even the best hikers will need one day to walk the Charleston Peak Trail North Loop. If you’re ready to tackle an even more grueling challenge, then Cathedral Rock Trail is an explorer’s delight. Taking an average of three and a half hours, the Cathedral Rock Trial is backpacking at its best, as it winds its way up nearly 1,600 feet in elevation in just three short but steep miles. There are several switchbacks along the trail, making this an intermediate climb. Also accessible from the Cathedral Rock parking area is the pair of trails that lead to Little Falls and Mary Jane Falls. Both are well taken care of and travel through narrow canyons and through a series of switchbacks to where the seasonal falls reside. In the winter to spring there is still a fair amount of runoff from the melting snows on Mount Charleston to create a stunning sight. Little Falls is a beginner trail approximately one mile round trip, while Mary Jane Falls is a bit steeper and is three miles round trip, and features a cave. Both trails are kid-friendly. |
Camping Kyle Canyon Mount Charleston |
Mount Charleston from State Route 157 |
| But if hiking is not your hobby of choice, you’re in luck. And if you’ve come to play in the snow, a trip to Lee Canyon is where you will find the Las Vegas ski and snowboard resort. Open from Thanksgiving to Easter every season, Las -Vegas Ski gets 10 feet of fantastic powder annually. With 70-acres of skiable territory, there’s fun for all skill levels. There are four lifts serving 11 runs, from beginner to expert. Lee Canyon can be reached directed from highway 95 or by the Lee Canyon Road, which connects with Kyle Canyon Road. The road provides some spectacular views of Mount Charleston and some good vista points to stop and admire the heavenly scenery. This area is less popular than Kyle Canyon and is a good place to go and leave the crowds behind of Las Vegas. There are some hiking trails out here as well, but they are less developed than those found near Kyle Canyon. So, the next time you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, a short drive to Mount Charleston may just be the recipe to rejuvenate your spirit. The Mount Charleston Scenic Byway is made up of three state highways: Lee Canyon Road (State Route 156), a portion of Charleston Park road (State Route 157) in Kyle Canyon, and Deer Creek Road (State Route 158). Article by Matthew Martz |
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