Fletcher Canyon Trail Hike

3.4 miles - Easy Effort
1:30 - 2 Hours (Total)
980 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 7,841 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The Fletcher Canyon Trail is a beautiful hike nestled in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area, within an hour of the Las Vegas Strip. The hike is a gradual uphill through a pine forest along a (mainly dormant) stream and ends in Fletcher Canyon, a beautiful slot canyon with 200 feet walls, water-polished rocks, and great views of Mummy Mountain. The hike is uphill but relatively easy, and is good for all levels of hikers and families too.

In this Guide:

Fletcher Canyon Trail Hike Directions & Video
How to Get to Fletcher Canyon Trail
Fletcher Canyon Trail Maps

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

How to Get to Fletcher Canyon Trail

The Fletcher Canyon Trailhead is in the Mount Charleston area, about 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. The drive to the trailhead is spectacular as you transition from the desert to the alpine scenery of Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.

Use this trailhead address: Fletcher Canyon Trailhead, Mt Charleston, NV, 89124.

The trailhead parking is on the left shortly after you pass the intersection with Rt 158.

There is plenty of parking but it does fill up quickly on weekends.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 2 — The parking lot is on the left side as you go up Route 157 toward Mt Charleston

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 4 — There are primitive bathrooms at the trailhead.

Gear For the Hike

Palmers Chipmunk — Bring a camera and keep your eyes out for the abundant wildlife here, including the endangered Palmer's Chipmunk, which is only found in this area and is pretty easy to spot. Photo Chris Lowrey/USGS

This is a mellow hike and you don't need any special hiking gear here, but hiking boots will definitely help. Fitness or casual outdoor clothing will suffice in pinch. Bring at least 1L of water. In the winter there can be snow, in the summer it can get very hot (but not as hot as Vegas which is a few thousand feet below).

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Maps

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Fletcher Canyon 3d Map — The Fletcher Canyon Trail winds up the canyon in the shadow of the bigger mountains around it.

Fletcher Canyon Elevation — It's a steady uphill grade with some very short steep sections, but overall very gradual.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Hike Directions

Do not attempt this hike if there are thunderstorms in the forecast. Flash floods can wash down Fletcher Canyon quickly.

There can be water running in the stream depending on when you're here. Generally it's only in the upper reaches of the canyon/hike if at all.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 3 — Head past the bathrooms and across Rt 157 to get to the trailhead from the parking area.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 5 — There's a big sign marking the trailhead, along with some basic trail information on the trail board.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 6 — There's a basic map on the trail board.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 7 — After the trail board the trail is well defined, easy to follow, and gradually climbs.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 8 — The trail bends around to the left, with the stream on the right. The trail will go back and forth over the stream a few times.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 9 — Right away you're greeted with nice views of the surrounding mountains. There's lots of fauna including pinyon pine, ponderosa pine, manzanita and mountain mahogany trees.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 10 — Shortly after the start you'll see a turnoff for the Eagle's Nest Loop Trail. Keep going straight on Fletcher Canyon Trail.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 11 — Here's a closeup of that trail sign. If you want to add some distance onto the hike, you can do the 2.75 mile Eagle's Nest Loop trail. It's steep in the beginning but then gentle, and offers nice views into Kyle Canyon (the canyon you drove up).

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 1 — The trail crosses over a wide wash back to left side of the stream.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 12 — Shortly after the wash there's a (marked-up) Mt Charleston Wilderness sign that's good for a photo.

What is a Wilderness Area?

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 13 — The limestone cliffs tower above you as you make your way through the pine forest. This lush section attracts lots of birds.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 14 — This next section can get a little tricky; it's not the wide trail like before. The trail often splits and comes back together along the stream. If you hit a dead end, heavy brush, or boulder scramble, just turn back and take the other option. In general the side trails to the left climb up and over many boulder scrambles.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 15 — Keep left and avoid the streambed.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 16 — You'll go up a steep little section bypassing a scramble, then back down.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 17 — Continue on the left bypass, avoiding the stream bed.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 18 — Keep left again on the well-worn path.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 19 — You'll start to see the canyon walls closing in around you as you reach the end. The cliffs on either side are above 200 feet above you.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 20 — There's one more little uphill section.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 21 — After the climb there's a flat area, do a hard left here.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 22 — Almost there! The trail winds it's way along the canyon.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 23 — And here you are, the end of the trail, which dead ends at Obstacle Rock. You can scramble up the boulders and rocks if you want to keep exploring. If you do, just be careful, the smooth rocks get very slippery, especially if there's moisture around.

Fletcher Canyon Slot Trail — If you keep climbing up the canyon gets very narrow. You can explore but be prepared to scramble.

Fletcher Canyon Trail Directions 24 — Once you're done enjoying the beauty of the canyon, simply head back down the way you came to end the hike.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.