Kyle Canyon  Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

7.8
FIETS
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.)
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 - MapStreet 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

Difficulty: Challenging
4
Road
3
Traffic
2
Scenery

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May 28, 2022
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 2
traffic: 3
road: 4
May 28, 2022
scenery: 2
traffic: 3
road: 4
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.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Kyle Canyon - Hwy 157 to Mt. Charleston - cyclist riding

Cycling Hwy 157 (Kyle Canyon and Mt. Charleston)

#70 on the Top US Bike Climb List

21.2 miles gaining 5,070’ to 7,847’ at 4.5% average grade.

John Johnson PJAMM Cycling with bike on Kyle Canyon Hwy 157 Mt Charleston bike climb.  

PJAMM at on Kyle Canyon - 1st of 4 climbs that day.

The first 9 miles of the Mt. Charleston/Kyle Canyon climb are in a somewhat bleak high desert environment. 

Cyclist riding bike up Kyle Canyon, Hwy 157, to Mt. Charleston.

At around 9 miles we begin to enter a canyon-like setting with more scenic views.

Elevation sign on Kyle Canyon

Cyclist riding bike in Mount Charleston Wilderness Area.

Just past Echo Way on way to Mt. Charleston Lodge.

 We enter Spring Mountain National Recreation Area at mile 12.2 and reach the turnoff to the #49 Hwy 157-158 climb at mile 17.5 (3,986' climbed at 4.6% average grade to that point), but continue straight on Hwy 157.  

Mt. Charleston is within the Mount Charleston Wilderness.  Mount Charleston Wilderness area is within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Cyclists at Mt. Charleston Resort.

Finish - Mt. Charleston Lodge

This climb can be extremely hot and probably should be avoided between June and August when the average temperatures range from 99 to 104.

If Mt. Charleston Lodge is open, you can get provisions there - restaurant and general store).

This climb can be done in conjunction with 3 other climbs in the immediate area (#24 Hwy 156 which shares its first 14 miles with #34 Hwy 156/158 climb, and ​Hwy #49 Hwy 157-158, which shares its first 17.5 miles with this Mt. Charleston climb). Be cautious if doing this ride without support as the only provisions are likely to be at the Mt Charleston Lodge at the end of Hwy 157 - support is highly recommended for any effort involving Lee and​ Kyle Canyons in the same ride. ​ Undertaking these 4 climbs in one day is about 90 miles of riding and 12,000' of climbing, but you can actually fly into Las Vegas very early and get er done that day, if you really want to punish yourself!

You will get a very good sense of the climb viewing our YouTube video.

Traffic and Roadway report:  As of October, 2014, the roadway surface was excellent throughout this ride.  There is a designated shoulder area on both sides of the roadway from the beginning of the climb to the 158 turn off at mile 17.5  For much of the first half of the ride, traffic can whiz by at highway speeds.  Traffic for the last 4 miles on Hwy 157 is very light.  ​

Steepest ¼ mile begins at mile 20.4 (8.9%) and mile at 19.9 (7.2%)

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