Overview -- Trail is Closed due to damage from the 2023 hurricane.

The Cathedral Rock Trail is a moderately strenuous, 1.5-mile hike through a Pine-Fir Forest to the top of Cathedral Rock, a rocky limestone promontory with great views overlooking Kyle Canyon and the surrounding mountain peaks. Much of the trail follows an old road up an avalanche chute along the east side of Cathedral Rock to a saddle behind the summit. From there, the trail climbs a few short switchbacks to the summit overlook. Views from the top are spectacular: hikers can look straight down to the trailhead and the lodge and off to the other peaks in the area.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this trail passes through an avalanche chute that could be dangerous during winter. The trail is strenuous, so take it easy at this elevation. There are no railings at the top, so be careful near the edge, as a slip would result in certain death. Watch your kids and pets carefully.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this hike is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials. This hike goes up to the edge of the Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area, so pay particular attention to respecting the land.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located in Kyle Canyon up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, about 45 minutes northwest of Las Vegas. From town, drive Highway 95 to Kyle Canyon Road to the Spring Mountains Visitor Center. From the round-about, continue up Kyle Canyon Road for 4.7 miles (8 minutes) to Cathedral Rock Trailhead.

This is the trailhead for the Cathedral Rock Trail, but also the South Loop Trail, Echo Trail, and Upper Little Falls Trail. All four start on the same trail. Note that for a time, the Forest Service referred to the South Loop Trail as the "Mt. Charleston NRT" (where NRT is National Recreation Trail).

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1; Waypoint 01), the Cathedral Rock Trail runs up and left around a fenced habitat restoration area where hikers get their first glimpse through the trees of Cathedral Rock towering above. In about 200 yards the trail arrives at a fork (Wpt. 02). At the fork, the Cathedral Rock Trail (and Echo Trail) turns right, while the South Loop Trail continues straight.

To this point, the trail passes through a mixed forest of Ponderosa Pines and White Fir with an open understory of Wax Currents and a few other shrubs, plus some grasses, thistles, and a few forbs. In the trees, views are short, but hikers can look back down on the trailhead parking area.

From the trail junction (Wpt. 02), the Cathedral Rock Trail turns right and starts up the hillside. In about 100 yards, the trail forks again (Wpt. 03). Here, the Cathedral Rock Trail bends left climbing stone stairs, while the Echo Trail stays to the right (straight) with a dirt tread.

From the fork (Wpt. 03), the Cathedral Rock Trail follows an old road as it zig-zags up Mazie Canyon, which forms an avalanche chute between Cathedral Rock (on the right) and Echo Rock (on the left). Repeated avalanches prevent conifer trees from growing too tall here, thus opening the forest and allowing Quaking Aspen to grow (they bend under the snow). There are several species of shrubs and lots of spring wildflowers here too. The quaking aspen have grown so tall that it is hard to notice the open avalanche chute, but when the aspen get too tall, they too will be knocked down. A tangle of old logs reveals the history of the area and the cycle of life.

The trail runs up under Echo Cliffs (3rd switchback), then switchbacks over to the base of Cathedral Rock (4th switchback), and switchbacks again back up under Echo Cliffs (5th switchback; Wpt. 04) into a wooded area about 0.8 miles out.

At the 5th switchback, hikers see a wooden bench above the trail, and to the left an unmarked use-trail east heads into the trees towards the cliffs. This use-trail leads a short distance to a seasonal waterfall (Wpt. 10).

From the 5th switchback (Wpt. 04), the Cathedral Rock Trail continues up following the old road through wooded and open areas with great views down the canyon and of the steep east face of Cathedral Rock.

After two shorter switchbacks, Cathedral Rock Trail circles around the top of Mazie Canyon and begins to approach Cathedral Rock from the south. Near the back of Cathedral Rock, the trail forks (Wpt. 05) for a last time. Here, the old road forks left and continues west as the Upper Little Falls Trail. In contrast, a narrow trail going right towards Cathedral Rock drops into a saddle. It is easy to get confused here because it looks like the trail should continue up the old road; historically there has not been a trail sign here.

The narrow trail to the north leads down a few yards to a saddle where diggings for old water works can be seen as a trench on the left. The trench was for a buried water pipe, and during periods of spring snow melt, water from Little Falls Creek can be seen pouring out of a broken pipe below the trail on the right (opposite the trench).

From the saddle, Cathedral Rock Trail climbs onto the back of Cathedral Rock and angles off towards the southeast corner of Cathedral Rock. A few steep switchbacks, shaded primarily by Ponderosa Pine, brings the trail back to the southwest side of Cathedral Rock. Before long, stone stairs, steep trail, and short switchbacks bring hikers near the summit.

For most hikers, the true summit probably is ignored, and instead hikers drop a few feet in elevation as they head out to the Cathedral Rock Overlook (Wpt. 06).

Views from Cathedral Rock Overlook are spectacular. Adventuresome hikers can work their way out to the edge of the cliff and look straight down about 1,000 feet to the Lodge and trailhead parking area. Be careful and watch your children here, as it is 1,000 feet straight down. Also, be careful not to kick rocks off the summit because someone might be hiking below on the Echo Trail (or the rocks may be hitting your own car). See summit views.

Cathedral Rock Overlook is a good place to see the endemic Mt. Charleston Chipmunk (endemic means they only live here). This is also a good place to see Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels. Superficially they look similar, but the chipmunk is smaller with black-and-white stripes across the face, while the ground squirrel has reddish fur on the head and shoulders (the "golden mantle") and the face is dark with a bit of a white ring around the eye. These guys are serious beggars and will happily take your lunch and crumbs. It is not, however, good for them to eat human food. First, they lose their ability to forage efficiently for natural foods, and second, they put on a different kind of fat -- one that is less likely to last while they hibernate through the winter. While feeding them is fun, your generosity makes it more likely they will starve to death during winter.

When ready to leave, retrace your steps back to the trailhead. Please stay on the trail and don't cut the switchbacks on the way down. This damages the trail and the vegetation, and it makes the trail and scenery worse for everyone.

Hikers might consider extending the hike by following the old road west (Upper Little Falls Trail) to the seasonal stream that feeds Little Falls (Wpt. 11, Wpt. 12, Wpt. 13).