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Mount Charleston, Las Vegas, NV

Photo: Crishazzard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFree

Mount Charleston

Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway, 2525 Kyle Canyon Rd · Las Vegas, NV

Why you should go…

Mount Charleston is the common name for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, about 317,000 acres of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest west of Las Vegas. Elevations climb from 3,000 feet in the valleys to 11,918 feet at Charleston Peak, so it is a summer escape from desert heat and a place for skiing and snowboarding at Lee Canyon in winter. More than 50 miles of maintained trails start above 6,000 feet. Begin at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway on Kyle Canyon Road.

  • #hiking
  • #national recreation area
  • #snow play
  • #camping
  • #mountain escape

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Mount Charleston, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

    Under $25

    A 13-mile scenic loop through red sandstone cliffs, minutes from the Strip, with hiking for every level.

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Escape Adventures

    $50+

    Guided road, mountain and e-bike tours through Red Rock Canyon from a Las Vegas outfitter.

    23 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Spy Ninjas HQ

    $25–$50

    Indoor adventure park with a zipline, trampolines, escape rooms, VR, and axe throwing inspired by the Spy Ninjas YouTube series.

    25 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Springs Preserve

    Under $25

    Museums, botanical gardens, and desert trails built around the natural springs that gave Las Vegas its name.

    29 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Las Vegas Outdoor Adventures

    $50+

    Las Vegas tour operator running guided ATV and off-road excursions through the desert and Lake Mead backcountry.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    Vegas Specialty Tours

    $50+

    Small-group Las Vegas tours exploring mob history, true crime and haunted legends led by expert storytellers.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours