Griffith Peak trail is a scenic and popular conditioning hike to prepare for Charleston Peak. Winding through the Echo Cliffs, past seasonal wild flowers and views of Cathedral Rock, hikers will enjoy this approximate 10-mile-long challenging trail.
In this guide:
- Griffith Peak trail stats
- What to expect on the trail
- Is the Griffith Peak worth it?
- Practical info for your trip
Griffith Peak Trail Stats
| Trail description | Out and back |
| Location | Griffith Peak – Mt. Charleston, NV 89124 |
| Parking lot & Trail Start | Cathedral Rock Trailhead, Mt. Charleston, NV 89124 |
| Round trip mileage | ~10 miles (We’ve seen estimates between 8.8 miles to 11 miles). |
| Average time | 6 – 8 Hours |
| Difficulty | Strenuous – The trail is considered strenuous due to the max elevation and uneven ground. Higher elevations are tougher to hike in. The trail includes switchbacks and some roughly made stone stairs. |
| Elevation gain | ~3,413 feet |
| Elevation start | ~7,651 feet |
| Elevation max | 11,064 feet |
| Best time to visit | Late June through Mid-September (Note: The trail closes in the winter months) |
| Amenities | Free parking (limited), primitive restrooms, trash receptacle, trail information |
| Entrance Fee | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 Mooses |
Interactive Trail Map
Below is a map of our route from the Cathedral Rock trailhead up to the summit of Griffith Peak. If you can’t see the map below, you can view it directly in Google Maps here.
What to expect on the Griffith Peak trail
Griffith Peak is best reached via the South Loop trail aka Mount Charleston NRT (National Recreation Trail) and starts in the same parking area as the Cathedral Rock trailhead. Hikers can opt to stop at Echo Overlook for a shorter hike or continue to Charleston Peak for a more challenging hike.
We planned to visit on a holiday weekend and knew it was going to be busy, so we arrived at the trailhead just after 7 a.m.
The total parking area holds about 75 cars between the two lots at the trailhead and we found around 6 to 10 spots still available. There is some overflow parking available around 0.3 miles down the hill with no designated walking path. Our advice, go early!
Cathedral Rock has also been closed since Hurricane Hillary came through in August 2023 which added to our surprise as to how busy it was. We didn’t stay around to watch, but we guessed by 7:30 a.m., parking would have been completely full.
Related: How to hike Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock Trailhead to Echo Overlook
To begin, look for the large Cathedral Rock / Mount Charleston NRT sign and follow the trail to the left. You’ll quickly come to a fork with Cathedral Rock headed to the right and the South Loop trail heading straight/left.
You’ll notice the elevation gain starts immediately after the trail fork.
As the trail progresses, you’ll be met with views of the valley, towering cliffs and seasonal wildflowers.
You may even be lucky enough to see the endangered Mount Charleston Blue Butterfly. The Charleston butterfly can only be found in the Spring Mountains area (it lives nowhere else in the world). They are most often found in late July to early August.
We have seen them on the South Loop trail before, but weren’t able to capture a photo. Here’s one from a trail close by.
As you progress along the trail, you’ll see a large prominent rock feature, Echo Overlook. You’ll wrap around the back after a series of switchbacks to reach the viewpoint.
Be sure to turn around often and enjoy the views of the valley.
Just before the switchbacks start, you’ll notice a cave located in the cliff walls, and if you’re there in the early summer, you may hear a small “waterfall” (more of a cascading stream).
Note: We did not attempt to climb up into the cave. It didn’t look safe to us, but we were wondering how many people had attempted to explore inside.
The stream is accessible off the trail; you’ll just need to keep your eyes peeled for a cutoff along the switchbacks. It’s not an official part of the trail, so always use caution exploring.
It won’t take long before you arrive at the overlook.
Cathedral Rock and Mount Charleston will be to the west. If you have binoculars, you can see people on top of Cathedral (if it’s open).
Warning: Be careful walking around Echo Overlook – there are no guardrails and the ground can be slippery. Mummy Mountain can be seen to the north.
Echo Overlook is sometimes used for overnight camping (we’re not sure what the rules are – but we saw some tents the day we visited). This stop is also where we often find wildlife (butterflies, squirrels and birds).
At Echo Overlook, the total mileage is around 2.3 miles and 1,400 feet in elevation. We felt this was the most scenic part of the trail and it’s a great place to turn around if you’ve not feeling like continuing up to Griffith Peak.
Read more about Echo Overlook.
After a quick break and enjoying the views, it was time to continue the uphill march to the summit of Griffith Peak.
Echo Overlook to Griffith Peak Junction
After Echo Overlook, the elevation gain continues on with a moderate incline full of switchbacks. We joked about it being reminscent of Disneyland, except their paths are relatively flat and these are most certainly not.
Along the way, you’ll find two natural areas to stop for a break that include better views of Mount Charleston than at Echo Overlook.
Next up, you’ll reach the boundary sign for the Mount Charleston Wilderness area and the switchbacks will continue all the way to the saddle.
Nearing the saddle, the first glimpse of Griffith’s peak finally comes into view. Yes, we’re going all the way up there.
Continuing up the trail, it will get steeper as you approach the saddle and the final trail junction. The trees become thinner and you’ll be more exposed to the elements. The day we visited, the temperatures were mild and the winds low. This is often not the case.
Finally reaching the saddle, we had achieved a total of 3,000 feet elevation gain and a view of the final hurdle to reaching the summit.
This is another great spot for a break and to soak in the views.
We also saw some backpackers pitch a tent in the sheltered area seen in the photo below.
Final push to Griffith Peak Summit
Once you’re reached the saddle, the good news is there is only about 400 feet of elevation gain left. The bad news is the ridge line is completely exposed and steep.
Despite the short distance remaining, it took about 20 minutes from the saddle to reach the summit. At 11,000 feet, air is thinner and the path was rocky.
At long last, we could see the summit!
Griffith Peak Summit
Reaching the summit is always a welcome sight. There’s plenty of room to spread out if it’s busy, but the day we were there we had the summit all to ourselves for quite some time.
On a clear day, you can see the Vegas skyline from the summit. Plus, we can’t resist seeing Turtlehead Peak from another vantage point. Turtlehead was one of the first peaks we conquered after moving to Vegas.
We enjoyed some lunch and soaked in the views before beginning the long trek down to the trailhead.
The Way Back Down
Heading back down the trail, it was helpful to have trekking poles. We only ended up using them on the steepest part of the incline from the summit down to the saddle, but they were a welcome reprieve.
We enjoy the views along the trail in reverse, especially around the Echo Cliffs.
We arrived back at the trailhead around 7 hours and 40 minutes after we started.
Is hiking Griffith Peak trail worth it?
Rating: 4.0 Mooses
What we liked:
- The first few miles through the Echo Cliffs and up to Echo Overlook never fail to impress.
- While this is a tough hike, the majority of the switchbacks are a manageable grade.
- There are several viewpoints along the way of Charleston Peak and Mummy Mountain and once you reach the summit, you can see all the way to California.
- It’s a great workout and conditioning hike for more challenging trails in the area (we’re looking at you Charleston Peak).
What we didn’t like:
- On the way down, the rocky switchbacks seemed to last forever.
- We visited late in the season and missed the wild flowers and spring time streams. We were also too early for the beautiful fall colors.
Verdict: Griffith is a great training hike to prepare for Charleston Peak and boasts amazing views along the way.
Practical info for your trip
Current trail conditions
- Check GoMtCharleston for current closures or restrictions.
- Check Alltrails for recent trail conditions.
- Check the official weather website GoMtCharleston recommends for temperature forecasts.
What to bring
Be sure to check the weather conditions and pack appropriately. This is what we brought for this hike:
Standard Gear:
- The 10 Essentials. These are a must for us on every hike.
Special Items of note:
- Hiking Boots or closed toe shoes – There were a lot of rocks on the trail. We recommend wearing either hiking boots or trail shoes with good grip on them.
- Trekking Poles – We brought trekking poles but only ended up using them from the top of Griffith down to the cut-off at the saddle. That part of the trail is far steeper than the rest of the trail, though many hikers used poles the entire trail.
- Clothing – Be sure to bring appropriate clothing for rapidly changing conditions. Weather can change extremely fast, especially during the rainy season.
- Water / Snacks – Bring plenty of water (especially in the hot summer months) and extra snacks.
- Navigation – We use Alltrails (no affiliation) on all our hikes. The trail was well marked and I don’t think we would have needed it, but you should always have a form of navigation on any hike you take.
Parking
There is free parking at the Cathedral Rock trailhead, however it is limited. When its full, hikers park down the street and along the road. Be sure to follow all posted signs as some parking along the road is subject to towing. We recommend getting to the trailhead early as you’ll add an additional 0.6 miles round trip for the overflow parking.
Trail Map
In addition to the interactive trail map found at the top of the article, we’ve included a snapshot of the official trail map. We felt the trail was well marked and we didn’t have any issues finding the summit.
Trailhead Amenities
- Two parking lots, one with about 50 spots and one with around 25
- Trail Information and trail map of surrounding areas
- Primitive restrooms
- Trash receptacle
- Benches
- Water spigot
- Nearby to the Fletcher View Campground and Cathedral Rock Picnic Area
- Trail starts for Cathedral Rock and South Loop trailhead which includes access to Echo Overlook, Griffith Peak and Charleson Peak.
- Overflow parking is available approximately 0.3 miles down the paved road (0.6 miles round trip)
Trail Tips
A few tips are posted on the information sign boards at the trailhead:
- Plan Ahead: know where you’re going and what conditions you may encounter. Let someone know your plans and when you’ll be back.
- Pack Smart:
- Layers of protective clothing (warm and wind-proof)
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Plenty of water (more than you think you’ll need)
- Food
- First aid kit
- (For longer hikes): camping gear, or emergency overnight gear
- Cell phone
- Pace yourself: know your own limits and stay well within them…save plenty of energy for the return trip. If in doubt, turn around.
While we didn’t see any other recommendations, other trails in the Spring Mountains area offer a few extra tips:
- Bring a Flashlight – Allow for ample hiking time.
- Leave wildflowers, plants and artifacts. Please leave these behind to be enjoyed by others.
- Take photographs and memories and pack out any trash.
- Stay on trails.
More info for your trip to Mt. Charleston
We’ve created a lot of guides and fun things to do in the Mount Charleston area. Check out some of them below.
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