Overview

This is a very strenuous, 2-mile hike that runs up Trail Canyon for some 1,500 feet to a saddle beneath the toes of Mummy Mountain and an intersection with the North Loop Trail. Trail Canyon is deep and forested, so there is plenty of shade, but the trail is steep. It starts on an old jeep trail, then continues upward, eventually leveling a bit when switchbacks ease the grade near the top of the canyon.

Link to map.

From the saddle, there are great views to the east down Kyle Canyon, but tree block most long-range views. This trail can be done alone or in combination with the North Loop Trail. At the trail intersection, hiking west leads to Mt. Charleston summit, and hiking east leads to the Raintree, Mummy Spring, and North Loop trailhead along Deer Creek Road.

Shortly after passing the water tank, the trail goes into the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, this trail is pretty safe. The trail is strenuous, climbing 1,500 feet in 2 miles, so take it easy at this elevation if you've just come up from the desert.

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 fairly short hike, so just bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Trail Guide
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 Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 726), continue west on Kyle Canyon Road for 2.1 miles to Echo Road (Site 733). Turn right onto Echo Road, which is the first paved road to the right past the Old Town Fire Station. If you miss the turn, you'll go around a big hairpin bend to the left.

On Echo Road, drive northwest for 0.5 miles to a hairpin turn to the right where Echo Road becomes Crestview Drive. The trailhead parking is on the outside of the curve (Site 490). Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 2, Waypoint 1), the trail runs up the canyon on a steep old jeep road, which later turns into a clearly marked steep trail (Wpt. 2). Lower down, the trail passes beneath tall ponderosa pines and quaking aspen. This part of the trail also passes beneath Coxcomb Ridge, a series of towering limestone cliffs and peaks that form the east edge of Trail Canyon. Except for the trees, the vegetation is fairly sparse, but there is a fair bit of mountain mahogany and wax currant. Higher up, white fir and bristlecone pine mix with the ponderosa pine.

Eventually, the trail cuts eastward at a gentle grade to a saddle (Wpt. 3) on the north end of the Cockscomb Ridge. On the saddle, the Trail Canyon trail ends where it intersects the North Loop Trail.

Rest here and enjoy the view. To the north are limestone cliffs (the toes and underbelly of Mummy Mountain), to the west is Mount Charleston, and to the east is the desert below Kyle Canyon.

After resting, head back down, continue west to Charleston Peak, or head northeast to the North Loop trailhead on Highway 158. If you go about 0.5 miles northwest up the trail towards Charleston Peak, you get to Cave Spring where there is a spring and an old watering trough that was carved from one big log. This is a popular campsite; people sleep above the watering trough on a cave-like ledge with a great view to the west. Technically, this campsite is illegal because it is too close to the water, but many people stay there.

To get back to the Trail Canyon trailhead, retrace your steps.