Note: Access through the Picnic Area is closed; use the Echo 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 entrance gate to the picnic area stating that an entrance farther east is open. It is not (photo at left).

Overview

This hike is very strenuous, climbing 4,278 vertical feet in 8.2 miles. The trail starts at Cathedral Rock and climbs 3,100 feet up the side of Kyle Canyon to the summit ridge in about 4 miles. The trail then runs northwest for about 1.6 miles at a more leisurely grade through Bristlecone Pine forests and open meadows. After that, the trail steepens, climbs past timberline, drops into and traverses a broad bowl, and makes a long, steep, final push 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 during 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 fatal, but nothing out of the ordinary; watch your footing near edges. This trail is a bit long and hard for young kids. During summer, watch for thunderstorms. I've twice been run off the ridges with lightning all around -- not fun.

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.

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 Lower Cathedral Rock Trailhead.

The traditional South Loop Trailhead is closed due to construction.

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, 10-15 minutes walking, from the outside parking lot.

The Hike

From the Upper Cathedral Trailhead inside the picnic area (Table 2, Waypoint 01), the trail runs steeply up a hillside as it runs generally southeast towards the base of the Echo Cliffs. After about 20-25 minutes, the trail joins an old road (Wpt. 02), which is followed up and across the avalanche chute that comes down from Griffith Peak. This is a nice area in the fall when the Quaking Aspen leaves are changing color. The trail runs very steeply up the east side of the avalanche chute before switchbacking up the steep west side of the canyon to the top of the Echo Overlook (Wpt. 05). 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 description of the Echo Overlook trail.

From Echo Overlook (Wpt. 05), the trail generally contours westerly across the hillside to another nice overlook. The trail then begins a long series of switchbacks that lead up the side of the canyon, eventually gaining the crest of the ridge at about 4 miles out (Wpt. 06). There is a nice Bristlecone Pine forest along this section of trail and a nice meadow just below the crest. Note that the trail has been rerouted since the USGS topo maps were last updated; the trail now runs up the ridge to the west of where the USGS topo map shows the trail.

There is a trail junction at the crest (Wpt. 06). The trail to the southeast (left) leads around the south side of Griffith Peak and down to the Harris Canyon trailhead (5 miles out); the trail to the northwest (right) leads to the summit of Mt. Charleston.

From the trail junction (Wpt. 06), the South Loop Trail runs out across mixed meadows and Bristlecone pine forests at easy grades for about 1.6 miles. There are a number of campsites in the trees along the edge of the meadows that would make nice spots for an overnight backpacking trip. There are also some campsites right on the crest. There is no water on the crest. The USGS topo map shows the trail running on the crest of the ridge through here, but this part of the trail has been rerouted and now runs across the hillside a short ways below the old trail. There are nice views of the meadows and points south from the new trail, but not of Kyle Canyon.

After the Meadows (Wpt. 07), the grade increases as the trail passes through a Bristlecone pine forest. Shortly, the trail breaks out onto the rim of Kyle Canyon (Wpt. 08) with great views of Mummy Mountain to the north and the desert to the east.

The next section of trail also has been rerouted. From the viewpoint (Wpt. 08), the trail climbs steeply up the ridge before angling back to the west, passing timberline, and climbing onto another ridge that comes up from the southwest (Wpt. 09). From here, you get the first good views of the summit.

From the top of the ridge, the trail drops a bit and traverses a wide bowl. There are a few patches of stunted Bristlecone pines through here, but this area is essentially above timberline.

They say that you can get water at Peak Spring (Wpt. 11), which is down in the base of the bowl (west of the crest). However, it looks like a hard hike. If you want to go to the spring, the trail junction is not where the map shows it to be. From the top of the ridge, it is only about a 3-minute walk (220 yards) to the junction, rather than the 700 yards or so shown on the map. The junction (Wpt. 10) is marked by a 4x4 wooden signpost lying on the ground, plus 2 pieces of logs and a few rocks bordering the start of a faint trail that heads west and down into the canyon. Be sure to take your GPS. I did not notice these features when I was there in July 2009; I don't know if they are gone or if I missed them.

Continuing across the bowl, the trail regains the crest at the site of an old plane crash (Wpt. 12). Debris are mostly in two large piles, but smaller pieces still litter the hillside. This looks like a case of really bad luck. Granted the pilots were way off route, but they missed skimming over the ridge unharmed by only a few feet.

From the crash site, the trail angles up onto another side-ridge that comes up from the southwest (Wpt. 13). The trail runs steeply up the north side of this ridge back to the crest, then follows the crest (nice exposure) before taking a slightly lower-angle route across the western slope for the last few minutes to the summit (Wpt. 14).

There are great views in all directions from the summit. To the east lie Mummy Mountain, the desert ranges beyond Mummy, and Las Vegas. To the south are Griffith Peak and Mount Potosi. To the east are Pahrump and mountain ranges in Death Valley. To the north are Mount Sterling, McFarland Peak, Mack's Peak, and the Sisters. In addition to these, you can see an uncountable number of other peaks, ranges, and valleys disappearing off into the distance.

There is a weather station (in a culvert shed) on the summit powered by a solar panel that can be seen from points far below. There is also a short antenna tower (lightning rod?) by the weather station, a summit register in an ammo can, and a little quarry on the south edge of the summit that offers refuge from the wind and a possible campsite.

To get back to the trailhead, retrace your steps on the South Loop trail or continue northward on the North Loop Trail to the Trail Canyon trailhead. 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.