
Starting up the South Loop Trail from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead.

Along the South Loop Trail.

View back toward the trailhead, Charleston Peak looming above in the distance.

After hiking along the South Loop Trail and ascending a few switchbacks, we left the trail to take this old roadbed.

View back toward the where the South Loop Trail leads from our unofficial old roadbed detour.

The unofficial roadbed/trail led up to a spur ridge. This view is back toward Mummy Mountain and the town of Mount Charleston below.

Harris Mountain came into view top left. Our goal was to traverse this messy landscape to reach a minor spur ridge on the left in this photo. I recommend keeping pretty low since it seemed to get more steep and loose higher up.

We had to climb in and out of little arroyos.

The deadfall wasn't horrible, but it was there.

We probably passed through 3-4 significant arroyos. You can see the spur ridge we started on in the top right of this photo.

We reached our protruding slope of choice, which immediately started to climb steeply.

View back down.

Loose and steep at times, but not too bad. And the deadfall was minimal.

Another shot back as we near the top. The spur ridge we were on before doing the messy traverse is seen center.

Some scree toward the top.

Finally on the west ridge of Harris Mountain. The peak is seen ahead.

View back along Harris Mountain's west ridge. You can see Griffith Peak on the top left.

Along the wide ridge as we ascend to Harris Mountain. There was a social trail much of the way.

View back as we ascend to Harris Mountain.

There's an eroded social trail on the steepest part of the ascent, but it's not helpful since it's quite loose.

Approaching the summit of Harris Mountain.

Harris Mountain summit, view east. You can see Red Rock Canyon and Mount Potosi in the distance.

After descending from Harris Mountain, we located the Griffith Peak Trail and took it as it started west.

View back toward Harris Mountain as we head along the Griffith Peak Trail.

Well-constructed switchbacks.

And some nice views.


Another shot back toward Harris Mountain. You can also see where the Griffith Peak Trail comes in from Harris Spring Road, the scar on the right in this photo.


Griffith Peak is up there in the center.

Another shot back.

Getting closer to Griffith Peak.


Harris Mountain visible left of center.


Wrapping around the south side of Griffith Peak to reach its spur trail.

We took the spur trail up to Griffith Peak. Here's the view from the summit, looking west.

Griffith Peak, view east.

Starting back down the spur trail as we make our way to the South Loop Trail, our hike back.

View back up toward Griffith Peak.

Heading down the South Loop Trail.

Another shot back toward Griffith Peak.

Lots of switchbacks on our way down the South Loop Trail.




Mount Charleston Wilderness sign.

At the base of Griffith Peak as we continue down the South Loop Trail, incredible limestone cliffs visible around us.


The South Loop Trail leads us back to where we left it earlier.
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