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Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mount Charleston Area
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead sign (view N)

Lower Bristlecone Trailhead is located up in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (also known as Mt. Charleston), about 1-1/4 hours northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive north on Highway 95 to Lee Canyon Road (Highway 156; Table 1, Site 0668). Turn left onto Lee Canyon Road and drive 16.7 miles west towards the ski area. Lower Bristlecone Trailhead is located about 1 mile before the end of Lee Canyon Road, just before the campgrounds.

Link to Trailhead Map.

Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lee Canyon Rd approaching trailhead highway sign (view W)

Driving up the canyon, pass the long, grassy meadow (Lee Meadow) and watch for a trailhead sign on the right. At the unsigned intersection on the right (Site 1276), turn right onto the well-graded Lower Bristlecone Trailhead Access Road. Drive north about 100 yards on the dirt road to the big dirt parking lot at the end of the road (Site 0550). Park here; this is the trailhead.

Lower Bristlecone Trailhead provides access to the Bristlecone Loop Trail, Bonanza Trail, and various routes to places such as McFarland Peak and the Sister Peaks.

Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead highway sign
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead turnoff (view W)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead Access Road (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Approaching Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Arriving at empty Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Arriving at crowded Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Arriving at crowded Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead, start of trail (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view NE)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead and start of trail (view N)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone information kiosk (view W)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone information signs (view W)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone information signs (view W)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone information signs (view W)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone trailhead sign
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Gate blocks vehicles access to Lower Bristlecone trail (view N)
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More to come ...
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking (view SE from trailhead)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Road exiting Lower Bristlecone Trailhead parking area (view S)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lee Canyon Rd driving downhill approaching trailhead (view NE)
Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
Lee Canyon Rd driving downhill approaching trailhead (view NE)

Table 1. Highway Coordinates based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
0550 Bristlecone Trailhead Parking, Lower 618831 4019171 36.31204 115.67635 8,483 Yes
0556 Bristlecone Trailhead Parking, Upper 618761 4018542 36.30638 115.67724 8,684 Yes
0667 Hwy 95 at Hwy 157 651544 4021405 36.32758 115.31167 2,820 Yes
0668 Hwy 95 at Hwy 156 637320 4037799 36.47747 115.46718 3,300 Yes
0727 Kyle Cyn Rd at Deer Creek Rd 625575 4013970 36.26431 115.60209 6,800 Yes
1272 Lee Canyon Rd at Deer Creek Rd 621017 4022368 36.34059 115.65152 7,799 GPS
1276 Lee Canyon Rd at Lower Bristlecone Trailhead Rd 618836 4019047 36.31092 115.67632 8,396 GPS

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

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