Nevada · Hiking · La Madre Mountain Wilderness · Near Sandy Valley

Griffith Shadow Trail

8.6 mi
round trip
697 ft
climb
7,148 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Griffith Shadow Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Griffith Shadow Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Griffith Shadow Trail is an 8.6-mile out-and-back hike in the La Madre Mountain Wilderness, part of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated hard, with a one-way elevation gain of 697 feet from a low point of about 6,427 feet to a high of about 7,148 feet. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Charleston show July highs around 79°F with lows near 52°F, while winter highs sit in the mid-40s. Schaefer Springs Loop and Lovell Canyon Loop both start within about half a mile. Climbers can head to The Promised Land, about 4.4 miles away, and Kyle Canyon Campground is about 5.6 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Kyle Canyon Picnic Area Day Use

    Campground

    The next 8 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Maria's Taco Shop

    Fast food

    On your way back · 12 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sandy Valley
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Griffith Shadow Trail

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      44° / 22°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 22°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 26°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 30°

      4 wet

    5. May

      63° / 37°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 46°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 52°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 52°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 44°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 35°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 27°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 21°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Charleston Fire Stn, NV, 5.9 mi away at 7,460 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive