Mt. Charleston is a great place to enjoy the views, the winter snow or beat the summer heat.  This beautiful mountain range is just east of Pahrump and easily accessible by Hwy 157 off of US 95.

Explorer, John C. Freemont, named Mt. Charleston while on an expedition in Southern Nevada.  The name was for the hometown of Freemont’s wife, that being Charleston, South Carolina.

At 11,913 feet, Mt. Charleston is one of the highest points in the lower part of the United States and is the third highest peak in Nevada.

In the dog days of summer, it is not unusual for Mt. Charleston to be 20 degrees cooler than the valley floor.  It is a fun drive and visually stimulating to observe the incredible changes in the flora and fauna of the valley floor to the mountain tops.  The views along are worth the drive.

The area is also full of wildlife.  On your trip, you may be lucky enough to see elk, wild horses, burros, quail, desert tortoises, roadrunners, hawks and eagles.  So, don’t forget your camera and binoculars!

At Mt. Charleston, there are dozens of hiking trails, camping sites and picnic areas, two large picnic areas of which are available by reservation.  The campgrounds are open during the summer and the winter.  You may stay up to fourteen days at a time.  If you really want to experience a different way of exploring the mountain, check out the Mt. Charleston riding stables.

For you skiers and snowboarders, you can reach Lee Canyon Ski Resort before you get to Spring Mountains Recreation.  It has an elevation of 9,310 feet and is the only ski resort in southern Nevada.  It is located at 6725 Lee Canyon Road, Las Vegas NV 89124.

An important stopping place is the visitors center where you can obtain all the information available, the most current happening and of course the requisite souvenirs.

For more information about Spring Mountains Recreation, call 702-872-5486