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.

I shared many photos during our hikes here but I realize I didn't leave a review…read more Big Falls is one of my favorite trails at Mt Charleston any time of year. I love the little bit of climbing we can do, the views we find, and as always, the people who come with us. I haven't visited this trail in so long, so I don't have fresh or new commentary. It's been over 8 years since I've been here. All the photos I see I shared here are with my old dog, who passed away, and maybe one day I'll return with my current dog.

After wanting to do this hike for years, I finally got to go this morning with a friend leading the…read moreway. Since there isn't really an official trail to follow, I'm glad that I had someone who knew where to go. Even though it's June, there is still snow in parts of Mount Charleston due to the amount of rain that we had in the past few months. The snow is melting, so there was lots of water to see on this hike, which I loved. My friend, her dog, and I crossed quite a few areas with running water, so I was glad to have waterproof boots. It was also helpful to have hiking poles, as there were parts of the trek that they came in handy, notably when we encountered some snow to get to the falls. Big Falls itself did not disappoint; it's a beautiful sight! We had it to ourselves, too, which made this hike even better. We did see a couple of people on our way back to the parking area, but it's definitely not crowded like Mary Jane Falls or Cathedral Rock. Our hike was about 3.2 miles round-trip. Be advised that the amount of running water will depend on the weather and time of year; our timing was just right today.

Beautiful hike where if you go all the way way to the canyon it gets even quieter at the end…read more The canyon part does have some rock scrambling. Came in early February and there were some spots with snow and ice. Parts with ice can be slick so be careful. Beautiful views, nice trail, and pretty scenery all around. There is a bathroom in the parking lot.

I am NOT an experienced hiker by any stretch, but I really enjoyed getting to explore Fletcher…read moreCanyon. - The weather was freaking gorgeous and all I ended up needing was a t-shirt and some cargo shorts! Perfect weather for a hike! - Starting the hike is pretty much a steady incline most of the way, once you reach the canyon and head back you really feel the steady decline. The terrain can be a little rough in spots, but nothing too bad. - Saw quite a few squirrels on the trail, which was pretty cool. Little suckers can really move when they want to! lol - I see other people noted that the trail was clearly marked but that was NOT my experience at all. The signs that I saw at the outset indicating you were on the trail seem to disappear the further you go in. Luckily, there other hikers passing by occasionally and they helped me get my bearings. - From what I've read it is 1.9 miles each way for roughly 3.8 miles total. That was plenty for me. I will have to work my way into the other ones. lol - The parking area is not very large at all, but luckily for me it wasn't too busy today. Parking is free of course and they do have a bathroom right there for immediately before and after your hike. This was actually the first trip to Mount Charleston ever for me after living in Vegas for well over 20 years. I am excited to come back to hike more and also for when it snows! I wish the trail was marked better in some spots but still freaking awesome to get out of the city and soak in some Mother Nature. And only a 45-minute drive from Vegas! 4.5 stars.

Amazing place and the falls is surreal. There's no signs…read moreexplaining where the falls are at so my advice is park in the lower parking of cathedral trail and look for the no parking sign walk just past it and that's the trail after a ten minute walk you will come to a sign that says little falls .02 miles away. Just follow the waterline pipe it will take you directly to the falls. Note there is a short uphill hike My advice is that you take short breaks on your way up if it's your first time going. The hike is definitely worth the sights

What a great trail. Very doable for a beginner. Such a beautiful trail and fresh crisp air. My…read morefavorite hike, perfect distance

This is a fairly easy trail. We went a couple weeks ago, it was a lot warmer than what the weather…read moreprediected. Took us less than 45 minutes to do the whole trail even with a bunch of pictures and pit stops to soak in the views. The parking was easy to find when it's not busy. There's signs and little man made borders to keep the trail. I want to see this what it would look like during the fall.

Nice easy trail with good views, We combined this with the Fletcher Canyon trail in mid March and…read morethe weather was good, though warmer than usual. Some wildflowers present.

Fun fact: Southern Nevada's Spring Mountain NRA has 7 different climate zones, a change in habitat…read morethat is similar to traveling from Mexico to the Canadian Arctic. SOURCE: Travel Nevada. There are also groves of Great Basin Bristlecone Pines--one of the oldest species on Earth that are only found in NV, CA, and UT--as well as at least 20 endemic species (that are found nowhere else on Earth). Home Means Nevada. :)

Early May, 2024. (Arriving on a Sunday, leaving on Monday). We spent two days, including one night…read morecamping, in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) which includes Mount Charleston. Administered by the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the entrance is just 17 miles from Hwy 95 on Rte 157 or 45 minutes (and a world away) from the hustle and bustle - and heat - of the Las Vegas strip. Sunday. We started at the Visitor Gateway, where there are helpful staff and maps to help you to plan your stay. In addition, there is a gift shop, clean restrooms, an amphitheater, picnic areas, and trailheads to the Pack Rat Route and the Escarpment Trails. Next on our itinerary were a pair of scenic drives. From the Visitors Gateway, we traveled a short distance on Rte 157, until intersecting with Rte 158, which took us up the windy mountain road. We passed the entrances to The Resort on Mount Charleston, various trailheads, picnic areas, and campgrounds. We stopped at the Desert View Overlook, walking the short interpretive trail and taking photos. We continued in Rte 158 until we intersected with Rte 156, which we took left to the Lee Canyon ski area, passing picnic areas, campgrounds, and trailheads along the way. We then turned around, and went back down the mountain. Upon again intersecting with Rte 157, we took it to its terminus at the Mount Charleston Lodge. Our final destination was our campsite at the Fletcher View Campground (reviewed separately). Monday. We returned to the Visitors Gateway, and did the two "more difficult" hikes that originated there -- the Pack Rat Route (only 0.4 mi) is short, paved, and very steep. If you do it as a loop, the trail is somewhat washed out towards the end. Pack Rat connected to the 2.4 mile Escarpment Trail, which takes you above the cliffs and to some wonderful mountain views. Both of these trails are for hiking only. No bikes or horses. Some things to note: *The Visitors Gateway provides a good map of the area which I've posted a Yelp (in Spanish). It shows trails (including hiking, cycling, equestrian, and interpretative), campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, etc. *The map also highlights the trails in the NRA, with ratings of easy to moderate to more difficult to most difficult. It also provides distances, but not elevation changes. *When we were there (May, 2024), at least 6 trails, including the popular Mary Jane Falls Trail, were closed due to storm damage.

I was invited by friends to complete this hike today the first day of the new year and new decade…read more(1.1.20). I was excited to complete this hike as I have decided to complete a hiking challenge for this year and this would be hike number one. We promptly met at 9:00am in the Red Springs parking lot and begin our ascent up this so called staircase. There really is no set trail or staircase at all but lots of climbing and scrambling over and through large rocks. You just have to go with someone who has done it before and will guide you up the safest route possible. Luckily my friends complete this hike annually. I wasn't sure that I could handle this climb, but turns out that I was much stronger that I thought. It is strenuous at times and the cardio workout is real, but the reward at the top is so worth it. The views are epic from viewing the entire Red Rock Canyon and seeing way out toward Mt. Potosi. In the other direction seeing through Brownstone Canyon up to Mt. Charleston Peak. This hike also includes some stunning views of our beautiful city. I can only imagine how pretty it would be up here at sunset, but never mind going down would be way to challenging. Remember to Leave No Trace - Keep our public lands clean! #52HikeChallenge - #1

I wanted to go on an adventure this weekend and that I did. I left Central Vegas around 5:15AM and…read moreheaded towards Red Rock Canyon. It was super light traffic at this time on a Sunday so I made it to the Red Springs turnoff at 6AM on the dot. There isn't a clearly marked route so I recommend you go with someone who has done this before. If you go alone, when in doubt, head up! Be careful of loose rocks and wear sturdy shoes. The view from the top is beautiful and overlooks the scenic loop and the strip. You can see the contrast of the city and the mountains. It's stunning and colorful. Bring a light snack, water, and your phone for pictures. It's not a long hike, maybe 30 minutes each direction, but it is moderate and tricky in some spots.

The trail is washed away and is no longer accessible. They have yet to fix this. Also, all of the…read moresurrounding picnic areas are closed so there's really nowhere to stop for a picnic table.

What a great little hike!…read more I took my two littles, ages 2 and 4 on this little paved hike. Since it is paved, a person can easily bring a stroller or wheelchair on it and during this hike, we saw plenty of them as it is a popular hike for families and groups due to the abundance of picnic tables you can use throughout the hike. The parking lot for the trailhead is on the opposite side of the street. The parking lot is one of the larger ones and there are bathrooms available there as well. Once you cross the street, you will then be on the paved path that walks parallel to the street for a good block or so and then it veers off, slightly downhill, into the forest. There are numbered picnic tables along the hike so it is super easy to bring snacks or lunch and have a picnic. I didn't see any trash cans so PLEASE be sure to pack up your trash and take it back to you. I saw plenty of wheeled coolers and ice chests so you could definitely pack one of those in as well. Mid-hike there were also little forts that have been built (which is fun for the kids - one even has a table inside) and another set of bathrooms. There is also a very small creek that runs along the path, When we were there it did start to rain very hard so we ended up staying on the paved path as the small creek was starting to get larger in size and we didn't have a change of shoes for the kids. Overall - a nice, easy hike for anyone in a wheelchair or stroller. You could pack a lunch and spend a good amount of your day there exploring and taking in the beautiful scenery.

It's a beautiful hike with lots of trees and nature scenery…read more Trail is moderately easy. Do the loop for the full experience.

In A Nutshell: -The…read moreNorth Loop Trailhead is very easy to get to. -Located right off Deer Creek Road, you should be able to find a parking spot, but spots are limited. -Most people only do the 4 mile loop, which is the North Loop Trail to the Wild Horse Canyon trail or vice versa. -It's not a difficult trail, but you will experience some elevation gains. -The trail is mostly sheltered from the sun, I would say about 65% shade. -There are many trees in the 8,000+ elevation range to include ponderosa pine, white fir, limber pines & the longest living trees in the world, the bristlecone pine trees. -Even in mid-August you should spot a small stream of running water along the Wild Horse Canyon trail, which is very cool to see. Overall, this trail system will break off into other trails so you can choose your own adventure in this island in the sky!

Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail is inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area…read morewhich is about 21 miles from downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. USA, baby! Not a five star experience for the simple fact that the trail was not clearly marked. I mean, come on, this was created for children. Adults need to be present, but I'm the kind of parent that encourages my kids to figure out stuff on their own. Kind of hard when there are areas that look like the trail, but they weren't. For that matter, snap a photo of the map before you head down the 0.6 mile loop. Other than that, the trail is super easy for active kids. Mine hustled me through it in about 30 minutes. Lol. The elevation does not get incredibly steep, but if you're carrying other children it might get slightly to moderately difficult for a short while. Nothing too dangerous. My kiddos loved walking over the boardwalk, pretending to be mountain lions in a cave-like area, staring up at the colorful rocks, throwing rocks in the dry arroyo, reading some of the trail info, and pretending to slide down a slick bedroom-sized rock formation. The waterfall and creek was bone dry when we were there on 6/8/21. The weather was in the upper 90s. Parking is free and plentiful with your pass into Red Rock. There are restrooms near the lot.

With this PLANdemic going on. We try to stay busy, and made sure that our little 1 1/2 year old…read moregets his outdoor time to burn energy off. I was looking for a good hiking trail that was kid friendly, and I stumbled upon this. It is located in the Red Rock conservation area. There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle. Which isn't bad since it is 13 miles of scenic drive/area. We definitely enjoyed this hike.It took us about an 1hr to 1 1/2hr to finish the trail, and that was with our little boy and our puppy. We only took one snack break, and our little boy walked most of it (with a little bribery with a lollipop ). The hike has enough shade, so it wasn't too hot. I love how it wasn't too steep, so it wasn't scary for our little one. The hike had enough scenery, and we definitely enjoyed it. I heard there's a small waterfall, and pond, but we weren't able to see it due to it being dried out. Lots of trees and plants for kids to see and enjoy. Just like any hike. Bring a backpack with snacks and water, wear sunscreen, and comfortable shoes and clothing. It is such a super easy hike. We will definitely do this again.