With towering cliffs, evergreen forests, and alpine streams, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a dramatically different landscape from the surrounding desert. When the heat is sweltering in Las Vegas, people flock to the Spring Mountains for cooler temps and outdoor fun. There are many places where equestrians can ride in the Spring Mountains, but this listing is specific to one trailhead. Locals refer to it as “The Roundabout,” or “Stepladder”, but it is actually called the Cliffrose Trailhead.
From here, you can ride out into a large network of singletrack trails that wind through the mountains. The trails have names like Showgirl Trail, Atomic Duck, Tin Can Alley, Shady Hollow, Step Ladder, etc., but carry a map. Signage is inconsistent and the trails interconnect, often multiple times. But that just means you can do a variety of different rides from the Cliffrose Trailhead!
The trails are slightly technical, if only for some steps ascents and descents and narrow sections with sharp dropoffs. There hasn’t been a lot of trail maintenance, especially the farther back you get, so there are some low branches – be ready to duck. But overall, the trails are fun to ride as they weave in and out of the forest. You’ll also get phenomenal views of Mt. Charleston (Clark County’s highest point at 11,900+ feet and Nevada’s fifth-highest peak) as well as the surrounding mountains.
The terrain is downright lush with pinyon and juniper trees, mountain mahogany, manzanita, shrub oak, Joshua trees, sagebrush, and wildflowers. There are some springs in the canyons that could be flowing early in the season, but don’t plan on accessing water. Footing is mostly dirt trails with some rocky sections.
As you might expect, Mt. Charleston and the Spring Mountains NRA is an extremely popular destination in the summer, especially on weekends. The trails out of Cliffrose are used by mountain bikes as well as hikers. But you will see far fewer people the further out from the trailhead you get. Keep an eye open for the usual Nevada critters like jackrabbits and ground squirrels, as well as burros and deer.
Getting Here
Where to Park: At the roundabout on Kyle Canyon road, take the first exit to the right. At the pack of the trailhead parking lot is a gravel area that can fit several large rigs. There is a bathroom and garbage on site. You can ride out onto the trails right from the parking area.
Trail Maps
