23.8
PDI
20.8 mi
DISTANCE
4,840 ft
GAINED
4.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton/Stacy Topping
INTRO
"Kyle Canyon (Route 157 or the road to Mount Charleston) is a long and scenic climb into the Spring Mountains north of Las Vegas. From the junction of Routes 95 and 157, head west up 157. Quite exposed down low, at its start the grade is moderate/shallow and steady and after a few miles you make a gradual turn to the left and head straight for the mountains ahead, the grade gradually increasing...Eventually the grade eases and you encounter a fairly short descent. Climbing soon resumes over shallow grade as you approach the junction with Route 158 on your right. Continue straight ahead on Route 157 as signs of civilization begin to appear along with scenic views of massive Mount Charleston..." (This quote is presented with the approval of John Summerson, from his book, The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike), 2nd Edition, pg. 198.)
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. 4.5% average grade to nearly 8,000' in desert heat. The grade is very consistent with 65% (13.7 miles) at 0-5% and 33% (6.9 miles) at 5-10%. The steepest quarter-mile is 9.3% and steepest continuous mile 7.5%.
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway: Excellent condition with a shoulder on the lower and busier half of the climb.
Traffic: Mild to moderate and traveling at highway speeds - this is not a climb for highway traffic averse cyclists.
Parking: Near climb start - Map; Street View.
Provisions: None on the route. If Mt. Charleston Lodge is open, there will be food and beverages at the finish.
Weather: This climb is in the Mojave Desert and the average high for June-August is 99-104. Additionally, you finish the climb nearly 5,000' above your starting altitude. Therefore, be sure to consult the PJAMM "Full Forecast" feature for the time you expect to arrive at climb start and finish to assess what clothing to bring on your ride.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
There are four climbs that can be included in this trip: turn right onto Highway 158 at mile 17.3 for the Kyle Canyon + Highway 158 (four miles at 6.1% to the finish), and consider doing the climbs on Lee Canyon on the same day or at some time during your trip to the area - I did them on the same day in the heat and, well, that was a mistake . . .
See Routes in Area to assess all four climbs.
We stayed in Las Vegas when we did these climbs and drove the 18 miles from Vegas to this climb for our long riding day. While there is certainly no shortage of hotels in Vegas, if you'd rather, you can also stay in a vacation home rental.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
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NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
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KaktusJaque
This ride is decent, but it's no Mt. Lemmon (Tucson, AZ). The first 15 miles are pretty uninspiring, but the scenery improves slightly after that with a few good lookout points offering views over the valley. Around mile 18 on Kyle Canyon Rd, there's a nice Visitor Center—perfect for refilling water bottles and taking a restroom break. You can also chat with the rangers there. As is typical for Vegas, it was windy. I faced a headwind both on the way up and, frustratingly, the winds shifted and I had headwinds on the way down. About 160 cars passed me, going up and down. Most all were courteous. In most cases, the shoulders are adequate for cyclists, i.e. 3' to 6' in some places, just the line, but not common. NOTE: Be aware that as of September 2024, there’s a lot of construction near the start, and I had to reroute around closed roads.
trier1992
Good ride worth doing. Not the best scenery until the very end when you're up at the resort. Traffic generally isn't so bad, and the road is smooth.
