Before you start your adventure...
The conditions in the Spring Mountains can change season to season, week to week, and even hour to hour. Closure types and reasons may vary but not following them can result in injury, fines, or even death. Our Weekly Update has current details.
Check our weekly report and our Twitter feed for regular updates
Weather
Weather patterns in the Spring Mountains can be drastically different than what the Las Vegas Valley experiences. The Weather page offers multiple tools, tips and webcams to monitor conditions and forecasts. The National Weather Service has additional information and webcams. Remember that high winds and dry conditions can create devastating fire conditions!
Seasonal Pile Burning
As part of hazardous fuels reduction efforts, fire crews will begin pile burning beginning in January and continue through spring, weather and fuel conditions permitting. Please do not call 911 about burning in the areas listed below. Local fire departments are aware of these burning activities. For information on pile-burning activities on the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, click here: 2023 Pile Burning
Snow
Snow in the mountains is always a possibility. During the colder months, it can create road hazards that require chains or snow tires. It also draws crowds looking to play in the snow, but with that comes traffic and intermittent road closures where visitors must turn around. Road conditions are updated by NDOT and closures will be shared on our Twitter feed as quickly as possible (visitor & employee safety comes first!)
Avalanche Risk & Closures
Heavy snowfall can create a serious risk of avalanches. The ski resort grooms their slopes to reduce the possibility of an avalanche, however there is no way to completely eliminate it in groomed or natural areas. Outside of the ski area, no avalanche mitigation or monitoring exists in the Spring Mountains, so visitors are encouraged to learn about avalanche risks, watch the weather and avoid the backgrountry when there is lots of heavy or wet snow. If there is a closure order put into effect in the Spring Mountains, it will be linked here.
Year Round Fire Restrictions currently in effect, including*:
1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stovefire. The ONLY exceptions are stoves using portable fuel with an On/Off switch or knob, OR campfires within the provided rings or grills at developed camp and picnic sites.
2. Using any type of explosive, including fireworks and explosive ammunition or targets.
*Please note that additional fire restrictions may apply. For more information or clarification on individual agency restrictions, visit www.nevadafireinfo.org/restrictions-and-closures. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable as a class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for an organization and/or imprisonment of not more than 6 months.
Shooting Area Restrictions and Closures
- Long term ammo type and target type restrictions are in effect against use of tracer ammo and explosive targets in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
- Lovell Canyon has been temporarily closed to shooting
*** Learn more about shooting in the Spring Mountains
Wild Horses & Burros
It is quite a sight to turn a corner and see a burro crossing the road, or walk into a clearing and find wild horses grazing. These animals are protected under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and interfering with, handling, and feeding them is illegal. Besides the hefty fine, there is a high risk of being bitten or trampled because they are wild animals, so please keep your distance. Learn more about them here: Wild Horses & Burros
Road, Recreation Site, and Trail Closures
Roads, recreation sites, and trails are subject to closure throughout the year for safety and seasonal reasons. Check NDOT and Twitter for updates during active floods, fires, and snow events.
Current closures or access limitations include:
TRAILHEADS open unless noted (*) below:
Click here for full trail descriptions
- Bristlecone, Lower
- Bristlecone, Upper (access to south end of Bonanza Trail)
- Cliffrose/Stepladder
- Deer Creek
- Desert View Overlook
- Echo
- Fletcher Canyon/Eagle's Nest/Acastus
- Harris Spring to Griffith Peak
- Juniper
- Mahogany CCC (trailhead will close with winter conditions)
- North Loop/Rain Tree
- Pack Rat/Escarpment/Acastus (from Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway, trail has some erosion hazards)
- Robber's Roost
- Trail Canyon
Closed Trails:
- Cathedral Rock/South Loop/Griffith Peak
- Mary Jane Falls
PICNIC AREAS:
Open Sites*:
Kyle Canyon (Day use only 10 am-4 pm)
Deer Creek (Free, first come first serve, open dawn to dusk)
Sawmill (may be inaccessible due to snow, free, first come first serve, open dawn to dusk)
SMVG Group Picnic Areas (reservation required)
Lee Meadows (open dawn to dusk, groups must be under 20 people, NO camping or fires)
Closed Sites:
Cathedral Rock Picnic Area
Old Mill (will be open for snowplay weekends in winter)
Foxtail Group Picnic Area (will be open for snowplay weekends in winter)
*All Federal Public Lands Pass (Access Pass, Military Pass, Senior Pass, Annual Parks Pass, and Every Kid in a Park Pass) holders are permitted free usage at single picnic sites at all day use picnic areas except for SMVG, Foxtail, and Cathedral Group Picnic Areas. Pass must be present and its information must be filled out on a fee envelope and deposited in the fee tube at the Self-Service pay station.
CAMPGROUNDS:
Open Sites*:
Fletcher View
McWilliams (sites 1-14 only)
Mack’s Canyon (unpaved, may be inaccessible due to snow)
Mahogany Grove Group Campground (Last reservation Nov 14)
Blue Tree Area (unpaved, may be inaccessible due to snow)
Champion Road (unpaved, may be inaccessible due to snow)
Closed Sites:
Hilltop Campground
*Dispersed camping is prohibited currently in Mahagony Fire burn area
Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway:
WE ARE OPEN! Open every day from 9 am to 4 pm. We're also operating on most holidays.
We will be OPEN during CCSD Summer Break: May 26th-August 7th
We are following the agency and CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions. Please continue to monitor this page for status updates.
Lee Canyon Ski Resort
The Lee Canyon Ski Resort will be open for scenic chair rides and food Friday/Saturday/Sunday through the summer
Visit their website for details
- Lee Meadows is closed to overnight use from sunset to sunrise, daily, year round. No fires permitted in the meadows, however stoves with an On/Off knob or switch are permitted.