The sites are big and lots of room to get away! The road not that bad if you go slow in a 2wd.. My only complaint is people leaving tons of trash, toilet paper crap everywhere dirty diapers broken glass! Very disrespectful! Please clean the sites after done camping! And if you gotta poo dig a hole, seeing peoples dirty poo rags is just gross! read more

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I don't know why it took so long for me to find out about this trail, I am actually quite happy that is a hidden secret. You must drive up a windy dirt road passing camp sites along the way to get to the trail head. Not too far into the hike it turns into an oasis with a stream, butterflies, hummingbird moths, and tons of greenery. We didn't go all the way to Sisters Mountain since it was a bit humid during "monsoon season" but we had a great time and will definitely return and hopefully make it further. We followed the maps on AllTrails to get there. read more

Macks Canyon hike - On the trail - Hiking Near Me - Mount Charleston, Nevada

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I wanted to devote this month writing my Boston reviews from my vacation. But it is so hard when I keep visiting paradise on my days off. On a recent day off I drove up to a paradise 8,000 feet up high in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (known as Mount Charleston). On this day off paradise was a good 4 hours hiking on the Macks Canyon backcountry road. Macks Canyon Road is located off of Lee Canyon Road which is the second turn off to the Spring Mountains. Approximately 14 miles up the mountain where pine trees replace Joshua trees there is a sign for the Saw Mill Trailhead parking lot. This is where you want to park when you do this hike. This is the trailhead to adventure. From the trailhead you want to hike about 1/2 mile southwest on Lee Canyon Road. After the 35 M.P.H sign the trail is on the right. Even before you reach the trail, the scenery is breathtaking. To the far left is a vista of the Mummy Mountain. Macks Canyon Road is an 8 mile hike out and back. The shape of the trail is of a candy cane. From Lee Canyon Road the trail gently climbs and descends a rolling topography of pine forest interspersed with a wildflower bloom. The sight lines overlook the Sawmill Trail area across Lee Canyon to Angel Peak. Further in the heavily forested woods, at higher elevations, there are magnificent vistas of the playas reaching across the testing site to the sheep mountains. As the trail ascends rolling curves McFarland peak in the northern reaches of the Spring Mountains come into view. The road intersects a couple of spur roads that lead deep into the forest. Alongside the backcountry road are primitive campgrounds. Nearly 2.5 miles in there is a major decrease in elevation with curves that lead it into the smaller side of the candy cane shape. This is Macks Canyon proper. The vegetation is more varied and lush. Wildflowers adorn the hilly slopes and canyon floor. Wooded hills border both sides of the canyon that is straight. Along the way there is a cattle grade near the first of two youth camps. To the left is a spring. This is a prime birding spot. Nearby is a prime spot for protecting the Peter's chipmunk also known as the Mount Charleston chipmunk. The Forest Service fenced off this area in an attempt to keep them from harm. The backcountry road eventually ends by the Lower Macks Canyon Youth Camp in the shadow of the Sisters Mountains. The adventure continues. Beyond the large rocks that create a dead end, it changes into a use trail that gradually climbs up to an elevation where Douglas Fir and alpine coexist with pine trees. Like the Energizer battery the trail keeps going and going. I stopped nearly a mile from the backcountry road where I spent a few minutes in solitude on a log looming at the Douglas fir and pine trees blanketing a wash bordered by a wooded hill with the music of chirping birds and light breezes. This is an adventure I highly recommend. From my experience backcountry roads are some of the most relaxing hikes. They lead to hikes that give so much scenery for so little effort. They are designed to safely handle motor vehicles that inadvertently create gentle hiking trails. In my opinion, the off road vehicles are far less hazardous than the speeding mountain bikes that silently careen along the narrow trails. I did not feel threatened by the off road vehicles and occasional passenger car while I hiked in the forest surrounded by nature living in the moment and taking pictures. The Peter's chipmunk have good taste in their habitats. I had a lot of fun spending 4 hours in their habitat in weather that was 80 degrees when it was over a 100 a few thousand feet below in Las Vegas. I am optumistic that I will return to Macks Canyon for a sequel hiking adventure. read more