QUICK FACTS
Created Jan 0001
Status Verified Sarcastic
Type Existential Dread
Keywords
national recreation area, u.s. forest service, las vegas, nevada, mount charleston, bureau of land management, threatened, mount charleston wilderness, hiking

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

“Right. Another piece of the world that needsā€¦ clarification. Fine. Letā€™s get this over...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

Right. Another piece of the world that needsā€¦ clarification. Fine. Letā€™s get this over with.

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA) is, as the name suggests, a designated zone for recreation within the U.S. national recreation area system. Itā€™s managed by the U.S. Forest Service , a body that, frankly, has more on its plate than it probably wants. This particular patch of land is located west of the glittering, soul-crushing spectacle that is Las Vegas, Nevada . Itā€™s a sprawling expanse, covering more than 316,000 acres, which translates to a considerable 494 square miles or 1,280 square kilometers. For context, thatā€™s a lot of ground to cover if youā€™re trying to outrun something.

The terrain within the SMNRA is remarkably varied. It begins in the low-lying meadows, barely scraping 3,000 feet (910 meters) above sea level, and then dramatically ascends to the imposing 11,918-foot (3,633-meter) summit of Mount Charleston . This elevation change is the kind of thing that makes weather patterns throw tantrums and explains why you might need a jacket and sunscreen on the same day. The SMNRA is part of the larger Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest , a name that sounds like it was pulled from a forgotten epic. It shares a border with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area , which, for bureaucratic reasons, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management . Apparently, even nature canā€™t escape the alphabet soup of government agencies.

This area is also a sanctuary for certain plant and animal species that, for reasons I canā€™t be bothered to fully investigate, are considered threatened . This rather inconvenient fact was apparently the catalyst for establishing the Mount Charleston Wilderness area, a designation that likely adds more paperwork than protection, but who am I to judge?

For those who find solace in the great outdoors, or perhaps just need to escape the neon glare, the SMNRA offers a menu of activities. You can engage in hiking , the kind where you sweat and question your life choices, or enjoy a picnicking session, which usually involves ants and disappointment. And, if the snow gods are feeling generous, thereā€™s even skiing at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort , a place where people pay to fall down a mountain.

History

The origins of this place trace back to 1906, when it was initially designated as the Charleston Forest Reserve . The necessity of a citation for this fact seemsā€¦ quaint. I suppose someone had to write it down.

Later, in 1989, more land was absorbed, bringing the total acreage to the 316,000+ mark (approximately 1,279 km 2 ). It wasnā€™t until 1993 that the U.S. Congress, in its infinite wisdom, officially designated it as the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Another citation needed, no doubt. Itā€™s remarkable how much effort is put into naming things.

Activities

If you’re determined to experience the SMNRA firsthand, here’s a breakdown of what you can pretend to enjoy:

Mountain Biking

  • Bristlecone Trail
  • Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
  • Sawmill Trailhead
  • Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

Campgrounds

  • Fletcher View Campground
  • Hilltop Campground
  • Kyle Canyon Road
  • McWilliams Campground
  • Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway

Backpacking

  • Kyle Canyon Road
  • Mt. Charleston National Recreation Trail (S. Loop)
  • Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
  • North Loop Trail

Hiking This is where the real work happens.

  • Bonanza Trail
  • Cathedral Rock Connector Trail
  • Cathedral Rock Trail
  • Cathedral Rock Trailhead
  • Echo Trailhead
  • Fletcher Canyon Trail
  • Fletcher Canyon Trailhead
  • Griffith Peak Trail
  • Griffith Peak Trailhead
  • Kyle Canyon Road
  • Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
  • Mary Jane Falls Trail
  • Mary Jane Trailhead
  • Mt. Charleston National Recreation Trail (S. Loop)
  • Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
  • North Loop Trail
  • North Loop Trailhead
  • Robbers Roost Trailhead
  • Sawmill Loop Trail
  • Sawmill Ridge Route Trail
  • Sawmill Trailhead
  • Trail Canyon Trail
  • Trail Canyon Trailhead
  • Upper Bristlecone Trail
  • Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

Picnicking For those who prefer to passively observe nature while ingesting processed food.

  • Cathedral Rock Picnic Site
  • Deer Creek Picnic Site
  • Kyle Canyon Picnic Area
  • Kyle Canyon Road
  • Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
  • Old Mill Picnic Site
  • Sawmill Trailhead
  • Areas for Group Picnicking at Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Office
  • Foxtail Group Picnic Site
  • Kyle Canyon Picnic Area

Winter Sports When the mountains decide to dress in white.

The visual evidence, for those who need it.

  • Cathedral Rock Trail Avalanche chute: Destruction of trees taken on June 1, 2008. Natureā€™s way of pruning, I suppose.
  • Little Falls on June 1, 2008. Water, falling. Riveting.
  • Entrance and Sign. The official welcome, or perhaps a warning.
  • A hiking trail in the mountains. Proof that people walk there.
  • Forest Service sign at the Visitor center . Where you go to ask questions you could have Googled.
  • Charleston Peak South Loop Trail Sign. For those who like to know which way is up.
  • Fall Colors on South Loop Trail to Charleston Peak . Nature’s attempt at a decent paint job.