Projects to improve outdoor amenities in Spring Mountains

The face of Mount Charleston is ever-changing.

Several U.S. Forest Service projects and plans aim to keep the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area functional for its estimated 300,000 annual visitors.

n Demolition has commenced at the Cathedral Rock picnic area in Kyle Canyon, with construction scheduled to start in July 2012.

The area was closed to visitors this year when the potential for falling tree limbs prompted officials to dub the popular visitor destination unsafe.

Face-lifts are slated to include a new picnic area, new restrooms, interpretive displays, play areas, gathering areas, trails to connect other Mount Charleston trails and increased parking, with access to the South Loop and Cathedral Rock trails.

The facilities also will be updated to meet federal accessibility standards for visitors with physical disabilities , officials said.

Construction is expected to finish in August 2013.

n Upgrades to the Kyle Canyon Campground are slated to begin in July 2012, with completion planned for August 2014.

Construction is to include new restrooms, showers, site furniture, electrical systems , roadways, trails, bridges and interpretive displays.

n Plans are moving forward on the Middle Kyle Canyon Complex, a 4,300-acre recreation and administrative facility to be developed along state Route 157 in Kyle Canyon.

Construction is slated to begin in summer 2012.

The project, dubbed the SMNRA Gateway, is to feature a visitors' center and education buildings, a picnic area, a Cold War memorial, numerous trails and paths, large open spaces, several trail heads, interpretive displays, administrative and fire management infrastructure, ample parking and an amphitheater.

Trails are being constructed in portions of Telephone Canyon, officials said.

Other multi-use trails are to be constructed to connect a variety of facilities in the western and northern parts of Kyle Canyon.

The agency hopes to have construction completed in 2014.

n The Upper Kyle Day Use Area near the Mary Jane Falls and Trail Canyon trailheads is slated to see reconstruction to its parking area and access roads. The added parking is aimed to ease overflow from the closure of the Old Ski Tow area.

New restrooms also are planned.

Mary Jane Falls is to be closed during construction.

Crews are slated to finish work in September 2012.

n The Mahogany Grove group picnic area reconstruction is scheduled to receive new restrooms, site furniture, roadways, trails and interpretive displays. Construction is slated to begin in May 2013.

n New parking, trails and interpretive displays are in the works for the Desert View Overlook.

Construction is to begin in May 2012 and conclude in September.

n The Dolomite and McWilliams campgrounds and the Old Mill Picnic Area will be closed through 2014 as crews complete about $27 million in planned face-lifts.

Camp sites are to be consolidated, and remaining plots will have upgraded restrooms, site furniture , roadways and trails that meet federal accessibility standards for visitors with physical disabilities .

Camping will not be permitted at the Old Mill Picnic Area following the changes.

For more information, call 515-5400 or visit www.fs.fed.us.

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.