With cooler temperatures and tons to do, Mount Charleston makes an ideal summer getaway for Las Vegas locals.
If you’re burning up in Las Vegas and you need a way to cool off, look no further than Mount Charleston.
As the highest mountain in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, this year-round getaway for locals and visitors is 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley. Even its hottest recorded day—98 degrees—sounds like child’s play when compared to lingering Las Vegas temperatures of 112 degrees and above.
Located less than 45 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, Mount Charleston teems with outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, camping, horseback riding, biking, rock climbing, lodging, dining, and skiing.
Thanks to its cooler temperatures, you can commune with nature at Mount Charleston without getting overheated, even in the summer. With so much to do and see, you can easily turn a Mount Charleston visit into a weekend getaway.
Getting there
Mount Charleston can be accessed from two points off US 95 that are 12 miles apart. The southernmost point leads to Kyle Canyon, while the northernmost point leads to Lee Canyon. The areas are connected via a scenic byway that effectively loops at US 95.
Kyle Canyon is home to a 128-acre visitor center complex, a resort, a lodge, picnic areas, campsites, and more than 60 miles of hiking trails. The restaurant at Mt. Charleston Lodge burned down in 2021, but a new A-frame lodge with an expanded restaurant, outdoor patios, and a parking garage is currently under construction.
Lee Canyon is known for winter sports, thanks to its ski lodge and lift, but over the past few years, the area has grown into a year-round attraction. It has added a summer bike park with five trails for beginner- to expert-level bikers; a disc golf course (holes 1-5 are currently open); a summer yoga series; and events such as competitive mountain bike racing, stargazing experiences, and a free summer concert series.
Stay for the weekend
There are more than a dozen campgrounds and picnic grounds in Lee and Kyle canyons, plus many dispersed camping sites. Campgrounds are bookable online for a fee.
Kyle Canyon’s primary campground, Fletcher View Campground, is situated near a hiking trail along Kyle Canyon Wash. It is open year-round, but may occasionally close during the summer monsoon season. All of its campsites have electric hookups.
Lee Canyon boasts the largest campground in the Spring Mountains, McWilliams Campground, which is located near a hiking trail, picnic area, meadows, and the ski resort.
If you’re not one for roughing it or you’re in the mood for a staycation, Kyle Canyon offers two relaxing lodging options, the Retreat at Charleston Peak and the Mt. Charleston Lodge.
The picturesque Retreat on Charleston Peak sits off Kyle Canyon Road, across from a church, about a mile from the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. It’s a dog-friendly, boutique-style hotel with a restaurant, bar, and postcard-like scenery. Adults can shoot pool in the bar, and families can play games in the main area.
The modern mountain cabins at Mt. Charleston Lodge are located at the end of Kyle Canyon Road. The cabins were unaffected by the fire and remain open for booking. Also pet-friendly, each private log cabin offers forest and mountain views. Once the new lodge is built, guests will have easy access to a restaurant and bar.
Stop by the visitor center
If you’re new to Mount Charleston or don’t know where to start, this is the ideal first stop. The sprawling Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway, which opened in 2015, is a thoughtful and scenic spot for planning your weekend. It’s also worth a visit if you’ve never been there before.
Built on reclaimed land with nature and sustainability in mind, the visitor center includes an information desk with maps and guides, a bookshop for souvenirs, and interactive exhibits on the history, geology, wildlife, plants, and insects found at Mount Charleston.
There is also a Silent Heroes of the Cold War Memorial, which pays tribute to those who served and died in secret. The Seven Stones Plaza celebrates the heritage of the seven Southern Paiute tribes of the southwest, or Nuwuvi.
The visitor center provides access to picnic areas and trails of various difficulty levels, including a stroller-friendly loop trail.
Take a scenic drive
The 36-mile Mount Charleston Scenic Byway connects Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon via Deer Creek Road (SR 158). It is a popular route offering access to recreational opportunities and expansive views as it passes Joshua, piñon, and ponderosa pine trees. You might even spot wildlife like eagles, owls, deer, and wild horses.
The byway links US 95 via a portion of Kyle Canyon Road (SR 157) to the south and Lee Canyon Road (SR 156) to the north. Deer Creek Road is about a mile away from the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway.
Ride the Bristlecone Skyway
It may be too hot for snow, but that doesn’t mean the views of the Spring Mountains are any less stunning. Lee Canyon’s Bristlecone Skyway chairlifts run in the summer (Weather permitting), offering visitors a unique look at the majestic mountain and photo ops as they ascend from the Lee Canyon base at Hillside Lodge to 9,370 feet.
While you can buy tickets to ride the chairlifts at the ski lodge on a whim, the price is lower if you buy them in advance.
Hike a trail
While Mount Charleston has multiple hiking trails in Kyle and Lee canyons, you can be among the first intrepid hikers to try the High Pines Trail. This new multi-use trail in Lee Canyon has views of Lee Peak, The Sisters, and McFarland Peak.
Normally, a 4-mile out-and-back hike with an 850-foot vertical gain, there are other options for traversing the trail, thanks to the Bristlecone Skyway:
- Ride the chairlift up, hike down (easiest option)
- Hike up, ride the chairlift down
While hikers can hike up and down, mountain bikers are only permitted to ride uphill. There is a separate bike-only trail for descending.
As for other hiking trails, these are Mt. Charleston’s top 10, according to AllTrails.
Go biking
One of the newer summer draws at Mount Charleston is the Lee Canyon bike park, a growing network of downhill bike trails for all skill levels, with lift service and a pro shop for bike and safety gear rentals.
With five trails, ranging in difficulty from Green (beginner) through Double Black Diamond (expert), the bike park was built with the federally protected Mount Charleston blue butterfly in mind. Native to the Spring Mountains, the butterfly considers Mount Charleston its last remaining habitat.
During your visit to Mount Charleston, you can buy a ticket and ride for the day or buy a season ticket. The bike park also has inclusive packages, including a guided exploration of the green trails for ages 10 and over and a multi-week lesson program for kids 10-14 (dates TBA).
Take a yoga class
Go with the flow in Lee Canyon’s Aspen Grove during the mountain’s summer yoga series, led by qualified, experienced instructors. Classes, which are offered at 10 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, are for all ages and levels, though you have to bring your own mat. Registration for the yoga class is required.
Do your own thing while your kids go on an adventure
Send your kid on a thrilling outdoor adventure with a dedicated team of professionals through Lee Canyon’s Youth Adventure Days, running Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 9. The program for kids ages 7-12 includes a variety of enriching activities such as nature hikes, Leave No Trace education, games, crafts, and snacks.
Restrooms and refreshments
While the Hillside Lodge in Lee Canyon is filled with skiers in the winter, three of its restaurants—Brewin’ Burro, Bighorn Grill, and Bristlecone Bar—and the pro shop are open in the summer. The 10,000-square-foot facility also has expanded restroom facilities.
On the Kyle Canyon side, there’s a restaurant and a small cafe inside the Retreat on Charleston Peak. Food will eventually be served at the Mt. Charleston Lodge.
Attend an event
There are a variety of family-friendly events at Mount Charleston, including stargazing, a summer concert series, and competitive mountain bike races. Check out the calendar for more information.
