Overview

Lone Mountain is a steep, isolated, rocky butte in northwest Las Vegas just inside the Interstate-215 Beltway. The summit stands some 600 feet above the surrounding homes, giving great views of the city and the surrounding mountains. There are several steep routes up Lone Mountain, but sometimes we don't need a heavy workout.

The Perimeter Loop Trail provides a nice, not-quite-flat hike that circumnavigates the peak. Hikers can start at either trailhead and walk in either direction, as it is a loop, but as described here, the route starts at the Lone Mountain Park trailhead on the east side of the mountain. The trail heads out to the north edge of Lone Mountain, then loops down around the east side (passing the Vegas Vista Trail Trailhead), wraps around the south tip of Lone Mountain along West Alexander Road, and loops back up along the southwest edge of the mountain to return to the trailhead.

Lone Mountain is good place for a quick get-away or after-work hike; and as one guy on the trail said, it beats an afternoon workout on a treadmill.

Link to trail map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this hike is about as safe as it gets, but don't get complacent.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Although this hike is short, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

Lone Mountain is located in the northwest part of urban Las Vegas, just inside the Western Beltway (Highway I-215) between Lone Mountain and Alexander roads. From town, drive north on Highway 95 or Highway 215 to the northwest part of town.

Continue to the Lone Mountain Discovery Park Trailhead, which is located on the east side of the mountain, or to the Vegas Vista Trail Trailhead on the west side of the mountain.

The Hike

From the Lone Mountain Discovery Park Trailhead paved parking lot (Wpt. 60), hikers walk west onto the Perimeter Route, which runs along the edge of the parking lot. The trail runs northwest on the desert flats along the east side of Lone Mountain. Starting out, hikers depart the paved parking lot, pass the gravel equestrian parking lot and arena, and then encounter the official start of the trail (Wpt. 61).

At the north end of Lone Mountain, the route turns southwest and wraps around the toe of the North Ridge (Wpt. 62). In a few steps, the Perimeter Route passes the use-trail that climbs the North Ridge, but the Perimeter Route stays on the desert flats (here between the mountain and the I-215 fence.

In about 250 yards, the Perimeter Trail passes a fork to the left where a trail stays close to the base of the mountain. This trail eventually returns to the Perimeter Trail. In contrast, the Perimeter Trail stays farther out from the base of the mountain on more gentle terrain.

Staying on the Perimeter Trail, the route curves gently left and eventually loops around to the south and arrives at the Vegas Vista Trailhead (Wpt. 01).

The Perimeter Trail continues south and then southeast, eventually wrapping around the south end of Lone Mountain (Wpt. 30). Hikers can even use the sidewalk along West Alexander along here.

Past the toe of the mountain, the Perimeter Trail curves left staying between the mountain and the block wall of a residential neighborhood (Wpt. 64). Signs announce that hikers are entering a "quiet zone," where apparently the sound of hikers walking and talking on gravel causes too much noise for an expensive neighborhood -- whatever.

Continuing north, hikers eventually exit the "quiet zone" and approach the Lone Mountain Park. The trail stays left and returns hikers to the paved general parking area (Wpt. 60), thus closing the loop.