Griffith Peak Trailhead is located up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (also known as Mt. Charleston), off Harris Springs Road (south of Kyle Canyon Road), about 1.5 hours northwest of Las Vegas. The miles are not long, but the road is slow.

From town, drive north on Highway 95 to Kyle Canyon Road (Highway 157; Table 1, Site 0667). Turn left onto Kyle Canyon Road and drive west for 12.3 miles to Harris Springs Road (Site 0764), which is just past the paved and lighted "chain up" pullouts.

From the pavement, it takes most of another hour to get to the trailhead.

Link to Trailhead Map.

Turn left onto the infrequently graded Harris Springs Road and drive south as the road runs across Kyle Canyon Wash and cuts up and across the hillside on the far side. Out of the wash, the road generally runs south, passing several minor side roads as it winds around and runs over the hills, eventually dropping into Harris Spring Wash at a fork in the road (Site 1278; 2.36 miles from the pavement) with three information signs. Through here, the main road always is obvious because it is graded.

Continuing south (straight) for another 0.9 miles, Harris Springs Road passes a minor side road to the right and then arrives at Forest Road 104 on the right (Site 0767; 3.31 miles out). This is Harris Mountain Road; watch for a sign reading "Griffith Peak Trailhead," with an arrow to the right and indicating 5 miles. If you get to a gate and "no trespassing" signs, you've missed the turn.

Turning right, Harris Mountain Road runs west and up into the mountains. The main road always is obvious, but many minor side roads and camping areas are passed. Harris Mountain Road has deteriorated over the years, and a high clearance, 2WD vehicle is now necessary. I talked to one Forest Service employee who said that she had been on the road in a USFS truck three times in the last year, and all three times had experienced flat tires.

After 5.68 miles on Harris Mountain Road, the road ends abruptly atop a sharp ridge overlooking Lovell Canyon (Site 0594; 9.0 miles out). Park here; this is the trailhead.

Griffith Peak Trailhead provides access to Harris Saddle, Harris Mountain, Griffith Peak, and eventually the summit of Mt. Charleston (via the South Loop Trail).