81°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Head to Spring Mountains for fall temperatures, foliage

This is a great time of year to head up to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area — what we locals call Mount Charleston. You will experience crisp early fall temperatures and maybe a good fall foliage show in the surrounding mountains.

One of the best choices might be Fletcher Canyon, a side branch off the larger Kyle Canyon. This is a moderately strenuous hike with an 880-foot elevation gain overall, but it is suitable for most older children and adults, as long as they can handle a 3.5-mile round-trip hike.

The trailhead is at about 6,920 feet in elevation, so expect cooler temperatures than in Las Vegas, about 25 degrees, or even more on some days. Also the thinner air may make hiking seem more strenuous, so keep that in mind before you embark. The trail will take you through a thick evergreen forest, by a spring-fed creek and then a narrow slotlike canyon.

From the signed trailhead, head up the hill on obvious, wide trail. Here you will be in a ponderosa and pinyon pine forest with mountain mahogany, oak and manzanita. Follow the trail for about 1¾ miles as it meanders upstream, crossing the usually dry wash about three times. On your last crossing, you will come to a water-filled creek. After this the trail narrows for about 50 yards or so before dropping directly into the drainage, where you will head left, upstream.

If rain threatens, turn around here and return to the trailhead, saving the hike for another day. This area is subject to severe flash flooding and there is no safe high ground to be found. If it has rained here a couple of days or so prior to the hike, expect pools of water in the drainage and if you continue, you will have to get your feet wet.

From here on up, the wash will serve as your main trail although you will find a few worn paths that skirt obstacles, such as boulders and fallen trees.

Once you reach the narrow area, you will find the canyon walls, which I estimate to rise about 100 feet, though the canyon here is so narrow you could almost touch both walls at once. This section is about 50 yards long and ends at a 10-foot boulder, which blocks further progress.

Or I should say, blocks easy progress. If you’re up for more work and adventure, presuming you have some basic bouldering skills, you can climb up the boulder, on the right side, into the upper canyon. Here, it forks and you can explore both forks with some rock scrambling.

Be aware that many hikers bring their dogs on this trail, and some don’t keep them on a leash. Also you will have to share the first part of the trail with equestrians. Snow often falls here starting in October, and typically remains through the winter, so head out soon.

Many of Deborah Wall’s columns have been compiled into books about hiking in the Southwest. She is also the author of “Great Hikes, a Cerca Country Guide” and a co-author of the book “Access For All, Seeing the Southwest With Limited Mobility.” Wall can be reached at Deborabus@aol.com.

Directions

From Boulder City take U.S. Highway 95 north about 40 miles. Go left on Kyle Canyon Road (Nevada Route 157) Drive 16.5 miles and turn left at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. Pick up maps, books and trail information here. Continue west 1.1 miles to a parking pullout on left. The trailhead is directly across the street.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Tennis duos finish one, two in regionals

Showcasing how strong the Boulder City High School girls tennis doubles program is, the duo of Mariah Torgesen and Kendall Shamo defeated the duo of Chelsie Larson and Lyla Gunson in an all-Eagles finale in the 3A Southern region tournament on Oct. 18.

Lady Eagles volleyball looking at postseason placement

Advancing to 17-18 on the season, Boulder City High School girls volleyball picked up a pair of league victories in this past week of play.

Eagles have solid performance at regional championships

Finishing as individual regional runners-up for Boulder City High School boys’ tennis, the doubles tandem of Shane Barrow and Bennett Forney and singles competitor Logan Borg turned in solid performances this past weekend at Bishop Gorman.

Boys, girls tennis teams claim regional titles

Finishing the first step of their postseason journey, both Boulder City High School tennis programs claimed 3A southern region championships this week.

Hinds leads Lady Eagles to state crown

Repeating as 3A state champions, Boulder City High School girls golf dominated the field at Boulder Creek Golf Club on Oct. 14.

Eagles rebound with road victory, 21-20

Rebounding from defeat, Boulder City High School football leaned on their rushing attack to pull out a 21-20 victory over The Meadows on Oct. 10.

Eagles grounded at homecoming

The scoreboard may have reflected a dreaded 44-8 loss to rival Moapa Valley on Oct. 3, but the optimism surrounding the Boulder City High School football team is much brighter heading into this week.

Girls golf ends season undefeated

Finishing the regular season with an undefeated record, Boulder City High School girls golf finished strong at Casablanca on Sept. 30.

BC seniors swim to victory

Competing at the Silver State Senior Games swim meet at Pavilion Pool in Las Vegas October 4-5, four members of Boulder City’s Masters swim team SONAR dominated the field.

Runners look toward postseason

Competing at the CSN Invitational at Floyd Lamb Park on Oct. 3, Aiden MacPherson and Caleb Wolfe finished fourth and fifth respectively out of 121 runners.