Mount Charleston
If you are tired of the desert heat and want to get away, head up to Mount Charleston. It is about 20 degrees cooler up on the mountain than in the Vegas valley.
What Is It?
Mount Charleston is a large (56,600 acres) wilderness area that includes the highest peak in southern Nevada, Mt. Charleston (11,918 feet), and all of the higher elevations in the Spring Mountains (much of the land over about 7,000 feet).
What Does It Look Like?
These mountains are jagged, with towering carbonate cliffs, steep hillsides, and deep narrow canyons. The summit ridges are barren, but the lower ridges and slopes are masked in a forest of ancient bristlecone pine. Lower down, extensive forests of ponderosa pine and white fir provide habitat for the Palmer's chipmunk, a species that only occurs in the Spring Mountains. Below those forests, a pinyon-juniper woodland dominates the landscape.
Things To Do
There are several areas of Mount Charleston to enjoy. Situated at Kyle Canyon are the 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 with Deer Creek being used as a pass to connect Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon. At the Creek visitors can see the Nevada Test Site and some of the oldest trees in the world including the Bristlecone Pine.
Mt. Charleston History
In 1989, about 43,000 acres of the Mt. Charleston National Recreation Areas was designated as the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area. In 2002, another 13,600 acres were added, for a total of about 56,600 acres in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area. This wilderness area is adjacent to the La Madre Wilderness Area, which is adjacent to the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area. In total, these three areas combine to form about 129,000 acres of designated wilderness.
Terrain
Mt. Charleston Wilderness area includes much of the Spring Mountains, which is a high and rugged carbonate ridge that generally runs north to south. There are towering crags, deep and wide canyons, narrow slot canyon, and steep hillsides.
Climate Zones
The Spring Mountains have about a 10,000-foot elevation gradient (from desert floor to Mt. Charleston summit). On ascent, the climate gets cooler, producing climate zones, and the climate zones produce life zones where different species of plants and animals can exist.
Wildlife and Their Zones
At low elevation, species typical of the desert (for example, white-tailed antelope squirrel, jackrabbit, kit fox) are common. At middle elevations, other species exist (for example, Palmer's chipmunk, mule deer). At higher elevations, others occur (for example, golden mantle ground squirrel). Conditions are too harsh at the highest elevations from most species, but Rock Wrens, and Ravens can be found there. Snowmelt and a few springs and sandstone potholes provide water for wildlife.
Access
Easiest access is from the paved roads into Kyle and Lee canyons. Access is also provided by several dirt roads, including the Harris Canyon Road, the road above Cold Creek, and several roads on the west side of the mountains.
Further Information
Located 60 miles northwest of Las Vegas Strip. Take U.S. Highway 95 north about 15 miles outside of Las Vegas. Follow signs to Lee Canyon.
Opening hours vary depending on campsite/picnic area/trail.
Price varies depending on campsite/picnic area/trail.
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