Note: Access through the Picnic Area is closed; use the Lower Cathedral Rock Trailhead instead. Hike out the Cathedral Rock Trail to a trail junction (Wpt. 03 on that route), turn left and hike down to the Upper Cathedral Rock Trailhead at the paved road inside the picnic area. Turn right on the pavement, walk about 20 yards to the South Loop Trailhead sign, and then start up the traditional South Loop Trail.

Hikers should ignore the sign on the entrace gate to the picnic area stating that an entrance farther east is open. It is not (photo at left).

Overview

This is a strenuous, 2-mile hike that leads to an overlook at the top of the Echo Cliffs. The trail starts by Cathedral Rock and climbs 1,500 feet as it passes through a mixed pine-fir forest, climbs through an avalanche chute, and finally switchbacks up the side of the canyon to the top of the Echo Cliffs from where the views up and down the canyon are grand.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a pretty safe hike, but watch your footing, and that of your kids, near the edge of the overlook. There are places along the trail where a slip would prove hazardous, but nothing out of the ordinary. This trail would be a good hard hike for young kids.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this hike is moderately long, so bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Kyle Canyon up in the Spring Mountains, about 1 hour northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to the Spring Mountains. From the Spring Mountains Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 726), continue west on Kyle Canyon Road for 2.5 miles. You'll go around a big hairpin bend to the left and shortly arrive at a wide parking lot (Site 551) on the uphill (right) side of the road just before the entrance to Cathedral Rock Picnic Area.

The trailhead is located inside the Cathedral Rock picnic area. Hikers can park outside the picnic area and walk in for free or pay $10 and drive in. The issue to consider is not the $10, but rather that the picnic area is closed during winter, open 8-5 in the spring and fall, and open 8-8 in the summer. Thus, if you get back late from a hike, your vehicle will be locked in the picnic area for the night.

From the outside parking lot (Site 551), walk into the picnic area on an old road that stays at about the same elevation as the free parking area, or just walk on the pavement. Either way, don't start up the stairs towards Cathedral Rock. While it is true that you can get there from here, the route is long and strenuous and you will end up at the trailhead in the picnic area anyways.

Going into the picnic area, stay to the right on the main road. The South Loop Trailhead is located across from the second parking area (Group A parking lot) (Site 737), which is about 0.4 miles, 10-15 minutes walking, from the outside parking lot.

The Hike

From the South Loop Trailhead inside the picnic area (Table 2, Waypoint 1), the trails starts at a fairly steep grade as it runs southeastward towards the base of the gray limestone Echo Cliffs (away from Cathedral Rock). In this area, the trail runs though a fairly thick, mixed forest of Ponderosa pine, white fir, and aspen with lots of shrubs.

After about 20-25 minutes, the trail joins an old road, which is followed up and across a side canyon that comes down from Griffith Peak and runs through the Echo Cliffs. This is an avalanche chute where the snow knocks down the taller trees and opens the forest for bushes and an aspen thicket. This is a nice area in the late summer and fall when the leaves are changing color.

After crossing the side canyon (Wpt. 2), the trail turns and runs very steeply up the east side of the avalanche chute until towering limestone cliffs force the trail back into the center of the canyon. The trail then crosses the avalanche chute and switchbacks up the steep west side of the canyon for about 45 minutes to reach the Echo Overlook (Wpt. 3) at the top of the Echo Cliffs. Much of this section of trail is forested, so there is plenty of shade.

There are lots of Ponderosa pine and white fir at the overlook, so there is plenty of shade there, but you have to get right out to the very edge of the cliff to get a good view of Kyle Canyon and the desert to the east. There is a nice campsite at the overlook.

To get back to the trailhead, retrace your steps back down the South Loop trail. On the way down, please stay on the trail and don't cut the switchbacks. Cutting switchbacks damages the trail and the vegetation and it makes trail conditions worse for everyone.