Summer is ideal time for Spring Mountains visit

With temperatures regularly averaging 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in the Las Vegas Valley, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and Mount Charleston offer summer getaway spots close to home. Recreation opportunities and planned activities are available for all ages and skill levels. Summer programs include weekly Friday night hikes, Saturday Junior Ranger programs and Sunday guided hikes, as well as Science Safaris held intermittently throughout summer. For a full schedule, visit GoMtCharleston.com.

Southern Nevada’s monsoon season is underway through August. In the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, that means the potential for sudden wind, rain and lightning. Visitors should be on the lookout for potential flash floods and be mindful of exposed areas during lightning storms. The recreation area is currently in Stage 1 fire restrictions, which means the only places you can have an open flame are in developed recreation sites with provided facilities, such as the numerous picnic areas and campgrounds on the mountain (and only if they have a provided metal fire ring or charcoal grill). In areas without provided facilities, you can use a propane or gas stove as long as it has an on/off switch.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest also encourages visitors to follow these fire tips:

• Do not leave campfires unattended.

• Clear vegetation and dry debris down to bare soil within 10 feet around your campfire.

• Be sure to completely put out campfires, leaving the site cold to the touch.

• Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling.

• Ensure cigarettes, cigars and tobacco pipes are fully extinguished when not in use.

• Use caution when operating vehicles in close proximity to vegetation. Spark arresting devices must be properly installed and maintained on all internal combustion engines.

• Fireworks, exploding targets and incendiary or tracer ammo are prohibited on public lands.

• Be aware that all types of ammunition can start fires under the right conditions while target shooting. To avoid a chance of sparking, do not use solid copper, steel-core or steel-jacketed ammunition and always avoid shooting in dry fuels or rocky areas.

• Call 911 to report any wildfires.