Mt. Charleston, Las Vegas
Mount Charleston is the highest mountain of the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada, approximately 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas. It is Nevada’s eighth highest mountain peak, and is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, as well as the Mount Charleston Wilderness Area and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Well separated from higher peaks by large, low basins, it is the most topographically prominent peak in Nevada, and the eighth most prominent peak in the contiguous United States.In the summer, when it is over 100 in Las Vegas, it is usually only 80 degrees in the mountains. In the winter, the mountains offer Las Vegans a gentle reminder of what snow actually looks and feels like. To get there, take State Highway 95 north to Highway 157 at the Kyle Canyon cutoff. Then turn south into the mountains. As you drive into the mountains you will notice 2 things. It gets cooler and the environment around you changes from desert to forest.
There are several areas of Mount Charleston for you to enjoy. Kyle Canyon is where you find Mount Charleston Hotel, Mount Charleston Lodge and Resort, Mount Charleston National Recreational trail, and the residential villages of Rainbow, Old Town and Echo Canyon. Lee Canyon is the home of the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort. Deer Creek is a pass that connects Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon, and is where you can see the Nevada Test Site and some of the oldest trees in the world, the Bristlecone Pine.
Mount Charleston is a great place to get away from the business and the lights of Vegas (and they do grow on you!) It takes between 40 minutes and a hour to get there. It is the big mountain you can see from the strip. Once you get to the top, the hotel/resort sits about 9,000+ feet high. Be careful, it gets cold sometimes! We came from the Strip which was in the seventies and by the time we got up most of the mountain, it was snowing hard.
Anciant Bristlecone Pine
Earth’s oldest living inhabitant “Methuselah” at 4,767 years, has lived more than a millennium longer than any other tree. Discover how these trees were found and where they live. Learn of their unique strategies for survival. The focus will be on the White-Inyo mountain range of California.
Camping
Mount Charleston offers 6 campgrounds which are open May 1 through mid-September. Camping is limited to 5 days and is $10 per night for single-family sites and $20 for group sites. Site facilities include either a barbecue grill or open fire ring. Restrooms, drinking fountains and picnic tables are on site. Campsites are available on a first-come, first served basis. Call (800) 280-2267 for more information.
Directions:
To get to hiking trails that lead into the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area, take Nevada State Highway 95 to State Route 157 west. Travel approximately 17 miles to access the South Loop, Trail Canyon, and Fletcher Canyon Trails. To get to the Griffith Peak Trail take the Harris Springs Road south off of State Route 157. Travel on the Harris Springs road to Forest Road 104. The terminus of Forest Road 104 is the beginning of the Griffith Peak Trail. To access the North Loop Trail, take State Route 158 north from State Route 157.
