A short and sweet guide to the best Mt Charleston hikes—
a wilderness oasis with endless trails, just a 45 minute drive from the Vegas Strip
Written by Mira
This post contains affiliate links.
When you need a break from the lights and sounds of the Vegas Strip, lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails for some fresh mountain air on one (or two or three) of the best Mt Charleston hikes.
But wait, what is a pocket guide, exactly?
Glad you asked.
Pocket Guides are our quick and dirty, need-to-know guides. Short, sweet, and to the point. You won’t find added embellishments or extra long explanations. Formatted so that you can screenshot or copy and paste sections to keep handy in your phone (which you keep in your pocket. Heh, see what we did there?) for when you’re traveling or off the grid.
Fast Facts about Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston is in Clark County, Nevada—where you’ll find snow in the middle of the desert!
45 minute drive from Las Vegas
Elevation: 11, 916 feet
Phone: 702-515-5400
Parking: $10 for NV cars / $15 for non-NV license plates
Need to know for hiking Mount Charleston
Renting a car is *Recommended*
- Shuttles are provided from Vegas airport to car rental area
The Best Mt Charleston Hikes
Recommended Hiking Trail at Mount Charleston
pssst. you will need hiking boots or shoes to do any of these hikes
- Moderate trail
- Elevation gain of 1,135 feet
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Approximately 2.5 hours to complete
- 3.9 miles out and back
- Goal: waterfall!
- Seasonal closure for winter
- Only available April – December
- Bathrooms at trailhead
Just a heads up
This is a strenuous hike with lots of switchbacks (aka you zig-zag up the side of a mountain.)
Other Hiking Trails at Mount Charleston
Easy Hiking Trails
Desert View Outlook – 0.2 miles one way, wheelchair accessible
Acastus Trail – 1.5 miles one way, 1.5 hours
Eagle’s Nest Loop – 1.9 mile loop
Saw Mill Loop – 1.3 mile loop
Echo/Little Falls – 0.8 miles on way
Moderate Hiking Trails
Robber’s Roost – 0.7 mile loop
Fletcher’s Canyon – 1.6 miles one way
Upper Bristlecone – 4.6 miles in and out
Lower Bristlecone – 5.8 miles in and out
More Difficult Hiking Trails
Pack Rat Route – 0.4 miles one way
Escarpment Trail – 3.7 mile loop
Shady Hollow – 3.07 miles one way
Step Ladder – 3 miles one way / 4.4 mile loop
Echo Overlook Trail – 4.6 miles out and back
Cathedral Rock – 1.4 miles one way
Trail Canyon – 2 miles one way (bathrooms at trailhead)
Pinyon Pine – 5.6 miles one way
Rocky Gorge – 8 miles one way
Blue Tree – 7.8 mile loop
Most Difficult Hiking Trails
Cathedral Rock – South Loop – 8.5 miles to Charleston Peak
Griffith Peak – 10.2 miles out and back
Want more hikes? Try 50 Classic Hikes in Nevada
More tour options
Picnic Areas (and bathrooms) at Mount Charleston
Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway
Sawmill Trailhead Picnic Area
Cathedral Rock Picnic Area
Old Mill Picnic Area
Kyle Canyon Picnic Area
Deer Creek Picnic Area
Lodging Options near Mount Charleston
Local
The Retreat on Charleston Peak
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
First Off-Grid Geodesic Dome in Nevada!
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
- Mount Charleston Lodge & Cabins
- Fletcher View Campground (bathrooms)
- Hilltop Campground (bathrooms)
- Mahogany Grove Group Campground (bathrooms)
- Mcwilliams Campground (bathrooms)
Vegas
- Airbnb
- Hotels on the Strip
X marks the spot!
Pocket Guide to the Best Mt Charleston Hikes
The Best Mt Charleston Hikes
A Vegas Day Trip
2525 Kyle Canyon Road Las Vegas, NV
702-515-5400
45 minute drive from Las Vegas
You will need a rental car, service is sketchy so you can’t rely on Uber or Lyft
Parking: $10 for NV cars
$15 for non-NV license plates
Mary Jane Falls Trail
Moderate trail
(but kinda strenuous with switchbacks)
3.9 miles out and back
Approximately 2.5 hours to complete
Elevation gain of 1,135 feet
Dogs allowed on leash
Goal: waterfall!
Seasonal closure for winter
Only open April – December
Bathrooms at trailhead
Bring snacks and plenty of water!
There’s so much more to Vegas than the glitz and the glam of the Strip. Don’t forget to pack your hiking boots and hit the trail on one of the best Mt Charleston hikes to explore the wilderness less than an hour drive outside the city for a much needed retreat!
We recommend relax poolside the next day to rest your sore muscles, drink in hand 😉
