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Macks Canyon Road
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mack's Canyon Road - The gravel road that goes into Mack's Canyon is located on Lee Canyon Road a short distance past the Sawmill equestrian and picnic area. There is a pull-off area by the road to park vehicles. The road itself is 5 miles long going into the canyon. Since this is an out-and-back hike, you can go whatever distance is comfortable before turning around. Depending on the distance hiked, the road is easy to moderate in rating. The high point of the road is the Sisters Spur Road (2 miles in) that is not vehicle friendly. After this point, the road drops slowly down into Mack's Canyon. This is not a good hike to do on weekends in the summer due to the fact that this is a popular camping area and traffic on the dusty road is heavier. The out and back hike from the Sawmill Trailhead to the Sisters Spur Road is 4.5 miles with 850 feet of elevation gain.

Macks Peak
(Springs Mountains NRA)

Macks Peak - Although short, the hike to Macks Peak is strenuous involving some exposure nearing the top. The approach terrain is steep and there is a steep ramp that must be negotiated. (See the green diagonal on the left end of the mountain.) That said, the views from the top are vast including Cold Creek and desert playas along with Charleston Peak and the Sisters Range. Worth the effort, the out and back hike is 4 miles with 1800 feet of elevation gain.

Mary Jane Falls
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mary Jane Falls - To reach the trailhead, take Kyle Canyon Road to Echo Drive, turn right for about 1/2 mile, and turn left on the signed gravel road passing the Trail Canyon Trailhead and drive further to the next parking area. The trail starts off with a moderate climb as it heads to the northwest. After 3/4 mile, the trail turns sharply to the right and climbs more steeply on a series of switchbacks. Near the falls, there are several sections of rock steps. This easy to moderate hike is best done in the early spring when larger volumes of water are cascading over the cliffs above. This out-and-back hike is 3 miles long with a vertical gain of 920 feet. Hikers can continue around the cliff wall at the falls on a trail that leads to a large cave with a nice view of Kyle Canyon.

McCullough Hills Trail
(Sloan Canyon NCA)

 McCullough Hills Trail - This 8 mile point to point moderately strenuous trail travels from a trailhead at the end of Mission Drive to a trailhead off of Reunion Drive in Henderson, NV. The hike climbs over a saddle near the mid-point. The club does an annual point to point to point hike. Totals for this long distance hike are 17 miles with 2000 feet of elevation gain.

McFarland Peak
(Spring Mountains NRA)

McFarland Peak - This peak can be hiked from three different directions; the most popular being from a spur trail off of the Bonanza Trail approximately 5.5 miles from the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead. The very strenuous ascent involves a difficult gully climb filled with large scree. Bagging this peak results in a lot a bragging rights! The entire hike is 13 miles with around 4000 feet of elevation gain.

North Ridge Approach

Mescalito Peak
(Red Rock Canyon NCA)

Mescalito Peak is a pointy red topped peak in Pine Creek Canyon. It divides the two canyon forks of Fern Canyon and Pine Creek South Fork. It is a very strenuous peak to climb and can be negotiated from either side but the most popular route is up from Fern Canyon and down through the South Fork. As all very strenuous routes, it should be first hiked with guidance. The entire loop route is almost 9 miles and 2800 feet of elevation gain.

Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail
(U.S. Forest Service)

Middle Deer Creek Canyon Trail - This moderate trail is part of the very old Deer Creek Loop. There are still old wooden signs indicating this name. The trail begins at Lee Canyon Road 10.5 miles up from I-95. After crossing Lee Canyon, the trail begins an undulating trek across the desert, passing the old catch pen spring and reaching the deep Deer Creek Canyon about midway between Deer Creek Road above and the mouth of the canyon below. An out and back hike is 7.5 miles with 1300 feet of elevation gain. Should not be hiked in the summer months.

Moenkopi Loop 
(Red Rock Canyon NCA)

Moenkopi Loop - This short easy hike in Red Rock begins at the Visitor Center, which has a direct exit back to Highway 159 without driving the scenic loop. The trail is currently accessed by going west in front of the new building through a small picnic area. After hiking to the bottom of the hill and turning right, the trail will turn right at a junction after a few yards. Turn left at a signed junction about 1/4 mile from the first turn and follow the trail north through the desert for about 3/4 miles. At that point, follow the trail which bends left and climbs a small ridge. Descend on the other side, turning left and following a short section of the Grand Circle Trail back to the Visitor Center. Total distance is slightly more than 2 miles with less than 200 feet of elevation gain.



Mormon Camp Loop
(Spring Mountains NRA)


Mormon Camp Trail - The starting point for this moderate hike is a parking area off a gravel road on the left of Highway 158 about one mile north of the Deer Creek picnic area. The loop hike consists of some gravel road and trails that circle into the Mormon girls' summer camp. The trail (labeled Fire Exit) has one steep drop on the descent that is aided by a rope tied to a tree. Total distance is about 5.5 miles with 1100 feet of elevation gain. This hike should only be done before early June or after Labor Day because it is private property.

Mother Loop 
(Bootleg Canyon Park, Boulder City)

Mother Loop - There are a few ways to utilize the Mother Trail as a loop leaving from the zip line and River Mountains trailheads. The moderately strenuous hikes are mostly desert terrain and they afford views of the city as you round the backside of the park. Distances range from 8 to 10 miles with around 1300 feet of elevation gain. A few routes are indicated below.

West Leg / Cut Across / Caldera / Mother

Red & Black Tr / Caldera / Mother

Mother Trail O&B

Mountain Springs Loop
(Mountain Springs, NV)

Mountain Springs Loop - This leisurely hike uses the dirt roads and trails above the small town of Mountain Springs, NV to make a 4 mile loop finding agave roasting pits, springs and a cave. The Mountains Springs Summit Pass Trailhead is used but the hike does not climb up Heartbreak Hill past the radio relay tower. There is 550 feet of elevation gain.

Mountain Springs Peak
(Red Rock Canyon NCA)

Mountain Springs Peak - To access the route to the limestone peak overlooking Red Rock and Cottonwood Valley, take Highway 160 to Mountain Springs Summit Pass Trailhead. The moderately strenuous route first follows a gravel road to a radio relay tower and then a trail to a ridge, then turns left. Another left at a trail fork continues to the limestone ridge behind the southern part of the escarpment. The trail hugs the front edge of the ridge and winds to the east, climbing the peak above Mud Springs Canyon. The views from the top are sensational. Total elevation gain is 1,300 feet. To return to the starting point, either reverse the direction for a total distance of 5 miles or turn the hike into a loop of 7 miles by first following a ridge or wash to the west and turning left on Mountain Springs Trail, passing the two main Mountain Springs to the starting point.

Route as an Out-n-Back

Route as a Loop

Mount Charleston
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mount Charleston - Two strenuous routes lead to the highest peak in southern Nevada. The South Loop Trail starts near the Cathedral Rock Picnic Area at the end of Kyle Canyon Road (Hwy 157), climbs up to the junction with the Harris Springs Trail (the saddle), then turns right across the top of the south ridge, passing a large meadow area and the site of a 1955 plane crash before making a steep climb to the summit. One-way distance is 8.75 miles. The North Loop Trail starts at Highway 158 and is 11 miles long, but it can be shortened to 8.25 miles by using Trail Canyon Trail out of Kyle Canyon. Either of these trails can be done as an out-and-back, or the peak can be hiked as a point-to-point (South Loop and North Loop) hike using Trail Canyon for a total of 17 miles and 5500 feet of gross elevation gain.

Trail Canyon / North Loop Approach

South Loop Approach

Mud Mack Loop
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mud Mack Loop - This moderate hike utilizes part of the Mud Springs Loop that connects with the Sawmill Trailhead and 2.5 miles of Macks Canyon Road. It can be done in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions. The trail portion of the hike travels through beautiful foothill woodlands then connections with the dirt road in one of two different ways. The shortest way is 7 miles with 1200 feet of elevation gain.

Clockwise

Mud Springs
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mud Springs - The shortest starting point for this moderate 5 mile out-and-back hike (with 1200 feet of elevation gain) is located about three miles along Mack's Canyon Road, on the north side of Highway 156 just west of the Sawmill Picnic Area. This hike follows a well-maintained trail above three natural springs that are a source of water for wildlife, including a herd of elk that roam the northern sections of the Spring Mountains. The terrain along the trail undulates within the 7500 to 7700 foot elevation range. Mud Springs can also be accessed from the Sawmill Trailhead via an 18 mile loop. This loop can be divided into two loops (upper and lower) easily. And, the 5 mile route can also be extended by one mile using a different starting point. With more distance, the hike becomes moderately strenuous.

Out and Back (6 miles) using the upper trailhead.

 5 mile trailhead indicated below:

 Lower Mud Springs Loop using upper trailhead.

Muffins and Skull Canyon
(Red Rock Canyon NCA - North Blue Diamond Hills)

Muffins & Skull Canyon - Begin the hike at the gravel Cowboy Trails parking lot  located about 0.7 miles west of the Red Rock entrance. The partial loop hike heads toward the mouth of Skull Canyon on Blue Diamond Hill. The trail turns back to the left at a junction and climbs the north ridge to the unusual rock formations known as the Muffins. After about one mile hiking across open terrain up the ridge you cross the trail descending into Skull Canyon. Turn right and follow the trail to the starting point. This moderate partial loop hike is about 5.5 miles long with 1300 feet of gain. The Muffins hike can also be used in combination with other routes in the North Blue Diamond Hills.

Mummy's Nose
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mummy's Nose - This peak can be seen clearly from the North Loop saddle area. It is the pointed prominent peak that rises individually on the "head" end of Mummy Mountain. The very strenuous climb begins at the chain-up pullout on Lee Canyon Road and climbs up to a very steep drainage. The drainage takes hikers to a saddle where a left turn leads to a 3rd class climb and the peak. There is exposure on the peak as terrain drops off in almost every direction. The out and back hike is not quite 4 miles with 3000 feet of elevation gain.

Mummy Springs
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mummy Springs - This moderate to moderately strenuous hike utilizes the North Loop Trail which begins on Highway 158. The trail climbs up past a meadow and 12 switchbacks for a total elevation gain of 1400 feet. Turning to the right on the North Loop Trail, the hike begins a slow descent for 1/2 mile to the site of "Raintree." A spur trail for the springs bears to the right again for a somewhat steeper descent for 1/3 mile ending below a 10-foot rock wall area from which the springs beneath Mummy Mountain flow. The return hike can be done as an out-and-back, or by using either Wild Horse Canyon or Wild Horse Ridge. Either way, the hike is between 5.5 and 6 miles total. Another option is to make the hike a more strenuous loop by starting up along Deer Creek to the old resort cabins and climbing a ridge to the Mummy's Toe Trail just beyond the spring and returning on North Loop Trail, a total of 6 miles.

Route Up Deer Creek Trail & Down Wild Horse Canyon

Route Up Deer Creek Trail & Down North Loop Trail

Mummy's Toe
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mummy's Toe - Often referred to as the "easiest" Mummy part to climb, the prominent rise at the foot of Mummy Mountain is still a challenging trek. The route either climbs up the North Loop from its trailhead or up the steeper Deer Creek Trail. After reaching the Mummy Spring area, the trail continues up via a set of switchbacks, through a small level-changing crack then over to a leftward trajectory on very steep terrain. The out and back hike on the Deer Creek Trail is almost 6 miles with 2700 feet of elevation gain. The longer route up North Loop is almost 8 miles with 2900 feet of elevation gain. Either route is considered strenuous.

Route Up and Back via Deer Creek Trail

Route Up Deer Creek and Down North Loop

Mummy's Tummy
(Spring Mountains NRA)

Mummy's Tummy - Mummy Mountain is the second highest peak in the Spring Mountains and is only 450 elevation feet lower than Charleston Peak (the highest). To bag this peak, there is 3.5 miles of heavy ascent from Trail Canyon and the North Loop before the route turns right at a tree marked with an "M." This right turn takes hikers up the infamous scree field (550 elevation feet) to the ridge. There is still challenging terrain after gaining this ridge but finally at the peak, hikers will find a large acreage of summit with majestic views. The totals for this very strenuous out and back hike are 9 miles and 3800 feet of elevation gain.