My backyard is literally the La Sierra Mountian wilderness . Is just breathtaking!…read moreBeautiful spot to take a walk, run, bike and take the kids and your beloved pets . For a long hike , make sure you take water with you and always let some know where you going . Bring comfy shoes and enjoy nature to its best dont forget to check out the website for more info .

Amazing Park which is really well designed and staffed with super enthusiastic and informative…read moreRangers. Parking is available and has paved walkways to the restrooms and the museum. The restrooms are clean & well stocked. The museum is beautifully done with nice touches in the walls and metal work. Nice & cool inside after the heat outside with a small gift shop with a nice selection of stuff from t-shirts to stickers, books, etc. All reasonably priced. The information desk is staffed by Rangers, ours was a young lady Ranger who was extremely informative and helpful. We spoke about the trails, possible wildlife sightings and staying hydrated. The Visitor Center is full of information presented in displays that are well done & eye catching. There is a small theater with a short movie that talks about the area and the history of what and how different fossils were discovered. The trails are well marked, recommend sturdy shoes, and plenty of water - it was hot and even with shade areas brutal so start early and hydrate, hydrate and hydrate. There are informative displays throughout the park. There are also metal sculptures of what once roamed the very ground we walk on today. A fascinating place to visit and I definitely recommend.

A mammoth roamed here! Sure right!…read more Actually it's been proven right here where this ice age fossil museum stands. In the 1960s, "the big dig," took place. During the 1960s, an ancient site, this very site was a huge trench! They have made it so you can walk the original trench that was dug in the 1960s. It's actually a real trench . Now not a lot was found! But mammoths here in Vegas! It's because the area used to be a lush green forest and at some point in history under water. They lay out all the layers of dirt, you can see the ages over time! It's incredible. Let's get our nerd on! They have highlighted a trail with animals that would have been alive during these times with the mega fauna. Now they have not included the flora of the past. But the animals and facts are all marked on a small trail . Walk and learn! During the "big dig," the funding was limited. In fact these show images of where the anthropologists and scientists camped here on site . The breath of the past is here! The foot of man can not be seen here in a large pattern. They have found stone tools that date all the way back to the 1880s, but they cannot prove anything. The mammoth remains are incredibly valuable. We had mammoth here in Las Vegas. Come and let your imagination wander! This is a great place for the littles of the family. The community is involved here with art lovers from all grades and their drawings in the actual museum portion of the exhibition. Your price per person is only $3.00! Come and explore and enjoy something different here in North Las Vegas!

We are avid National Park and State Park goers and love to travel all around to ho hiking and see…read moreas much nature as we can. This is one of the cleanest and nicest state parks that we have been to. The Visitor Center is absolutely awesome. They have clean bathrooms outside. They have a great gift shop. And they have fun things for the kids to do inside as well. The art on the window, where you have to look through a panel that looks like sunglasses was my absolute favorite. I am still in awe of it. The woman who works there was so very helpful to tell us about which hikes to go to and what would be the right level of hikes for our family. The man who was sitting there was also very kind and let my son pet his dog. I would absolutely go back when visiting Las Vegas! Even if you have just a couple of hours, this place is worth the trip.

This a peaceful hidden gem. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is located just a few minutes outside…read moreof the Las Vegas strip. Surrounded by red rock cliffs, and lots of greenery. This place is perfect for a nice walk through the garden a picnic or even a hike. The historic ranch adds a nice touch, with great photos and views. I found that this place is less crowded compared to all the other parks and outdoor scenic areas that we've been visiting.. definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a peaceful escape away from the city. Also, while you're here don't forget to check out the little gift shop which offers a variety of sweet treats, such as chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered marshmallows, and so much more, which are all delicious.

We recently visited Las Vegas and discovered this amazing park and hiking trail. We tried out new…read morehiking poles that we bought while we were there. We were both impressed with how (mostly) clean the trails were and how nice of a hike one could go on (it was a Wednesday evening, not sure how crowded it gets on the weekends). The park adjacent to the hiking trail was also amazingly clean and well maintained and loved that it had a dog park. However , we didn't feel quite comfortable letting our crazy dog go 'unchained' in that dog park. Next time in Vegas, we'll be going back to this part/hiking trail!

Great spot for a hike or a walk along the mountain loop. It would also be amazing to ride horses…read morearound the trail and take in the scenery that way.

We visited last saturday, which turned out to be a FREE entry day. This was a nationwide promotion…read morefor state parks. But not highly advertised. I think that this happens several times a year, every year. (Otherwise, it was $18 last year. This is the private area. Less people here. More people are at the free areas.) It was beautiful, the trees, the mountains, the scenery. Sunny, with it getting dark (chance of rain), at times, and some wind. At first, we went to a table that didn't have any shade. So we went a little further away. We went to Parking section H, which was not busy at all. Table number 71. Overlooking large white boulders. We saw chipmunks, a hawk high overhead, huge butterflies, and pesky horseflies. Also, a loud grasshopper making a mating call. (Section E was Reserved.) TIP: wipe off the tree sap with wet wipes! Good thing, my MIL brought a table cover to use. We had sandwiches, chips, cookies, bottled water, and sodas. (Some people were barbeque'ing. There are grills, but I suggest using foil, because they are black.) The blue dumpsters are in the parking lots. The dual bathroom, also located in the parking lots, is porta-potty style. There is a sign to "place the lid down". No trash bins inside. No soap to wash your hands. Good thing, I have hand sanitizer on my purse, always. (There is a purse hook inside, which is handy to use.) We went on a trail, which logged in 43 minutes of hiking, Past Discovery Trail, to the Fossil section, overlooking the mountains. Gorgeous. We brought the new pup along, and he didn't have any issues. He even jumped over a huge log on the ground! There was a random bench near the Bridge, which we noticed last year, too.

Amazing views at the top! I went in June, and parking is fairly easy on weekday mornings. By 9 AM,…read moremost spots are full. There are bathrooms in the parking lot but like any park bathroom, they're pretty gross. I always bring my own wet wipes and toilet seat covers just in case. The elevation gain was pretty rough as a casual hiker, and there isn't much shade. There are a couple benches along the trail here and there. The most difficult part was the loose rocks/gravel that paved the trail, making it pretty difficult to get stable footing with every step. I'd recommend bringing hiking poles just in case. If I were to do it again, I'd probably start at around 7-7:30 am because it gets hot pretty quickly.

This hike starts out at the North Loop trailhead and goes all the way to Raintree, when you get to…read moreRaintree, you will go towards the right and follow that trail around, pass Mummy Springs and keep going. This is great because you will get a good warm up doing Raintree, once you hit the trail to Mummy's Toe, you will think Raintree was a breeze. Once you hit around 10,000 feet elevation, there really is no defined trail, and it's very steep and strenuous. You will need to look for the cairns because it's easy to lose the trail. The last pitch up to the peak is basically dirt and scree, one step up and two steps back. Once you get to peak, you're rewarded with amazing views into Lee Canyon and beyond. Lots of different vegetation throughout the hike. Bristlecone, Bottlebrush Pine, tons of wildflowers. Quick stats: Strenuous 8 miles RT Up and back hike 2,600 feet elevation gain 10,925 feet elevation at the peak Trekking poles were very helpful, as well as gloves for a few spots for the hike down

If you are looking for a place to beat the Vegas heat, head to Mt. Charleston/Spring Mountains…read morearea. There are activities around the Las Vegas area that don't involve 'The Strip'. The Mummy Mountain is a great hike. The North Loop trail head has a small parking area, so get here early if you can. The hike to Mummy's Toe is a pretty strenuous one, about 2,000 foot of elevation gain in 8 miles; so be prepared, and there are no places close for provisions; so plan ahead. Pay close attention to weather for both temperatures and thunderstorms. When you start hiking from the North Loop parking lot, it's about 3 miles to get to the Raintree (3,000+ year old Bristlecone Pine) where you can see the top of the Toe and cliff face. There you will see a sign showing the way to the Mummy springs, taking that trail starts you to the Mummy's Toe. When you pass the spring, the trail is going to start to get difficult to see. Not too many people go past the spring would be my guess why the trail is hard to find/follow. Getting to the peak takes an effort, but the views are great. As stated in other reviews; trekking poles and gloves are advised. As far as I know, dogs on leashes are allowed in this area and my pup did fine on this hike. However, keep in mind there are some pretty steep parts to this ascent, so consider your dog's age and abilities for this hike. (Be a responsible pet owner, bring water and snacks for them, and clean up after them too). Have fun, but know your limits; Stay safe. See you on the trail.

The views at the overlook are just wonderful and breathtaking. The trail up is well maintained, and…read morepretty steadily inclined, so pace yourself and take as many micro-breaks as you need. I took my dog and paused for him to catch his breath a few times, so it took just under 2 hours to get to the top. I was more focused on enjoying the trip than racing to the top. We saw a few deer on our way up which was cool. And we encountered an awful lot of horse poop, so watch your step lol. Once you get to the clearing at the top where a few other trails shoot off, you walk towards the right and just over the hill you will see the sweeping view of the canyon. I waited a few minutes for a large group of hikers to leave and then I had the entire place to myself for about 15 minutes. I was very careful and walked out over the rocks a bit to get a better view, but PLEASE be careful because one false step and you will have a long fall below you. I loved how quiet and peaceful this hike was, would totally do it again.

With its breathtaking views of Coxcomb Ridge, Kyle Canyon below, Mount Charleston and Mummy…read moreMountain; the ridge above Trail Canyon is a slice of Heaven. The Trail Canyon Trail is the stairway to Heaven. The most direct route to this stairway to heaven from Las Vegas is US 95 to Kyle Canyon Road (Nevada Route 157). I suggest filling up before the 18 mile drive to the trailhead. In 18 miles, the road nearly climbs 6,000 feet in elevation. The road shoots Northwest toward the end of Kyle Canyon. Immediately past the Fire House, the road abruptly changes direction on a hairpin curve. Before the hairpin curve, you want to keep straight the on Echo Drive. There will be a sign directing motorists to Mary Jane Falls, which shares the same parking lot. A few hundred feet the turn off is to the left. The Trail Canyon trailhead is on the north side of the unpaved parking lot. Please keep in mind that this is a strenuous hike where water is essential. If you forgot to bring water, I recommend stopping at the Mount Charleston Inn to pick up a water bottle. Trail Canyon Trail is a stairway to heaven that requires a workout to reach the mesmerizing views at the top. From the start of the trail which really is the westernmost point of Kyle Canyon to the saddle below Coxcomb Ridge and Mummy Mountain, the trail immediately climbs uphill on a two mile hike that ascends 1,500 feet elevation. It starts off at 7,785 feet at the trailhead to 9,308 feet at the top. To give you an idea of how strenuous the trail is, it is higher than climbing the Stratosphere Tower that stands at 1,149 feet. This is a workout to the sights and sounds of nature in a forest covered with Ponderosa pine, aspin trees, Bristlecone pine, and white fir. There is sufficient shade and logs along the trail, that provide relaxing places to pause and take a breather. I witnessed a few hikers getting out of breath. My strategy was to take timed breaks. I'd walk maybe 15 minutes, sit on a log and set my alarm for ten minutes. These were scenic spots to appreciate the limestone vistas of Coxcomb Ridge, chirping birds, woodpeckers pecking on trees, and the light breeze blowing through the forest. There was no other way around the timed breaks. This was my strategy for reaching Trail Canyon, previous hikes, and hopefully Charleston Peak. Speaking of Charleston Peak, Trail Canyon Trail overlaps the leading two miles of the Mount Charleston Hike. Every mile, I passed a sign advertising the mile achievement toward Charleston Peak. At the top of Trail Canyon, that I metaphorically called Heaven, is the junction for the North Loop Trail. Where Trail Canyon Trail ends at this breathtaking view, Charleston Peak bound hikers will make a left to continue on the North Loop Trail and follow it 6 miles to the peak. When I walked back down to the trailhead a couple hikers asked me if I reached the top. They were talking about Charleston Peak. After this hike, I more than ever wanted to hike to Charleston Peak. Despite the 1,500 uphill gain, this is a hike that is safe. The dangers of steep and slippery hills is nonexistent here. The climb is gradual on relatively smooth topography. On the leading segment where it leaves civilization for the Wilderness Area, it follows a wash on straight stretches with gradual elevation gain. Near the last half mile, it then follows a few switchbacks that conclude at the saddle where the trail ends at the North Loop Trail. The saddle is the spot to take in the beauty of nature. This is one of the grandest vistas of Mummy's Mountain. When you turn your head to the left, there is Charleston Peak towering above the Spring Mountains. Turning your head further are the canopy of treetops extending into Kyle Canyon below. Turning your head all the way are the majestic limestone cliffs of the Coxcomb Ridge. Resting your head, there is a level of calmness of being one with nature in a slice of Heaven up in the Stratosphere.

Peccole Ranch Walking Trail is my favorite trail in the area! It's bright, green, and incredibly…read moreinviting. The full loop is about 3 miles, making it perfect for a relaxing walk or getting some exercise. The trail is always clean and well maintained, and the friendly neighbors you pass along the way make it feel even more welcoming. It's such a peaceful place to enjoy the outdoors, and I always look forward to coming back.

Great park to stroll and feel out of Vegas!! Dog friendly. Flat even concrete stroll 3.6 mile loop…read moretrail. Tree, luscious grass to desert terrain. Almost 6-8F lower than rest of Vegas in grass and tree areas. Best to go during the day (night is way too dim/almost pitch black in certain grassy areas). Friendly hiking style hellos around. 1 restroom area tucked hidden in the volleyball/kids play area with small parking lot by Peccole Ranch Park Association. Park times 6am-10pm times. Restrooms: 1 restroom (1 toilet, 1 sink) tucked hidden in the volleyball/kids play area with small parking lot by Peccole Ranch Park Association. Another possible option is when path includes waking by a different park parking area. Parking Tip: Free parking at the plaza with The Pint. There is a grocery market, bar, restaurants there too (grab snacks). This is one entrance point of the park. Or parking by Peccole Ranch Park Association. Overall, tons of entrances and parkings throughout the loop. 3.6mile loop stroll (1-1.5hrs stroll). It'll go through all the terrain areas, shaded and non-shaded. Including chunks of streets crossing, street sidewalk to the park, etc. The trail is one trail loop. It could get confusing because each neighborhood, or transition area may have other roads venturing out to the neighborhoods, and streets to leave/or enter. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/nevada/peccole-ranch-loop Activities: - Frisbee, random poles to do workouts on. - Many of the exercise access points are sad, kind of a joke though.....they put poles around as exercise to use it as back support for squats or such. I was expecting exercise equipment type access points but this is Vegas (limited outdoor life). - There 2 bbq grills, and 2 cement picnic table seating by the kids playground area. 1 was shaded for the whole afternoon. Surprisingly, not much kids around the playground as expected. Alot more people with their fur baby pups strolling the trail. - Picnicking: Certain areas, the park dips down in the middle, where it's more wet. There were a few puddles in the middle so watch your step. There's plenty of grassy areas and trees. Tables are actually shade pretty well for chunk of time. At 91F with shade, outside was semi-comfortably bearable. But at 93F, it become uncomfortably hot even with shade. Grassy areas are semi-hilly. They are slanted but possible to still picnic in some areas. Bugs: Yes there are mosquitos around, not much. Some random gnats too. Thanks to the cousins for suggesting this place awhile back. Their fav place for a long stroll. Funny cause we have friends living walking distance to this BUT they've never even knew about it. We visited in around end of May, and it was perfect weather/temperature for shirt and shorts from sunset to night. Visiting again during the day late Sept was warm but still doable.