Overview

Echo Trail runs for about 1/2 miles from Echo Trailhead to the middle of the Little Falls Trail, and as such, functionally is just an alternate start to the Little Falls Trail. The trail mostly runs on old roads, with some steep bits, through a forest of ponderosa pine and white fir. There are some nice views to the north across Kyle Canyon along the trail, and the trail runs across the bottom of an avalanche chute strewn with the remains of a forest that once was higher up the hillside.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this trail is more strenuous than it should be, so take it easy at this elevation if you've just come up from the desert (the air is thin up here at nearly 8,000-ft elevation). Other than that, the trail is safe and easy to follow, but keep an eye out for trail junctions.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this hike is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Kyle Canyon up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, about 1 hour northwest of Las Vegas. From town, drive out to the Spring Mountains Visitor Center, then continue up the road to the Echo Trailhead.

The Hike

From the Echo Trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail starts running northwest as if to go up Kyle Canyon, but shortly the trail bends to the left, crosses Kyle Creek, and climbs the far hillside heading up and to the southeast on an old road. The old road cutting up and across the hillside can be seen from the trailhead.

The trail runs up into a forest where ponderosa pine and white fir trees provide intermittent shade. A forest of these two conifer species indicate that this area is in the Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) Life Zone.

The trail climbs the hillside, then levels out some with open areas providing views towards the Coxcomb and other cliffy areas to the north. Here, and for most of this hike, the trail runs on an old road. At about 0.28 miles out, the old road forks (Wpt. 02). A small sign and some rocks indicate the turn, but it would be easy to miss the turn.

The trail turns right on an old road that climbs the hillside at a stiff grade. When the trail begins to level out, the old road forks again (Wpt. 03). The trail turns downhill to the left and begins the descent into Little Falls canyon. It is obvious at the fork that many people turn to right and continue hiking uphill. That road ends at a flat area, but a use-trail continues very steeply up the hillside, eventually climbing above the cliffs and into the high country.

Staying on Echo Trail, the old road descends the hillside to a point (Wpt. 04) where the trail turns right and heads into the woods (now a "real" trail). The trail winds around and eventually crosses the bottom of an avalanche chute strewn with the remains of a forest that once was higher up the hillside but has been carried by snow to this point. This is a good example of the power of moving snow.

The trail crosses avalanche chute and Little Falls Creek, and then climbs to a junction with Little Falls Trail on the far bank. This is the end of Echo Trail. From here, hikers can turn right and hike uphill to Little Falls (about 0.3 miles), or turn left and hike downhill to Lower Cathedral Rock Trailhead (about 0.1 miles). Otherwise, turn around and follow your footstep back to the trailhead.