The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Mt. Charleston Wilderness

The Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway has a large parking lot and a visitor center with bathrooms and water faucets. Several hiking and MTB routes can be accessed from here. Sometimes wild horses and donkeys can be seen in this area (do not feed).

This section of trail takes you on what used to be Scout Canyon Road past the junction for the junction for the Old Bristlecone Trail/ the Bonanza Trail. This sunny and open part of the Lower Bristlecone Trail cuts into the gravely hillside, affords spectacular views Mummy Mountain, Mount Charleston, the ski area, and Lee Canyon. Be aware of mountain bikers as you hike, they tend to go a little fast on this wide, relatively easy section of trail.

This segment of trail is at the the highest elevation that you will reach on the Upper Bristlecone Trail. It traverses a rocky, open ridge line above Lee Canyon. There are a few narrow points along the trail, but it is very well defined and does not feel overly exposed. Along the hike, you get particularly fantastic views of the Sisters, Mummy Mountain, Mount Charleston and all of Lee Canyon. If traveling northwest on this section, you can also see the trail ahead of you: a wide, open road cut into the side of a gravelly hill dotted with pine trees.

The first quarter of a mile of the Upper Bristlecone Trail from the trailhead is along a fenced ridge line above the Mount Charleston Ski Area. On this flat section of trail, you pass several informational signs, including one about bristlecone pines and the restoration of rare plant. As well as one about butterfly habitat in this area (hence the fencing). You also travel through stands of ponderosa pine, aspen trees and past a viewpoint overlooking the ski area.

From this open sunny ridge, you get an excellent view of the dramatic, sheer west face of Mummy Mountain. As well as views down Lee Canyon to the Sheep Range in the distance. This is one of the highest points on the Upper Bristlecone Trail and a great place to sit and and enjoy the views.

After hiking up a steep, but well-defined trail to the top of the saddle, you are rewarded with views of Lee Canyon and the surrounding area through some large, old Bristlecone Pines. At the crest there is also a sign that marks the boundary of the Mount Charleston Wilderness Area as well as a USFS Survey Marker in the ground. There are several large logs and a big boulder that make for great places to eat a snack and take some photos before continuing on the Old Bristlecone Trail.

After crossing Lee Canyon Wash and continuing up a pine-treed hillside if coming from the trailhead, you enter a large, flat grove of quaking aspens. There are a few potential camping spots among these beautiful trees. There are also some nice places to sit in the aspen grove - which is especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn from bright green to deep shades of yellow and orange - to sip water and take some photographs before continuing on the trail.

At the trailhead and as soon as you start hiking up to Mary Jane Falls you pass through several large groves of aspens. These beautiful white trees have bright green leaves in the spring and summer that turn to stunning hues of vibrant orange and yellow in the fall. Winding through these unique trees is a great way to begin your hike!