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Mt Charleston Peak Hike - South Loop Trail

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated May 4, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance: 17.5 miles
Time: 8-9 Hours
Total Climbing: 4890 feet
Difficulty: Very Hard
Crowds: Moderate
Dogs: Leashed
Gear: What I Use
Weather: Latest Report
Park: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

The Mt Charleston Peak hike takes you to the highest point around Las Vegas, at 11,916 feet. This guide to Charleston Peak follows the South Loop Trail, a tough 8.5-mile climb with half the hike done above 10,000 feet in an alpine wonderland. It's got scenery that rivals any National Park, and it's all under an hour from the Las Vegas Strip. This underrated hike needs to be on your bucket list; it's one of my favorites.

When to Hike Mt Charleston Peak

Mount Charleston From Kyle Canyon — Mt Charleston is covered in snow for much of the year. Photo thanks to Stan Shebs.

You want to hike Mt Charleston when it's snow-free, which is usually May to October. The best months are June and September.
In the winter the summit can have extreme conditions with snow and ice turning the normally easy trail into an advanced mountaineering experience. Hikers have died of exposure here, even on the lower slopes; you need to take the conditions seriously.
If it's a shoulder month and you need to figure out the snow situation, you can see Mt Charleston from most of the Northeast parts of Las Vegas, some areas in Southwest Vegas around South Rainbow Blvd and 215, and also from the top of the short Lone Mountain Trail hike.
There is also a snow report website here, but I can't verify it's accurateness.
July and August is the monsoon season, which can produce violent thunderstorms, especially in the mountains. This hike goes along an unprotected ridge and should not be attempted if thunderstorms are in the forecast.
It's generally pretty windy on the second half of the hike. Prepare for a bad hair day.
The Charleston Peak hike usually takes 8+ hours, so leave at sunrise so you don't get stuck out after dark. You can also camp on the hike; more on that later.
Even if the weather is cooperating, make sure you check out the summit forecast. The weather in Mount Charleston is often very different than it is in nearby Las Vegas. In general, the trailhead is 10-20F cooler than Las Vegas, and the summit can be another 10-20F cooler (if not much more in bad conditions).

If the weather is not cooperating or deteriorates, hike to the summit on another day. It's not worth risking your life.

How to Get to the Mt Charleston Peak Hike

Mt Charleston Wild Horses — Keep your eyes open for wild horses on the drive to the trailhead. I see them fairly often. Photo thanks BLM.

The Charleston Peak is trailhead is only 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas in the scenic resort town of Mount Charleston, NV.

After turning off the main freeway you'll take Rt 157 for about 20 miles, climbing about 5000 feet up Kyle Canyon. This stretch of road goes through the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) and takes you from the Mojave Desert to the alpine environment of the Mount Charleston Wilderness. The area is home to 50 sensitive and endangered plants and animals, some of which are only found in this part of the world (see the Fletcher Canyon hike).

You'll also pass the Spring Mountains Visitor Center on the way to the trailhead, which is worth a stop if you have the time.

There are no gas stations in Mount Charleston or on Rt 157.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 2 — You'll get some nice views of Charleston Peak in the distance as you drive up Rt 157.

Parking is free at the first lots in the Cathedral Rock Picnic Area. There is a fee area further on in the parking lot. Do not park in the fee area, the gates get locked when the park closes. Parking fills up quickly in summer and on weekends.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 5 — Here's the official trailhead. Park in the (free) closest lots.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 3 — There are bathrooms across from the official trailhead, as well as some great views of Mummy Mountain.

Gear for the Hike

This is a serious hike and I recommend being prepared. I take plenty of extra layers for the summit, 3-6L of water, food, and survival gear to spend the night. Trekking poles are also helpful on the hike. Don't follow the advice of some of the Yelp reviewers who recommend "a windbreaker and bottle of water." You need real hiking gear here.

If you want to check if there's snow on your hike, read this guide.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
Altra Olympus 275: Favorite trail shoes right now, no blisters and very comfy.
AllTrails Plus (30% off): Offline maps on your phone with the Plus level
Full December 2025 Gear List →

Camping on Mt Charleston

There are a lot of options if you want to make this a backpacking trip or stay near the trailhead. This is my very sweet view from a room at the Mt Charleston Lodge, a great base to explore the trails in the Mount Charleston area.

You can easily turn this South Loop Trail hike into an overnight backpacking trip. The land is run by the Forest Service, so you can technically camp anywhere you want as long as it's 200 feet away from springs and trails. If you'd like to camp on the hike, my picks are:

There are two flat areas at switchback turns on the climb up Echo Cliff, starting after about 3 miles. They offer nice views of Mummy Mountain and flat areas for a tent.
The meadow area after you reach Griffith Peak Junction (after around 5 miles). Don't camp at the junction, as it's often very windy. Continue on the Meadow proper and find a flat, sheltered areas along the way. Camping up here is one of my favorite things; it's can get chilly but the views and stars are incredible.
You can also sleep on the summit in a pit that's about 10 feet wide by 4 feet deep. It's nice to get out of the wind but very rocky and not flat.

If you don't want to camp in the backcountry, you have some options.

Fletcher Canyon Campground
(Free) backcountry BLM camping along Rt 157, with a good option being the dirt side roads about halfway on the drive.
There used to be a great old school lodge, the Mt Charleston Lodge, but unfortunately it burned down in Sep 2021. Check the website, they do have cabins and hopefully they will rebuild.
Stay in Las Vegas. It's really close and the drive is easy.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike South Loop Trail Maps

This route follows the South Loop Trail to Charleston Peak, and you return the way you came. You can also hike on the North Loop Trail to the summit, or combine for a full loop hike. If you do the South/North Loop combo, there is about a mile of road that you'll need to hike on to return to your car at the end.

If this is your first time doing the hike, I recommend doing the out-and-back route on the South Loop Trail (as described here) and leave the full loop for subsequent hikes.

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Mt Charleston Peak Hike South Loop Trail Elevation — The nice (and painful) thing about the South Loop Trail is that you do a lot of the climbing in the beginning of the hike, climbing over 3000 feet in about 4 miles, leaving a more gradual hike (at altitude) for the second half.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike South Loop Trail 3d Map — This view really shows you how the climbing is distributed on the hike. You do the bulk of the climb in the beginning, and then you have a more gradual time when you're up above 10,700 feet. The last section to the summit is tough, with gradients up to 20%.

Mt Charleston From Sky — Here's a nice view of the area that I grabbed from a flight. This was taken in April; still lots of snow.

South Loop Trail Hike Brief

The official name for the summit is Charleston Peak, and the name of the town is Mount Charleston (Village). People also call the peak Mt Charleston.
Charleston Peak, at 11,916 feet, is only the 8th highest in peak Nevada. However, it's the 8th most prominent peak in the lower-48, which gives it some great views. It is the highest peak in Clark County (Vegas) and in the Spring Mountains.
Near the summit you can see wreckage from a CIA plane crash that occurred on November 17, 1955. Fourteen men lost their lives when the C-54 military plane carrying them crashed into the summit during a blizzard. The men were traveling to Area 51 where they were working on the U-2 spy plane. I marked the wreckage site in the GPX file with a waypoint if you'd like to take a look. There is a memorial to them and other silent heroes of the Cold War at the Visitor's Center.
You don't have to worry about bears.
You don't need a permit.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike South Loop Hike Directions

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 6 — There are a few unofficial cutoff trails but the main start is by this stone wall in the parking lot, across from the bathrooms.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 4 — Here is the official start of the trail from the parking lot. The trail doesn't correspond to all OSM map trails, so just a heads up if you're using your own map.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 7 — Hike up the well-worn trail for a minute or two until you get to the next trail junction.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 8 — Bear left and keep hiking. The trail to your right will take you to Cathedral Rock.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 9 — Here's a closeup of the trail sign at that junction. Your next turn is at Griffith Peak Junction in 4 miles.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 10 — Shortly after that junction, you'll see the fee area parking and picnic tables down to your left. Keep hiking straight.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 11 — After 5 minutes of relative flat, you start the climbing.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 12 — The scenery is incredible. In front of you (and to the left) is a sheer limestone cliff. To the right is Echo Cliff, which you'll be ascending to the ridge. The burned trees that you'll see along the route are from the Carpenter 1 fire in 2013.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 13 — Eventually the steep, straight trail gives way to wide switchbacks that offer nice views back toward Mummy Mountain and Cathedral Rock. There are some sporadic orange blazes on the trail.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 14 — There are some stair sections here as you keep hiking up, with Echo Cliffs in front of you.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 15 — The trail makes it's way up into the avalanche chute ahead, crossing several drainage routes as it does.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 16 — When you reach the base of Echo Cliff you'll start the last series of switchbacks before you get to the ridge.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 17 — About half-way up the switchbacks you'll reach Echo Overlook. From here you have about 2 miles and 1,500 feet to the ridge at Griffith Peak Junction. There is a flat area here where you can put a tent down. You'll get incredible views of Mummy Mountain, Kyle Canyon, and Cathedral Rock.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 18 — Keep moving up the switchbacks, which have sporadic blazes.

Deer Watching South Loop Trail — If you feel like someone is watching you, it might be true. Keep your eyes open for mule deer, which I see fairly frequently here.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 19 — As you get higher you'll start getting views of Charleston Peak in the distance. It seems so far away at this point. Just remember that the second half isn't as tough as the first.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 20 — Another blaze signaling a switchback. Pay attention to the trail. It's easy to miss a switchback if you're working hard.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 21 — The trees thin out and the trail heads through a meadow. You might be able to spot glimpses of Griffith Peak in the distance. And again, more switchbacks, so pay attention.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 22 — There are some last steep sections through the meadow as you approach the ridge.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 23 — MADE IT! Congratulations, you made it to Griffith Peak Junction. It's a nice place to catch your breath if the wind isn't insane. You're at 10,700 feet now. At this junction you will hike to the right to continue on the South Loop Trail.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 24 — Here's a closeup of the sign at this junction. If you want to bag Griffith Peak, it's about 0.5 miles. Continue on the South Loop Trail towards Charleston Peak.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 25 — There's an immediate little climb and then....

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 27 — ... a nice downhill as the South Loop Trail goes through a section called the Meadows.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 26 — The views to the west open up nicely in the Meadows. You'll see down into Pahrump, NV, Death Valley, and on a clear day, onward to the Sierras.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 28 — The Meadows section of the South Loop Trail offers gentle up and down, with lots of great places to camp (but no water sources).

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 29 — The South Loop Trail goes through some old bristlecone pine forest and gradually climbs. The burn damage that you see along the way is from the Carpenter 1 fire in 2013.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 30 — After the forest the trail starts to hug the ridge with great views, including Mummy Mountain as seen here. There are flat areas here where you could camp, wind permitting.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 31 — From this section of the trail you can see down into Kyle Canyon, Rt 157, and the area where you started the hike.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 32 — The trail drops down to the west a bit as it goes through some Bristlecone pines.You'll start to see a peak in the distance which is easy to mistake for Mt Charleston (but isn't).

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 33 — You climb up to what you might think is the summit, but is actually just a ridge on the trail. Climb up the rocky area to the saddle and continue NW towards the actual peak.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 34 — Once over that rocky point you'll have consistent views of the real Charleston Peak summit in the distance. Almost there.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 35 — At the trail fork, hike to the left to continue on the South Loop Trail. If you're in desperate need of water, I've heard there is a reliable source at Peak Springs, about 0.5 miles and 900 feet down just after this section. It's reliably marked on topo maps. Do yourself a favor and just carry the water you need.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 36 — The trail regains the crest at the site of the C-54 plane crash wreckage. The actual wreckage is off the trail. I've marked the waypoint in the GPX file.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 37 — The trail winds it's way around the western slope, above a steep bowl dropping down to the desert side. This is the last steep bit before the summit. It will be painful.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 38 — And here you are, the summit! The weather station towers are the first thing you'll spot.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 39 — As you might have figured out already, the views are spectacular. You're on the highest point in Southern Nevada, the prominence is outstanding, and so are the views. You can supposedly see for 300 miles from the summit. Keep your eyes peeled for Las Vegas to the Southwest and the Sierras to the West/NW.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 40 — There's a trail register at the summit as well.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 43 — If USGS markers are your thing, there is an old and new one here.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 44 — More shots of the great views. This is Mummy Mountain once again.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 41 — Here's the wind shelter on the summit. I'd say you could probably fit about 8-10 people (sitting) in there. It's a nice place to rest if you want a respite from the wind.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 42 — Once you've had your fill of the summit, head back down the way you came. The scenery is as spectacular going down as it is going up.

Mt Charleston Peak Hike Directions 45 — See you out on the trails!