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Escarpment Loop Trail -- Clockwise
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Spring Mountains (Mt. Charleston)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Spring Mountains Visitor Center walkway entrance (view SW)

Overview

The Escarpment Trail is a loop trail (3.6 miles total) behind the Spring Mountains (Mount Charleston) Visitor Center. The trail descends gradually into Kyle Canyon Wash, goes out across the bottom of the wash, climbs steeply to run above the band of cliffs visible across the canyon, drops steadily, and returns to the visitor center.

The area is quite scenic with grand views up and down the canyon. A little bit of shade and benches encourage hikers to stop, sit and smell the roses, and listen to the birds.

Presented here are photos of the hike in the clockwise direction. For details of the hike (including trailhead information and GPS coordinates), see Escarpment Trail (counter clockwise), which runs the same loop in the opposite direction.

Link to map.

Escarpment Trail
Approaching the Visitor Center front doors (view SW)

The Hike

Behind the Visitor Center, on the south side of the amphitheater, the hike begins at the Kunav Huveep Trailhead sign-post (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail heads south on a red-gravel trail towards the edge of a canyon. A bench (Wpt. 02) at the edge of the canyon provides a nice place to stop, look over the area, and study the route ahead, which is a bit of a maze (inaccurate published maps add to the confusion).

From the bench (Wpt. 02), hikers can see that the trail bends right and descend into the canyon bottom. in the bottom, this hike turns left down the wash, which is not actually signed as a trail. The wash is followed down through an area previously cleared of vegetation. When hikers get near the tall trees on the right (Wpt. 16), the route exits the wash and connects with a paved trail, which is clearly visible from the bench. On the paved trail, the Packrat Trail, hikers climb steeply towards the base of the cliffs above until reaching a junction with the Escarpment Trail (Wpt. 15), on the left.

Escarpment Trail
Walkway to the trails and back porch (view S)

Turning left, the Escarpment Trail is easy to follow as it climbs around the west end of the escarpment cliffs to gain the higher ground above.

Now running west with great views of the surrounding mountains, the Escarpment Trail runs across the top of the cliffs until the descending around the west end of the cliffs. The Escarpment Trail wraps back around under the cliffs and reconnects with the Packrat Trail. Following the paved and gravel trails back through the maze to the Visitor Center is fairly easy on the way back out. Just keep an eye on the trail that leads back up the side of the cliff to the bench (Wpt. 02) by the Visitor Center.

Escarpment Trail
Sign: Hiking Trails straight ahead (view S)
Escarpment Trail
Trail marker: Kunav Huveep Trail with red gravel
Escarpment Trail
Bench overlooking Kyle Canyon Wash (view W)
Escarpment Trail
View from the bench (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
Sign: Kunav Huveep Trail (edited to reflect reality)
Escarpment Trail
The Kunav Huveep Trail turns left ahead (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
The Kunav Huveep Trail turns left (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
The Kunav Huveep Trail head east on red gravel (view E)
Escarpment Trail
In July 2019, the trail washed out; drop into the wash (view SE)
Escarpment TrailThe hike runs down the wash (view E)
Escarpment Trail
The hike continues down the wash (view E)
Escarpment Trail
The hike exits the wash before reaching the trees (view E)
Escarpment Trail
Winding through bushed, hikers find start of paved trail (view S)
Escarpment Trail
The paved trail is the Packrat Trail (view S)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Parts of the Packrat Trail are pretty steep (view S)
Escarpment Trail
Parts of the Packrat Trail are pretty steep (view S)
Escarpment Trail
Packrat Trail at east end of Escarpment Trail (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail departs the Packrat Trail (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment trail sign (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment trail is easy to follow (view NE)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail winds across the hillside (view E)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail winds across the hillside (view S)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail winds across the hillside (view E)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail runs across the hillside (view E)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Past the cliffs, Escarpment Trail turns south (view S)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail begins to climb around the cliffs (view E)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
The Escarpment Trail climbs for a long way (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail approaching East Bench (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail at switchback (view NE from the bench)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail runs more gently above the cliffs (view NE)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
A small bit of shade along the Escarpment Trail (view W)
Escarpment Trail
Boulders serve as benches with grand views (view W)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail runs gently above the cliffs (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail at Middle Bench (view SW)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail makes a final climb (view W)
Escarpment Trail
Highpoint along the Escarpment Trail (view W)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail begins to descend (view W)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail approaching West Bench (view SW)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail approaching a bench in a steep section (view SW)
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail continues descending around the cliffs (view SW)
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail
Escarpment Trail ending at the Packrat Trail (view E)
Escarpment Trail
Hikers take a hard left onto the Packrat Trail (view NW)
Escarpment Trail
Packrat Trail at Packrat Parallel Trail; hikers can take either (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Parts of the Packrat Trail are pretty steep (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Packrat Parallel Trail returns to the main Packrat Trail (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Asphalt ends at red-gravel trail (view N)
Escarpment Trail
Returning towards the main wash (view N)
Escarpment Trail
Crossing the main wash (view N)
Escarpment Trail
Kunav Huveep Trail continues (view NW)
Escarpment Trail
Kunav Huveep Trail approaching a trail junction (view W)
Escarpment Trail
Trail marker seen before (view N)
Escarpment Trail
Kunav Huveep Trail turns at trail junction and goes uphill (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
Kunav Huveep Trail climbing out of the canyon (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
The bench at the top comes into view (view E)
Escarpment Trail
Returning to the bench (view NE)
Escarpment Trail
The Visitor Center building is visible from the bench (view N)
Escarpment Trail
In case you missed it: that's the Visitor Center (view NW)
Escarpment Trail
Returning to the outdoor amphitheater (view N)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240329

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