Close to Vegas perfect place in hot summer to cool down beautiful wildlife peaceful campgrounds read more

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Griffith Peak is only the 3rd highest peak in Southern Nevada. Don't get scared. The hike isn't too bad and it's worth it considering the view you get. If anything the distance is what makes this hike difficult. I don't know the exact distance but time wise it took us about 3 hours each way going at a decent speed with short breaks when needed. Most of the hike is shaded from traveling under tree coverage or between the mountains. There are also a lot of switchbacks and the incline isn't really too steep except for maybe the very bottom and very top. Along the hike, probably towards the middle, there's an overlook looking down at, I believe, Cathedral Rock or Echo Cliff. Be careful while along the edge cause it is a long way down. Near the top, there's a signage pointing you in the direction to Griffith Peak or Charleston Peak. You'll see that there was a huge fire once. The view from here is pretty nice but continue on towards the top of Griffith Peak to enjoy that view. There you'll find a box which I'm assuming there's some type of notepad to log that you made it up there. I was so busy enjoying the view I forgot to look inside. I'd diffently do this hike again. Who knows I might just decide to go to Charleston Peak when I reach the signage. Excellent hike. Being plenty of water with you to carry and leave some in car for after the hike. read more

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This was by far the hardest hike I've ever accomplished, and I'm so happy I made it! I took my dog and he was a trooper the whole time. I started out with just a plan to hike to Echo Overlook which is a little less than halfway to Griffith... but as we were taking a break, I noticed so many people walking past and going straight for Griffith Peak, so I decided to give it a try knowing that I could turn around at any point... and boy did I want to :) But we stuck it out and made it to the peak!! The views were incredible and breathtaking. I would love to go back and use it as training for the day I decide to do Charleston Peak.... read more

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Escape the heat of the valley here on Griffith Peak Trail. While everyone is heading to Cathedral Rock to the right, hang a left and follow the trail up. We love this trail for the views and the fact that it's not as crowded as other spots at Mount Charleston. Having said that, our last hike here a few weeks ago was the busiest I've experienced it as everyone else wanted to opt outside, too. I'm not gonna blame them because it is gorgeous here. You will definitely get a workout as you start to climb. There are spots that have stone steps to assist you as you ascend. Other parts of the trail are very narrow so I don't really recommend bringing small children unless you are super attentive to them; make sure you're holding their hands lest they fall down the side. If you have lots of hours and lots of stamina, this trail is one way to get to Charleston Peak, too. Whether you want to go all the way to the top or just get a few miles in and turn around, I highly recommend this trail for your outdoor pleasure. Just be sure to leave no trace! read more

Griffith Peak Trail - Stairways of stone - Hiking Near Me - Mount Charleston, Nevada

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Griffith Peak Trail - Mount Charleston, NV If you enjoy hikes that will test your fitness and reward you with a great view, then this is the hike for you. We recently hiked Griffith Peak via the South Loop. The trailhead starts at the Cathedral Rock parking and picnic area. Just follow the signs and the well-marked trail. Couple of reminders... *Leave no trace. Stay on the trail and pick up after yourself. *Bring enough hydration and snacks. *Wear comfortable clothing and proper shoes, preferably hiking boots w/support. The hike to the peak is 4.60 miles and took us 2 1/2 hours. The elevation gain, continuous incline, and overall distance made this hike a challenge. There is a lot of switchbacks, which helped a lot. But even some of the switchbacks are on a steep incline. Miles 1 and 2 from the trailhead offer great views of Kyle Canyon, Cat Rock, and Griffith Peak. We took mini breaks here to get rehydrated and even took a few photos. In my opinion, the hardest part of the hike is miles 3.60 to mile 4 because the incline gets even steeper and there's less shade. What makes this part of the hike even worse is the view of Griffith Peak. It looks so close, but it's still about a mile away. You'll reach the saddle at mile 4. Mile 4 is flat, shaded, and only .60 miles from the peak. From here, it's decision time. *Do we head back because we had enough? *Do finish what we started and head to Griffith Peak? *Do we completely lose our minds and head towards the Charleston Peak? We'll do the Charleston Peak on another day and heading back was out of the question. The hike to Griffith Peak from the saddle wasn't too difficult and there's plenty of switchbacks. Once at the peak, you're rewarded with some great views and a sense of accomplishment. Total elevation at the top is over 11,000 feet, which is a 3,000+ elevation gain from the trailhead. We Did It!! The hike down was a lot easier and took us about 20 minutes faster. It's so easy to take the hike back to the trailhead for granted. Just trace your steps, take your time, and be safe on the way down. Overall, I loved this hike for the challenge. It's a great warm-up for the Charleston Peak. Happy Hiking!!! read more

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Griffith Peak is a fitness challenge but also a beautiful hike in the Spring Mountains. We hiked all over the Spring Mountains this past summer prepping for our anniversary trip which included the completion of two out of state peaks. This was our last hike before our trip and it was so worth it. We have done the Charleston Peak but had never done this peak. It is most accessible by utilizing the South Peak trail. We parked in the Cathedral Rock parking lot and began our ascent. The trail starts out with a fairly aggressive climb. Be sure to start early as depending on your ability and how many stops you make, this trail takes a little time. It is approximately 9.7 miles round trip and elevation gain is approximately 3400 feet. Many downed trees in the avalanche chute that comes down from Griffith Peak so you will need to do a little maneuvering through this chute. We could also hear a small water fall flowing which we strained to see but could never see the opening. Once you are through this chute, you begin to wind your way up to the top. I believe there are a total of 33 switchbacks to the top and some of these are very long which is nice but by no means easy. You will hike through a forest of Ponderosa Pines and White Fir, and other assorted mountain shrubs. We stopped at a couple of overlooks for lunch and water breaks which had us looking down at Cathedral Rock and it looked so small. In addition we also viewed Charleston Peak and Kyle Canyon. Once you start up the last switchback, Griffith Peak comes into view. Once you reach the saddle, there is a little shade to share and then go left and head up to the peak. It starts out on a downhill ending with a fierce climb to the top. You are excited at this point since you are almost at the peak and your reward awaits you! At the top, the views are amazing. You can see the La Madre Range, the Las Vegas Valley, Charleston Peak, Mummy Mountain and the elevation is 11,060 feet. I could even view the range of mountains that I drive home towards every night from work. Funny, I now know what the back side of this range looks like. As we headed down, storm clouds gathered and we welcomed a summer rain that drenched us a little. So remember to always pack a rain poncho just in case along with the other essentials - plenty of water, a map, compass, sunscreen, food, and a first aid kit (small). Does is feel good at the top? You bet! We enjoyed this hike as much as Charleston Peak and it was only us at the top which was pretty cool too. Get up early and get outside! You will be glad you did this hike! read more

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This was my 1st time up this very strenuous trail up to 11,000 feet. From the very 1st step at Cathedral Rock trailhead, It's straight up and includes unbelievable scenary. Wildflowers are abundant along the trail.The view looking down at Cathedral Rock was surreal.There are sheer granite walls on both sides as you approach the 1st series of switchbacks, about 33 total. Its a huge difference when you hike it loaded down with sleeping bag, hammock, and other paraphernalia including water. At this point, its all about the weight of whats on your back, not to exceed over 10-15% of your total body weight. I recommend a minimum of 2-3 liters of water as there is zero water sources on the mountain. As i have learned, water is very heavy! This is great training for my 1st overnighter at Charleston Peak. I found myself delighted at the intermittent shady spots along the trail. The trail continues up through a canyon as it continues to ascend. The summer temps up here were perfect, mid 70s and up. Get here early to beat the heat. No campfires in the back wilderness. Met lots of great people on the trail. Cant wait to see the aspens turn to a shimmery golden color in the fall :-) read more

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This is probably the most challenging hike I've ever done. Last week we hiked Angel's Landing in Zion. Griffith Peak has lots of switchbacks and is very steep. My husband and I did it together along with another couple. We took it slow, and took a lot of breaks since my husband gets gout attacks and also has plantar fasciitis. It took us 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to the junction for the Charleston Peak trail. Then another 40 minutes to get to the peak. Enjoyed being able to see Red Rock Canyon, the strip, and Pahrump. It took us 3 hours to get back down to the parking lot. read more