Bonanza Trailhead is located up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (also known as Mt. Charleston), about 1.25 hours northwest of Las Vegas. From town, drive north on Highway 95 to Cold Creek Road (Table 1, Site 0341). Turn left onto Cold Creek Road, drive west past the prisons, and continue to Cold Creek Town (Site 0671). The pavement ends on the far edge of Cold Creek town, but Cold Creek Road continues past town as a dirt road. The dirt road is not plowed during winter and may be blocked by snow, and it sometimes is rough and requires a high-clearance vehicle.

Continue uphill on the dirt road always staying on what is clearly the main road (there are several narrow side roads). Cold Creek Road ends in a large gravel parking lot (Site 0259).

Entering the parking lot, the Bonanza Group Camp Trailhead is straight ahead in the northwest corner of the lot. The Bonanza Trail Trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot (southwest corner). For either one, park here; this is the trailhead.

Link to Trailhead Map.

Two trails depart from this parking lot. The Bonanza Trail departs from the southwest corner, and the Camp Bonanza Trail departs from the northwest corner.

Bonanza Trailhead provides access to the Bonanza Trail, which passes Bonanza Peak en route to the Bristlecone Trail in Lee Canyon, Willow Peak, McFarland Peak, and various routes into the mountains. This trail starts from the southwest (far) side of the parking area. The trail goes southwest around an open area (was a grassy meadow), not around the north side of the open area.

The Camp Bonanza Trail provides access to Camp Bonanza, the site of an historic Boy Scout camp. The buildings are gone, but some foundations remain, and the area still is used for group camping. Beyond Camp Bonanza, old-road trails lead to Whisky Spring and other springs.