It’s been two months that I’ve been in Las Vegas for work.  For a person used to the green of Oregon and Florida, this part of Nevada seems very brown.  The Las Vegas strip is crowded, noisy and lit by neon 24/7.

But just a short one hour drive from the Vegas Strip, there is a place you can get away from the crowds, the lights and the noise.

Mt. Charleston’s many trails are a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city of Las Vegas.   I hiked the Cathedral Rock trail, the shortest option.   The car park is at about the 7500′ elevation level.   The top of Cathedral Rock is at 8600.   So it is a nice short hike of approximately three miles round trip and a 1,000 foot elevation gain.

Now in October the Aspens are turning a beautiful golden color.   Most hikers were accompanied by their four legged friends, which I was glad to see, but only made me miss my own dog even more.

Mt. Charleston is a very nice break from what most people think of as Las Vegas.

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Wildlife at the top of Cathedral Rock