I found the Las Vegas fitness nut’s mountain! You find them everywhere: from Boulder to Burlington. It is a mountain that all the hardcore mountain jocks like to trail run while the rest of us trudge up to the summit. I met tons of runners, many hikers, and not a few dogs out for a nice walk. Be warned: this is not an easy hike, even though it is pretty popular. There is over 2000 ft of elevation gain and no real trail (just a bunch of use trails). But the view from the top is worth it!

Date of trip: 10/8/06
Hiked with: Husband and dog
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock National Recreation Area, Sandstone Quarry parking lot
Route: Turtlehead Peak trail
Weather: Sunny in the high 70’s/low 80’s
Altitudes/Elevations: Trailhead 4335/ ft. Highest 6323
Sightings: Chipmunks
Gear: day-hiking, but bring lots of extra water
Overall rating: Tough, but worth doing!