Mount Charleston

If it's too hot in the city-and we have been there when it was 106 degrees F, then a great excursion to take is a drive to Mount Charleston, 35 miles North West of the city. Once you turn off the highway you won't meet many other cars as you work your way slowly up towards the summit (11,916 ft).
We won't be climbing to the stop but will go as far as the car will take us.

Snow in the distance promises cooler temperatures

In 2004 I found out that my sister would be on vacation in Las Vegas, so I thought I'd surprise her.
I called her at her hotel, the Sahara and asked her where she was ("We're in Las Vegas!") and how was the weather. She thought I was calling from Chicago. I remarked that I hadn't seen her in a long time (10 years!) and asked her what she was doing that afternoon...it was then I told her where I was  (gasp!) and within an hour was picking her and her husband up for a drive to Mt Charleston-so here they are. Yes, she was surprised to see me.

We are stopped at a horse ranch. If there's a horse in sight Carol has to stop and admire it. Rightly so.

There were no people around looking after the horses and we could have stolen one but with two passengers there was no room in the back seat and even if we did get it back to the Bellagio it would not have been welcome in the room.

At a stop along the way where there are bathrooms I found a poster showing what kind of animals we could meet as the elevation climbed. Some we didn't really want to meet at any altitude.

The road goes ever on, climbing higher and higher as mountain roads do

Other mountains appear in the distance

From a point at about 7,000 feet we can look over to the former testing grounds for the Atomic Bombs, which had been developed at Los Alamos, near Santa Fe, New Mexico in the years leading up to August 1945.

The white stuff on the ground is snow

 This is as far as the road takes us. There is a ski resort here with a restaurant and bathrooms

No snow at this time- I think this photo was taken in October

Here are some photos that were taken in February

Although it's hardly the Swiss Alps, Mount Charleston gives visitors to Las Vegas the opportunity to get out of the desert and ski (snow permitting). For us it's just a nice scenic drive out of the city and a break from the crowds and the hotels and heat.

Before or after a visit to the top we stop at Mt. Charleston Lodge (about halfway down) where they have a decent casual restaurant (sandwiches, burgers and fries etc) and of course restrooms!

On the way back into the city on the busy highway we catch a glimpse of The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, the tallest in the city at a height of 1149 feet, including the radio mast on top. (extreme left)

There's a well-reviewed revolving restaurant near the top and a 2,400 room hotel and casino at the bottom of the tower.

Up until 2010 there was a roller-coaster ride on the top (at the foot of the mast) but that has been removed. There is also a fun ride called X-Scream which rolls passengers along a track in an open car which stops 27 feet over the side of the building and then tilts downwards so that the terrified passengers are looking at the street over 900 feet below...(I called this a fun-ride??)

There's another "fun" ride which shoots people strapped into harnesses (good idea) up the mast to a height of 1080 feet above the street. It's called Big Shot and shoots the riders 160 feet. They experience 4G during the ride.

I've been on the roof terrace watching all of this as it is a great viewpoint to see the city at night but I am not planning to "enjoy" those rides. But you can!

A day up the mountain admiring the scenery and enjoying the cool air is more our style!