The Mt. Charleston Wilderness is an inspiring place with invigorating mountain air, ice-cold springs, and acres of noble evergreen forests. The rugged mountain scenery extends across the crest of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and includes towering crags, deep and wide canyons, narrow slot canyons, and steep hillsides. It includes Fletcher Canyon, Robbers Roost, and Mummy and Trough springs. Elevations range from about 6,500 feet on the lowest slopes in the southwest part of the wilderness, to nearly 12,000 feet at the summit of Mt. Charleston, the highest elevation in the Spring Mountains.

The Mt. Charleston Wilderness contains 18,000 acres of bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva), the most extensive stand of these ancient trees to be found in the intermountain ecoregion. These trees are valued for their aesthetic and scientific purposes and are among the oldest living organisms in the world. In lower elevations, extensive forests of ponderosa pine and white fir provide habitat for the Palmer's chipmunk, a species that only occurs in the Spring Mountains. There are acres of Pinion-Juniper Woodland bright with 15 endemic mountain flowers such as the Charleston Mountain angelica (Angelica scabrida) and booming with wildlife.

About 40 miles of trails cross this area, traversing significant elevation from trailheads to ridge lines. From this back-country, vistas can be seen across the mountains and valleys in the area that seem to reach to the edge of the world. The Mt. Charleston Wilderness was originally part of an area known as the Charleston Forest Reserve established on November 5, 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt under the authority of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891.

In mountain environments, weather can always be a factor. For the most part though, Mount Charleston is around 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas.

Of course, there's camping that should be booked in advance if that's something you're looking do. If you don't book in advance you won't get a place to camp, as seen in many camping areas today around the country where they can be booked online. There are two places to eat on the lower part of the mountain and one seasonal place at Lee. There's NO gas anywhere to be found on the mountain. There's group areas for picnics and plenty of pull-outs for photography. There are places to hike, some in the area of 1/4 mile to many miles across the peeks and valleys.

Mostly at dusk we've seen a variety of wild life on the roads from mountain lions, deer, rabbits, snakes, lizards and squirrels. At Mount Charleston the desert comes alive.

Don't get us wrong, she'll dump some snow in the winter. If this is the case, we may look another direction for a one day at the last minute... At this point below, we're about 3 quarters up to the top of the 12,000 ft Mountain.

Mount Charleston in the Fall season.

Hard to believe, 100 degrees in Vegas and SNOW here.

Joshua Trees of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Wilderness Area

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