Fletcher Canyon - Mt. Charleston

Join Red Rock Audubon in a short series of events designed to get summer birders out of the Las Vegas valley heat, and into the slightly cooler temperatures of Mt. Charleston at Fletcher Canyon. This is a "birdy" site and also popular with humans, so we are continuing to gather on a Friday to beat the weekend crowds.

Leader: Alex Harper - [email protected]

Start time: 7:00AM (arrive as of 6:45AM, end time, approximately 12:00PM)

Registration: Required. We ask that every attendee register.

Safety & Weather:

We will adhere to the current COVID guidelines as specified by local and CDC health authorities.  Please respect each others' decisions about wearing a mask and distancing.

On the mountain, weather can be a concern and the forecast can change quickly. If there is a threat of thunderstorms during this trip, we will cancel. It is not safe to be on the mountain in serious storms or flooding situations. Typically, storms occur later in the day, so we hope for the best, but will cancel if needed.

Despite the higher elevation, you should still plan to bring plenty of water, protection from the sun (such as a hat and sunscreen), and snacks for yourself as needed. Because of the higher elevation, plan for cool weather at the start time and bring layers to keep yourself comfortable from cool to hot temps. Don't forget your binos! 

There is minimal cell phone service on the mountain. 

Location & About the Site:

Accessibility:

This time we're headed to Fletcher Canyon.  Please note this trail is approximately 2 miles one way (4 miles round trip). Most of the trail is at a moderate grade. When the trail reaches the canyon, the trail gets steeper and narrower. Before deciding to join the trip, please take a look at the description on Bird and Hike or All Trails.

Meeting Location:

Meet at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead parking lot starting at 6:45AM, for a 7:00AM start. The parking lot for the trailhead is on Kyle Canyon Rd at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead, here.

(please note, cell phone service is spotty on Mt Charleston so determine your route there before you leave home)

Birding resources:

Recent eBird sightings: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L585741

Check out xeno-canto (or your preferred birding app with sound files) for birds vocalizations that you might hear while on the trip: Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Mountain Chickadee, Northern Flicker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Clark's Nutcracker, Hermit Thrush, Cassin's Finch, and many more.