What we’re about
WELCOME!
VegasHikers is the premier hiking group in the Desert Southwest! We take more hikes to more places and have the friendliest, most welcoming organizers of any group around. We feature hikes for all skill levels, road trips, camping, and social gatherings. We have events at a huge variety of times, places, and days. We even hike at night! With dozens of organizers and an average of more than an event a day, you're sure to find activities to suit your fancy.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Our organizers are not tour guides, we're not rangers. Going out with us is the same as going out with a few friends. Expect the same risks, take the same precautions. As organizers, we will do our best to give accurate descriptions of the hikes we post. If you're a beginning hiker, a hike's elevation and distance may not mean much to you. Likewise, difficulty ratings are subjective, and a hike that is "easy" to one person may be "moderate" to another. Err on the side of caution. You're much better off going on a hike that's too easy for you than a hike that's too hard or too dangerous for you. As you go on more hikes with us, you'll become more familiar with our ratings and our descriptions, and you'll learn more about your own limits. Ultimately, it's up to you to keep yourself safe out there. You're an adult. Hike within your abilities.
DUES/FEES
There are no membership dues to be a part of this group. It does take money to pay for this site, fill up first aid kits, and keep organizers prepared, so we gladly take donations any time they're offered.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our group can be defined by five terms, which help guide every decision we make. They are as follows:
- All are welcome
- We hike together
- We come prepared
- We're all adults
- We appreciate the outdoors
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Charleston Series: Fletcher PeakSanta Fe Station Hotel and Casino (East Parking Garage - 3rd Floor), Las Vegas, NV
✶✶THIS HIKE IS FULL✶✶
Please read the entire hike description.
Got questions? text Liz 702-496-2455If you are a new participant in the series, then you must complete this electronic WAIVER. If you've already completed one with me as the organizer of another VegasHikers event, it’s not needed.
✨Welcome to the 12th Annual Charleston Series✨
These hikes get progressively harder each week in mileage, elevation gain, and altitude, designed to prepare for long-distance high-altitude hikes. For those unfamiliar with hiking at higher elevations, guidance and tips will be provided on pace, breathing, gear, food/liquid, trail etiquette, and preparations.A secondary benefit is that carpooling, hiking and tailgating with many of the same people each week enables you to develop friendships and trust in each other which you will need as the hikes get harder.
To date, 170 hikers have used this training series to reach Charleston Peak for the first time - will your name be added to the list this year? A pin is available for those who participate in the series and reach the summit of Charleston Peak.
Follow us on Facebook! VegasHikers FB page
📌This hike goes up North Loop Trail to a high point at 10,000' elevation and proceeds through a magical twisted forest. Just before reaching Raintree, a left turn leads to a ridge with three false summits. The final push to Fletcher Peak is quite steep.
This event is cross-posted with 52 Peak Club Founder's Deck.
HIKE QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: Wildhorse Canyon
- Distance: ≈7.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: ≈2,200 ft
- Altitude: between 8,440 – 10,319 ft
Difficulty/pace: strenuous - Class: 1 and some 2
- Exposure: None
- Duration: 7 hours (includes hiking, driving and tailgating)
- No guests, children/minors, canines, or event crashers please!
- All attendees must be members of VegasHikers. Signing up only takes a couple of minutes, and it's FREE.
GEAR:
- Hiking boots or trail shoes are required
- Trekking poles are optional but very helpful
- 2-3L of water, sun protection, snacks & electrolytes
- Carry a windbreaker, warm gloves and hat when hiking in the Mt Charleston area
TAILGATE:
An after hike potluck; social gathering with food and drink. Bring a camp chair. A link for the food signup sheet will be provided in the Comments a few days before the hike.CARPOOL LOCATION:
Please arrive by 6am. Meet in Santa Fe Casino East parking garage 3rd floor, turn left, section 3F. There are two garages; one is visible from Hwy 95 (that is the wrong garage); the other is near the intersection of Lone Mtn Road and Rancho (that is the correct garage). We will form carpools for the drive to the trailhead.There is limited parking at Mt Charleston trailheads, so carpooling is mandatory.
FAQs:
- Do I need to attend every hike? No
- Do I need to be in good shape to start the series? Yes, a reasonable amount of fitness is required.
- Do I need to carpool? Yes, it is socially responsible and parking is very limited.
- Do I need to stay for tailgating? Yes, at least a portion of it.
- Do I need to bring something for the tailgate? No, it’s voluntary but please contribute in some manner such as setup, cleanup, cash donation, etc.
Tentative Schedule for Charleston Series:
- 6/28: Bonanza Peak
- 7/5: Divide Peak
- 7/12: Mummy's Toe
- 7/19: Griffith Peak
- 7/26: Mummy Mountain
- 8/2: Helicopter Pad
- 8/9: Charleston Peak
Tentative Schedule - Additional hikes:
- 6/25: Mack's North Peak
- 8/16: Mummy's Nose
- 8/23: Wheeler Peak
- 8/30: Cockscomb Peak
•• Disclaimer ••
Please be aware that your Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests. By signing up for this event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.Not open - Shadow ChaseNeeds location
REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGN UP-NO EXCEPTIONS
• You must have done one of my Tier 3 or higher hikes with me or have a "Scrambling Skills" pin from a VegasHikers Organizer.
AND
• YOU MUST SIGN A WRITTEN WAIVER TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. The link to the written waiver is here:
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/written-waiver.pdf
You will not be moved to the "going" list without providing a signed waiver to the email address on the waiver.
If you have already provided one to me, you do not need to provide another one.
HIKE DESCRIPTION
This is a new route from July, 2022. Because it was hot, we were trying to stay in the shade as much as possible. It was a fun route, so we're doing it again.
The route goes to the Main Calico Tank and back, but takes different paths to get there. There are a lot of familiar obstacles on this hike, but a few unfamiliar areas.
This is a Tier 4 hike.
• Helmets are always welcome. Be sure to use one that doesn't block your sight.
• Always carry "in case of emergency" numbers with you.
• No guests will be allowed without my prior approval.
YOU MUST BE ON THE "GOING" LIST IN ORDER TO GO ON THIS HIKE. CRASHING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
Meet Location will be sent by text or message on the day prior to the hike.
STATS are not yet available.
• Distance: .
• Elevation gain:
• High point:
• Low point:
• Difficulty: moderate – difficult
• Pace: ~ 1 Miles Per Hour.
• Children: no.
• Dogs: no.
• Time: .
• Bring: At least two liters of water. Snacks.INFORMATION LINKS
Scrambling Tiers
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rickw-scrambling-tiers.pdfPassages
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passages.pdfPin Program
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pin-Collection.pdf - Ike*s Peak 4.3 mile (southwest) 2~groups8600 Todd Allen Creek St, Las Vegas, NV
photos 2025 2024 to 2020 • Hourly Weather + UV (sun) • SW hike maps
For most hikers, this is a "relatively easy" 4.3 mile intermediate "no scrambling" hike, elevation gain 650 feet. From COUGAR AVENUE parking, we first hike around a mountain bend on an old mining road. We ascend to a mountain ridge trail to Ike's Peak and back again (option: loop +½ mile). Hiking shoes: YES, tennis shoes: NO.
Las Vegas weather and by month • 10-day forecast • historical averages
I am a retired systems analyst / computer geek. I still dabble with making (mostly desktop) hobby web pages - the latest include non-app desktop and/or phone pages:
Poplinks (+ YouTube demo ) • TV News Plus • SongLoop • Radio Jukebox
2-GROUPS NOTE • This hike started with Trail-Seekers. Now, most RSVPs are often by members of the larger VegasHikers. If you belong to both Meetup groups, don't RSVP from both groups for the same hike.
Upload to share your Meetup hike photos with others. I will re-post to the Trail-Seekers Meetup group and post to Facebook Summerlin Outdoors group.
Location is southwest of Rhodes Ranch and Cowabunga Canyon water park near Ft Apache Road. If more than 5 minutes late, spot us walking up the hill.
Note: 8600 (street address) is for GPS reference only.
GPS • Parking 36.0314 / -115.3136 (photos) • Ike's Peak 36.054 / -115.32
Street Parking -- COUGAR AVENUE and Todd Allen Creek Street -- 89178DIRECTIONS -- for most, take Ft Apache south, past Warm Springs Road, and past Rhodes Ranch (on left). Turn right (west) at Ford Avenue stoplight. Near the end of Ford Avenue, you may see Forbuss Elementary School. At the end of Ford Avenue, turn right (north) on Reynolds Spring Road and then left on COUGAR AVENUE. We can park along or near the first 2 blocks of COUGAR AVENUE (parking photos).
We DO NOT meet on Reynolds Spring Road and NOT near the flood control basin dam.
For those coming from the southeast or Henderson, go west on Blue Diamond Road aka H-160. Exit at Ft Apache and go north. Turn left (west) at Ford Avenue stoplight en route to Cougar Avenue.
Friendly chat welcome but please: no national politics or religion.
Hiking shoes are REQUIRED for greater safety - no tennis shoes.
Bring water and snacks. • Well behaved dogs on leash might be okay.
I try to schedule my hikes when the sun's UV level is mostly 4 or lower.
Be aware that we share this trail with advanced mountain bikers.Ike's Peak mountain biking -- Summerlin Outdoors -- Durango Southwest
REQUIRED READING (legal info, etc.) • Las Vegas for residents and visitorsUse Meetup message system to contact organizer with any questions.
IF WEATHER FORECAST IS BAD, this hike may be moved to SATURDAY.
