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This page last updated on 06/15/2017
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Destination: Fletcher Canyon Trail
Length: 3.6 miles round trip.
Elevation: 6,940 feet to 7,990 feet.
General Description: Fletcher Canyon Trail is an easy hike that starts off wandering through some open stands of pinon, Ponderosa, manzanita and mountain mahogany as it leisurely climbs 1/2 mile to a peaceful spring where you'll find shooting stars, columbine, wild rose and ferns thriving in the lush, cool riparian environment. The trail then drops into the streambed and may require some rock scrambling along the way. Just beyond the spring is the end of the trail maintenance.
Directions: This hike is located in Kyle Canyon up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, about 45 minutes northwest of Las Vegas. Take I-15 North from Las Vegas to US-95 North toward Reno. A short ways out of the city, look for SR-157 (Mt. Charleston - Kyle Canyon) and turn left (west). Go 18.1 miles up Kyle Canyon Road (about 1/2 mile past the SR-158 junction) and look for small parking area on the left; the trailhead on right (North) side of road just before reaching the USFS Visitors Center. |
| More Info On Fletcher Canyon Trail: http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/Mt_Char/Fletcher/_Fletch_Cyn.htm |
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06/14/2017 Hike Notes: This was the third time I walked this trail. This time I was accompanied by my friend Blake Smith. It was an absolutely beautiful day in the low 80's with a cool breeze. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, on the drive up Kyle Canyon Road we had a good view of the snow that was still lingering on Mt. Charleston. Click here for more pictures and a description of this page ... Fletcher Canyon Trail.
10/03/2013 Trip Notes: From the trailhead (Fig. 02), the trail runs north past the trailhead sign and across the toe of a ridge that overlooks Fletcher Canyon Wash (Fig. 01). This early part of the trail runs through a forest of Ponderosa Pine and white oak. About .13 miles out, the trail drops into Fletcher Canyon Wash and turns west as it heads uphill past some limestone conglomerate rocks. From here it follows the east side of the wash through a forest of Ponderosa Pines (click to read more), Singleleaf Pinyon, mountain mahogany, manzanita, silk tassel, white oak, sagebrush, and many other shrubs (Figs. 03 & 05). About a half-mile from the trailhead (T/H), it crosses the boundary (Fig. 02) into the Mount Charleston Wilderness Area (Fig. 04). As the trail makes twists and turns, it opens to views of the surrounding mountains on both the east (Fig. 06) and west (Fig. 07) sides of the trail. In the wash and along the sides of the trail you will encounter many fallen trees (Fig. 08) and “driftwood” like roots and stumps (fig. 09). As you can see from several of these pictures, the “turning” of the leaves on many of the surrounding trees, bushes and shrubs added some nice color to the surroundings (Fig 10).
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| (Fig. 03) |
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| (Fig. 08) |
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| (Fig. 09) |
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| (Fig. 10) |
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04/07/2011 Trip Notes: While some members of our group hiked the “trail”, a few of us hiked up the wash that parallels the trail. I got lucky and was able to catch a picture of this Zebra Tailed Lizard (Fig. 11) before he scrambled off. One of the members of our group noticed this beautiful Cecropia Moth (Fig. 12). None of us could believe how large it was – nearly 3-4 inches. The Cecropia Moth caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia), a member of the Saturniidae family, or giant silk moths, is North America's largest native moth. Butterflies and moths go through a life cycle known as complete metamorphosis. The stages of their life cycle include: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. These molting sages are called “instars”. This one appears to be in the fourth instar. Due to the fact that it was a rather dreary, gloomy, overcast day (Fig. 13), it was hard to capture any good landscape pictures while hiking the trail and wash. Maybe I will have better luck on a future visit.
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| (Fig. 11) |
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| (Fig. 12) |
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| (Fig. 13) |
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