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| - I've hiked the Bonanza Trail twice and don't plan to do it again. It's a strenuous hike of about 10 miles round trip to the summit and back. To get to the trailhead, you have to drive US 95 north past the two roads that lead to Kyle and lee Canyons at Mount Charleston. You turn left where the sign says Cold Creek. The road goes between the two prisons along US 95. Drive west about 10 miles to the village of Cold Creek. The last section of the road is rough and it's best to have a high clearance vehicle.
There is a parking area at the trailhead and a group camping area. From here, you go cross a meadow for about a half a mile to get to the first of many, many switchbacks. One website says there are 80 switchbacks. The elevation gain makes the hiking tough.
Part way up the switchbacks, you'll come to an old burn area and you can see how the forest has tried to recover. None of the large trees are growing much and it will take a long time.
After what seems an interminable hike, you reach the saddle. From the saddle, the trail heads south in the direction of Mount Charleston. The Bristlecone Trail in Lee Canyon is only 8 miles down the trail. As you start toward the limestone peak to the left of the trail, there is a small use trail that goes to the peak. If you get to the cairn in one of my photos, you've gone a little too far but you can get to the summit from there. From the saddle, as the trail heads south, find a spot where you can head to the left and get on top of the limestone cliffs. If you go left too soon, you'll have a climb up the cliffs. If you stay more to the right, you'll be able to get to the summit without any climbing. I used my GPS unit to find the summit.
Once at the summit, it's time for a well deserved rest and a chance to enjoy the view. Find the ammo box and sign the register. There is cell phone coverage for almost the entire hike so doing it alone is not a problem.
After your rest, retrace your steps. This is a different trail for another reason. It's one of the few trails I hike in the Spring Mountains that you can see the parking lot for a good part of the hike. That's interesting but not essential information.
I would not recommend this hike on a windy day. The winds at the summit can be fierce and you'll be fighting your way up the mountain. If you do this hike, take plenty of water, wear good hiking boots, and a GPS unit for finding the summit is always a good idea.
Happy hiking!
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