Mount Charleston, Las Vegas

only an hours drive from las vegas is an actuall forest, can you believe it???? it even snows up there in the winter, and we can ski !!!! for some reason people only think of cactus,casino,cathouse, and concrete when they think of las vegas...but thats so not all we have..take the 95 north to mt charleston exit...from there you go from desert to forest in 45 minutes..on your left you will first see the new mt charelston hotel, it's nice but keep driving ( really don't stop ) up the hill a little bit more is the mount charleston lodge... this is old school vegas baby!!! they have a great bar...get a baileys and coffee, or for the brave scotch drinkers get the house special mount charleston coffee... to much for me!! they have two patio's the main one is the best you see the whole mountain... they have food which is a little pricey for what you get, but it's good! the best part of this place is the fireplace in the middle of the lounge..in the winter it's the best!!
if you wanna make a weekend out of it they have cabins for rent, which all come with a jaccuzzi, and a porch with the most fantastic views...request the rooms at the end, so you don't have a cabin below you... bring some champagne, or buy some from the bar.... great time !

Take a nice half day ride up the canyons of the Spring Mountains. The elevation gets
up to 7,770+ or so. It's a great way to get away from the summer heat of the conrete
and asphalt jungle of Las Vegas!

Stop at the Lodge near Mt. Charleston for a cocktail and appetizers (or a meal). Take
photos of Mt. Charleston and talk to the locals. They are very friendly. Usually,
there are people selling their jewelry and crafts outside in front of the Lodge.

If you are tired of gambling and the rest of the "stuff" you can do in Vegas, then this
is a great "half-day" trip to get away from it all.

1 more image

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort: Typically open from Thanksgiving thru March (this year they extended into April!) most folks don't realize that it is a nice place to go "cool-it" during the summer when the heat in the Valley can get as high as 115 degrees. The daytime temperature is usually 30 degrees cooler up in the Mt. Charleston area. There are places to picnic and hike and it is a definite break from the wild activity usually associated with Las Vegas. Only a short (between 30 - 45 minutes) but picturesque drive from downtown L.V. - check out this little "getaway" - you'll forget you're in Vegas!

i have been to las vegas many many times over the years and i always make it up to mt. charleston almost every trip. it is just an hour drive from town and once you get up there its a totally different world from vegas.

there is a SMALL ski area, i repeat SMALL, but its fun for a few hours if your up in the winter time. some nice hiking is to be had as well and best of all when its 110 degrees in vegas it will be in the 70's here and you will almost have it to yourselves, its very peaceful and relaxing up at mt. charleston.

This is one of several interesting excursions you can take out of LV (it's not just the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, you know).

Cool off in the alpine setting of Mount Charleston north of Vegas, there are scenic drives, hikes, picnic grounds and campsites.

It's very close to town and it is remarkable how it rises out of the desert so quickly!

Other natural landmarks around town I'd like to see sometime are Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire.

Psst! Zion National Park is only 150 miles straight up the Interstate from Vegas, making it a lot closer than the Grand Canyon!

Snow in Las Vegas? You betcha.... well, sort of. Within an hour's drive of the Strip are the Spring Mountains, home to the tallest peak in the area, Mt. Charleston (10,745 feet). This mountain getaway makes for a great retreat during those unbearable summer months, and it's also a neat spot to go see the snow while you're visiting the desert. Lots of trails of varying length and camping available.

Mount Charleston is a great excape from the financial and other excesses of Las Vegas. There's a small friendly community on this mountain, located less than an hour's drive from Las Vegas. Add to that some great summer hiking trails, cooler temperatures and winter fun, and you have a great year 'round escape.

For more information, visit my Mount Charleston page.

Only an hour from Las Vegas you will find yourself in cool[er] mountain air and among pine trees. Take I-15 to 95 to 157.
.
You can visit the Spring Mountain Visitor Center and have lunch at the Mt. Charleston Hotel. Or even spend the night :)