View source for Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

{{Short description|Recreation area in Nevada, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area 
| name = Spring Mountains<br />National Recreation Area
| iucn_category = V
| photo = 
| photo_caption = 
| map = Nevada#USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark]] / [[Nye County, Nevada|Nye]] counties, [[Nevada]], United States
| nearest_city = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| coordinates = {{coord|36|16|18|N|115|41|40|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| area = {{convert|316000|acre|sqmi km2||}}
| established = August 4, 1993
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
| governing_body = [[United States Forest Service]]
| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe Spring Mountains National Recreation Area]
}}
The '''Spring Mountains National Recreation Area''' ('''SMNRA''') is a [[United States|U.S.]] [[national recreation area]], administered by the [[U.S. Forest Service]], west of [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].  It covers over {{convert|316000|acre|sqmi km2||}}. The area runs from low meadows (around {{convert|3000|ft|disp=or|sp=us|}} above sea level), to the {{convert|11918|ft|adj=on||}} [[Mount Charleston]]. The SMNRA is a part of the [[Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest]]. It adjoins the [[Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area]], which is administered by the [[Bureau of Land Management]].

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is home to several plant and animal species that are [[Threatened species|threatened]]. This was the driving force to create the [[Mount Charleston Wilderness]] area.

The SMNRA offers activities such as [[hiking]], [[picnicking]], and skiing at the [[Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort]].

==History==
The area was first named the '''[[Charleston Forest Reserve]]''' in 1906.

Additional land was added in 1989 to bring the area up to the current 316,000+ acres (1,279&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>).
The area was designated as Spring Mountains National Recreation Area by the [[U.S. Congress]] in 1993.

== Activities<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe/recreation|title=Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Office|website=USDA Forest Service}}</ref> ==

=== Mountain Biking ===

* Bristlecone Trail
* Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
* Sawmill Trailhead
* Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

=== Campgrounds ===

* Fletcher View Campground
* Hilltop Campground
* Kyle Canyon Road
* McWilliams Campground 
* Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway

=== Backpacking ===

* Kyle Canyon Road
* Mt. Charleston National Recreation Trail (S. Loop)
* Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
* North Loop Trail

=== Hiking ===

* Bonanza Trail
* Cathedral Rock Connector Trail
* Cathedral Rock Trail
* Cathedral Rock Trailhead
* Echo Trailhead
* Fletcher Canyon Trail
* Fletcher Canyon Trailhead
* Griffith Peak Trail
* Griffith Peak Trailhead
* Kyle Canyon Road
* Lower Bristlecone Trailhead
* Mary Jane Falls Trail
* Mary Jane Trailhead
* Mt. Charleston National Recreation Trail (S. Loop)
* Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
* North Loop Trail
* North Loop Trailhead
* Robbers Roost Trailhead
* Sawmill Loop Trail
* Sawmill Ridge Route Trail
* Sawmill Trailhead
* Trail Canyon Trail
* Trail Canyon Trailhead
* Upper Bristlecone Trail
* Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

=== Picnicking ===

* Cathedral Rock Picnic Site
* Deer Creek Picnic Site
* Kyle Canyon Picnic Area
* Kyle Canyon Road
* Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway
* Old Mill Picnic Site
* Sawmill Trailhead

Areas for Group Picnicking at Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Office

* Foxtail Group Picnic Site
* Kyle Canyon Picnic Area

=== Winter Sports ===

* [[Lee Canyon (Ski and Snowboard Resort)]]
* Mt. Charleston Scenic Byway

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Spring Mountains Destruction.JPG|Cathedral Rock Trail Avalanche chute:  Destruction of trees taken on June 1, 2008
File:Little Falls.JPG|Little Falls on June 1, 2008
File:Spring Mountain National Recreation Area.JPG|Entrance and Sign
File:SpringMountainsTrail.JPG|A hiking trail in the mountains.
File:SpringMountainsVisitorCenter.JPG|Forest Service sign at the [[Visitor center]]
File:Charleston Peak South Loop Trail Sign.jpg|[[Mount Charleston|Charleston Peak]] South Loop Trail Sign
File:Fall Colors on South Loop Trail to Charleston Peak.jpg|Fall Colors on South Loop Trail to [[Mount Charleston|Charleston Peak]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe U.S. Forest Service SMNRA Page]
* [http://www.summitpost.org/route/156610/cathedral-rock.html  link to SummitPost description of Cathedral Rock hiking trail ]

{{USNRAs}}
{{Protected areas of Nevada}}
{{Las Vegas Valley}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spring Mountains]]
[[Category:Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Clark County, Nevada]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Nye County, Nevada]]
[[Category:National recreation areas of the United States]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Nevada]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Great Basin]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Nevada]]