Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak Loop in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak Loop Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Class 1 19.1 miles 6100 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Jul 11, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Griffith Peak, Charleston Peak, Lee Peak Loop GPX Track

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This is a great loop in the Spring Mountains, and follows an easy-to-follow trail system for its entirety (except for a short, avoidable, extracurricular excursion to Lee Peak), and summits Griffith Peak and Charleston Peak by combining the South Loop Trail, North Loop Trail, and Trail Canyon Trail. These well-maintained, though confusingly-named trails, have some great views. We decided to start up to Griffith Peak via the South Loop Trail from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead, then hike along the ridge to Charleston Peak, tack on Lee Peak, and then return via the North Loop Trail. The South Loop Trail trail was closed due to a 2014 forest fire, so I was looking forward to finally getting to hike Griffith Peak.

The trail to Griffith Peak starts by leading along open scenery on a popular trail as it ascends to a drainage on the north side of Griffith Peak. The trail then switchbacks incessantly through the forest, nice views along the way. Once on the ridge, reaching Griffith Peak means leaving the South Loop Trail and continuing southwest up the steep trail to the summit.

From the summit of Griffith Peak, we continued northwest more-or-less along the ridgeline into a section locally called "The Meadows", where the ridge is coverd in grasses and the views are expansive into the desert. The Meadows were followed by the obviously burned region, but the trail has been fixed up and it was in great shape. The trail took us to the summit of Charleston Peak, along the way the scenery among the best in the Spring Mountains. There was one hump along the way that forced us to lose a few hundred vertical gain before ascending to Charleston Peak.

On the way down from Charleston Peak we encountered some snow, but that's likely just because this was a weird weather year for the Las Vegas area. Be cautious attempting this loop if there's potentially snow because it can get treacherous since the trail is built along the cliffy face. I might recommend doing this loop counter-clockwise instead just in case there's more snow than anticipated and it's easier to turn around. The North Loop Trail hugged typical limestone cliffs for the Spring Mountains, with great views into the valley below. I took a quick jaunt up to Lee Peak (off-trail, but not even Class 2, just steep and sandy), where the view of Charleston Peak was really quite impressive.

The North Loop Trail continued along the ridgeline, quite a construction feat built into the cliff face, before making a couple of wide siwtchbacks and leading past Cave Spring and down to the junction with the Trail Canyon Trail. We followed the Trail Canyon Trail down to the trailhead (36.2662023, -115.6587103), then walked along the paved roads for a mile or so back to our car at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead.

If hiking this entire loop feels like too much and you want to hike Charleston Peak, you can start from the Trail Canyon Trailhead and head along the North Loop Trail, a bit of a shorter and less committing hike.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Griffith Peak
11060 ft
430 rise
2
Charleston Peak
11916 ft
8241 rise
3
Lee Peak
11289 ft
265 rise

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Starting out from the Cathedral Rock / South Loop Trailhead, we set out for Griffith Peak on a well-maintained trail.
Starting out from the Cathedral Rock / South Loop Trailhead, we set out for Griffith Peak on a well-maintained trail.
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There were roughly three million switchbacks on the way up to Griffith Peak.
There were roughly three million switchbacks on the way up to Griffith Peak.
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Charleston Peak in the distance.
Charleston Peak in the distance.
A forested section as we neared the ridge line.
A forested section as we neared the ridge line.
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Griffith Peak in view.
Griffith Peak in view.
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At the ridge line, a sign marking the obvious trail to Griffith Peak.
At the ridge line, a sign marking the obvious trail to Griffith Peak.
On the way up to Griffith Peak, looking north toward Charleston Peak (left) and Mummy Mountain (right).
On the way up to Griffith Peak, looking north toward Charleston Peak (left) and Mummy Mountain (right).
Griffith Peak ahead.
Griffith Peak ahead.
Griffith Peak, view southeast. You can see Mt. Wilson in Red Rock in the middle, as well as the La Madre Mountains.
Griffith Peak, view southeast. You can see Mt. Wilson in Red Rock in the middle, as well as the La Madre Mountains.
Griffith Peak, view north. Our ridgeline still to go visible on the left to Charleston Peak. The trail then works along the ridge in the center, then cuts across the front of Mummy Mountain and down Trail Canyon (seen on the right center).
Griffith Peak, view north. Our ridgeline still to go visible on the left to Charleston Peak. The trail then works along the ridge in the center, then cuts across the front of Mummy Mountain and down Trail Canyon (seen on the right center).
Back at the junction, heading through the region called "The Meadows".
Back at the junction, heading through the region called "The Meadows".
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Within The Meadows looking back toward Griffith Peak.
Within The Meadows looking back toward Griffith Peak.
Lots more ridgeline to go, but it was really pretty.
Lots more ridgeline to go, but it was really pretty.
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Hiking through the remains of the forest fire from a few years ago.
Hiking through the remains of the forest fire from a few years ago.
Looking back toward Griffith Peak (right).
Looking back toward Griffith Peak (right).
Close-up into Kyle Canyon and the town of Mount Charleston below.
Close-up into Kyle Canyon and the town of Mount Charleston below.
Looking back toward Griffith Peak.
Looking back toward Griffith Peak.
Charleston Peak ahead.
Charleston Peak ahead.
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The trail wraps around to Charleston Peak's southwest side before ascend the ridge.
The trail wraps around to Charleston Peak's southwest side before ascend the ridge.
Looking back the way we came, Griffith Peak on the distant left.
Looking back the way we came, Griffith Peak on the distant left.
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Charleston Peak summit.
Charleston Peak summit.
Charleston Peak summit, view toward Griffith Peak (left of center). Photo from 2015.
Charleston Peak summit, view toward Griffith Peak (left of center). Photo from 2015.
Charleston Peak summit, view west. Photo from 2015.
Charleston Peak summit, view west. Photo from 2015.
Heading down on the switchbacks along the North Loop Trailfrom Charleston Peak. Visible ahead along the ridgeline is Lee Peak (center), and Mummy Mountain (right). Behind Lee Peak are The Sisters and Macks Peak.
Heading down on the switchbacks along the North Loop Trailfrom Charleston Peak. Visible ahead along the ridgeline is Lee Peak (center), and Mummy Mountain (right). Behind Lee Peak are The Sisters and Macks Peak.
Coming down the switchbacks, Griffith Peak visible center.
Coming down the switchbacks, Griffith Peak visible center.
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Snow made for a slow-moving hike along this normally easy trail. Lee Peak visible on the right.
Snow made for a slow-moving hike along this normally easy trail. Lee Peak visible on the right.
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The North Loop Trail continues to hug the cliffs as it descends along the ridge.
The North Loop Trail continues to hug the cliffs as it descends along the ridge.
Lee Peak ahead.
Lee Peak ahead.
Quick side trip to Lee Peak.
Quick side trip to Lee Peak.
Lee Peak summit, view toward Charleston Peak.
Lee Peak summit, view toward Charleston Peak.
Lee Peak summit, view north toward Bonanza, McFarland, Macks, and The Sisters.
Lee Peak summit, view north toward Bonanza, McFarland, Macks, and The Sisters.
Back on the North Loop Trail.
Back on the North Loop Trail.
Looking back toward Charleston Peak.
Looking back toward Charleston Peak.
View back.
View back.
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Descending to the junction with the Trail Canyon Trail.
Descending to the junction with the Trail Canyon Trail.
A couple of switchbacks through the forest.
A couple of switchbacks through the forest.
Cave Spring along the way before the junction with the Trail Canyon Trail.
Cave Spring along the way before the junction with the Trail Canyon Trail.
View back up along the Trail Canyon Trail. We followed this somewhat steep trail down to the trailhead and then followed paved roads back to the car.
View back up along the Trail Canyon Trail. We followed this somewhat steep trail down to the trailhead and then followed paved roads back to the car.

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