Overview

This is a very strenuous, 4.5-mile hike that climbs about 3,400 vertical-feet from the Cathedral Rock Picnic Area to the summit of Griffith Peak. The trail climbs the south side of Kyle Canyon to the crest, follows the Harris Canyon Trail along the crest for a few hundred yards, and then follows a steep use-trail to the summit. The views from the summit are among the best in southern Nevada, and there are some grand bristlecone pines and neat fossil on the summit.

An alternate route up Griffith Peak starts at the Harris Canyon trailhead and follows the Harris Canyon Trail to the south side of Griffith Peak. From there, there are several off-trail routes to the summit.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this is a pretty safe hike, but watch for ice in winter and early spring. The trail is strenuous, so take it easy at this elevation if you've just come up from the desert. There are places along the trail where a slip would prove hazardous, but nothing out of the ordinary. This trail would be a bit long and hard 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 is a long hike, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Trail Guide
Getting to the Trailhead

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

From town, drive out to the Spring Mountains NRA. From the Spring Mountains Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 726) on Kyle Canyon Road, continue west for another 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 official trailhead is located inside the Cathedral Rock picnic area. You can park outside the picnic area and walk in, or you can pay $7 and drive in. The issue to consider is not the $7, but rather that the picnic area is closed during winter, open 8-6 in the spring and fall, and open 8-8 in the summer (hours of operation may be different). Thus, if you get back late from a hike, your vehicle might be locked inside 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 level as the 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 trailhead is located across from the second parking area (Group A parking lot) (Site 737), which is about 0.4 miles, 10 minutes walking, from the outside parking lot.

The Hike

From the trailhead inside the picnic area (Table 2, Waypoint 1), the trail runs steeply up a hillside as it goes generally southeastward towards the base of the Echo Cliffs. After about 20-25 minutes, the trail joins an old road, which is followed upward to the east side of a large avalanche chute that comes down from Griffith Peak. This is a nice area in the late summer and fall when the leaves are changing color. The trail runs very steeply up the east side of the avalanche chute before crossing and switchbacking up the steep west side of the canyon to the top of the Echo Cliffs and the Echo Overlook (Wpt. 2). Echo Overlook is about halfway to the crest: only about 2 miles, 1.5 hours, and 1,500 feet to go! For details on this section of the hike, see the Echo Overlook Trail.

From Echo Overlook, the trail contours and switchbacks across the hillside to the west to another overlook, then turn south and begins a long series of switchbacks that lead another 2 miles to the crest of the ridge (Wpt. 3). For more details on this section of the hike, see the South Loop Trail.

There is a trail junction at the crest (Wpt. 3). The trail to the southeast (Harris Canyon Trail) leads around the south side of Griffith Peak to the Harris Canyon trailhead (about 5 miles out), and the trail to the northwest (South Loop Trail) leads to the summit of Mt. Charleston (about 4 miles out).

From the trail junction (Wpt. 3), follow the Harris Canyon Trail to the east for about 5 minutes. The trail runs slightly downhill along the crest of the ridge. When the Harris Canyon Trail bends to the south and leaves the ridgetop (Wpt. 4), stay on the steep ridgeline and start up the well-worn use-trail. This steep use-trail runs up the northwest ridge of Griffith Peak to the summit (Wpt. 5).

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