Longtime residents of Southern Nevada know that if you head west on Blue Diamond Road, you’ll eventually go “over the hump to Pahrump,” as we say. The hump, in this case, is the southern end of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, home to Lovell Canyon.
With the most popular trails on Mt. Charleston out of commission for the foreseeable future, Connor Fields spills the tea on some lesser-known spots where nature lovers can still enjoy outdoor adventures. Lovell Canyon is only 20 minutes from Mountain’s Edge, but its hidden location in the Spring Mountains makes it feel like the wilderness it is. It’s a great spot to get away for almost any recreational activity.
Lovell Canyon has a seemingly endless network of trails and roads, suitable for Jeeps, UTVs, dirt bikes, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. (Check Forest Service signage to see which activities are allowed on your chosen trail.) Connor’s guides from Southern Nevada Conservancy joined him on a short tour of the Lovell Canyon Loop. Schaefer Springs, mentioned in the episode, has gone dry, but the wash that underpins the canyon will delight observant hikers with the occasional burble of fresh mountain water. The trail also skirts along the edges of Torino Ranch, which provides accessible summer camp activities to children and adults with physical and developmental challenges.
Venturing East within Lovell Canyon takes intrepid hikers to the backside of the Red Rock Escarpment, where some of Red Rock’s most iconic peaks, usually accessed from the valley floor, can be reached with a lot less climbing. One of my favorite areas, Little Zion, can be hiked from the trailhead at the end of Rainbow Spring Road. There are no signs out there, so be sure to bring a map!
Hike: Lovell Canyon
Getting there: Take Blue Diamond Road west toward Pahrump. Lovell Canyon Road is on your right, about three miles past the Mountain Springs Saloon.
Length: This is a 5.5-mile lollipop, meaning you head out at the well-marked trailhead and, about 1.5 miles in, start a 2.5-mile loop that can be done either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Hew to the Lovell Canyon Loop Trail (not taking the Schaefer Spring or Griffith Show turnoffs) to get back to where you started.
Pro tip: If you encounter others on the trail, horses have primary right-of-way, followed by hikers, then mountain bikers, then motorized vehicles. If the right-of-way is equal, the person heading uphill has the right-of-way.