LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Hilary wreaked havoc on the trails and roads of Mount Charleston, two areas have finally reopened.
Deer Creek Picnic Area and Cathedral Rock Trail have both reopened. Hiker Cody Devolder spent his day checking out the new path.
“The last time I was on this trail was 2019. I’m so relieved things are getting back up and running. We had a nice walk,” Devolder told 8 News Now.
8 News Now got an exclusive look at the reopened areas with U.S. Forest Service Officer Taylor Tims who described the destruction that was left behind after the storm.
“We got about 10 inches of rain in an hour so you can imagine the amount of water damage that caused to our trails,” she said. “To reopen a trail, you first need to access it and see what the damage is. In Cathedral Rock specifically there were ruts probably three to four feet deep. That entails a lot of hard labor so what we had to do is fill those holes with boulders.”
The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act provided grant money to get the trail up and running again, but Tims said there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“Mary Jane and Trail Canyon are popular trails that remain closed. The timeline for those will be around 2027,” Tims added.
The Forest Service, Southern Nevada Climate Coalition and Spring Mountain Youth Camp have also played a vital role in the rebuilding process.
The lower part of Bristlecone Trail is open to hikers; however, the upper portion will remain closed until 2029.
