Robber’s Roost Trail at Mt. Charleston

10/03/2013 – This was my third visit to the Robbers Roost Trailhead with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Senior Facility. Refer to the "10/03/2013 Trip Notes" section below for pictures and information on today’s hike.

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(Fig. 01)

(Fig. 02) 10/03/2013 Trip Notes: Having hiked to "smugglers cave on a previous visit, I opted to take what looked like a trail that led to the east, several hundred feet downhill from behind the trailhead information signs next to the parking area on the east side of the road (Fig. 02). After descending this rather steep trail for several hundred feet I came to a road that led in either direction (Fig. 03). I turned left and chose the road that led uphill in a northeasterly direction. I later found out that had I followed this road further, it would have exited back out onto the main road, above the trailhead parking area. Looking back (west) about halfway up this road were some great views of the area surrounding the "robbers roost" caves (Fig. 04). From the upper portion of this road, there were some outstanding views of the mountains looking south (Fig. 05). Not having a lot of time, I was only able to capture a few pictures before I had to turn around and head back to the van.                       (Fig. 03) (Fig. 04) (Fig. 05) 09/20/2012 Trip Notes: On a hiking daytrip with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park’s Senior Facility, half of the group decided to hike the Robber’s Roost Trail before joining the rest of the group on the Bristlecone Trail. This relatively short loop trail to a series of caves in the narrow canyon provided some moderate hiking up a 180-foot elevation climb. Though I never made it into the cave itself, it was easy to understand how it would have been a good hideout back in the day. Besides the nice views, fresh mountain air, and the chirping of the birds along the trail, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the hike was the fact that the temperature was nearly 25-degrees cooler than the 100-plus temperatures back in Vegas. Though the trail appears to be quite easy starting out at the trailhead (Fig. 06), it quickly turns into a trail filled with lots of loose rocks, causing one to be cautious of their footing. The higher you climb (Figs. 07, 08 & 09) the rockier it gets.

(Fig. 06)

(Fig. 07)

(Fig. 08)

(Fig. 09)

By the time you reach the base of the caves (Figs. 10, 11 & 12), you are required to scramble over some jagged and slippery rocks in order to actually enter the caves. At the very top of the trail you are confronted by a very narrow slot filled with large boulders (Fig. 13) worn smooth by hundreds of years of pour overs that pretty much put and end to any further advancement without some serious scrambling.

(Fig.10)

(Fig. 11)

(Fig. 12)

(Fig. 13)

From the top (Fig. 14) and from several vantage points on the way up (Fig. 15) and down (Fig. 16), you are presented with some very rewarding views.

(Fig. 14)

(Fig. 15)

(Fig. 16)

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