MARK WAITE / PVT A camper pitches a tent on the hiking trail heading up to Mount Charleston and Griffith Peak, high in the Spring Mountains. MARK WAITE / PVT A hiker walks on the South Loop Trail on the Las Vegas side of the Spring Mountains. The U.S. Forest Service has scaled back a plan to cut trailheads on the Pahrump side. Advertisement

The Las Vegas side of the Spring Mountains is a beehive of activity.

Rock climbers scale the peaks at Red Rock Conservation Area. Weary hikers ascend Mount Charleston. In the winter, skiers glide down the slopes in Lee Canyon. Bicyclists traverse scenic Highway 159.

On the Pahrump side, only some dirt roads lead up canyons, that dead end without any facilities.

The U.S. Forest Service suggested an ambitious recreation program in the west side master plan for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area released in October 2006.

An extensive trail system would link the major areas in the west side, providing connections to Pahrump and the east side of the Spring Mountains. Major trailheads at the end of Clark and Carpenter canyons were suggested, with parking for 12 to 15 vehicles.

Eight picnic areas were proposed, in places like Clark Canyon, Wallace Canyon and Carpenter Canyon. Scenic overlooks were suggested at high points.

Developed campgrounds would be built at Wheeler Well, Wallace Canyon, Carpenter Canyon, Trout Canyon and Lovell Canyon, acccording to the plan, some would be suitable for equestrian campsites.

Kiosks at the entrances to the national forest would provide information to motorists.

A visitor center for the forest service, National Park Services and U.S. Bureau of Land Management was proposed in Pahrump, in conjunction with the Pahrump Chamber of Commerce.

Due to funding restrictions, only a camp site at Wheeler Well, near Wheeler Pass, and Lovell Canyon are likely to be built, Deputy Forest Service Supervisor Stephanie Phillips told the Pahrump public lands advisory board Wednesday.

"There's no forest service developments on the west side. Pahrump's growing. I think at the time we started this it was something like 35,000 and it was expected to increase by 50 percent within five years. So it was definitely an opportunity for us to look at what could be specifically developed," Phillips said.

"It was a very ambitious master plan. One of the things since we did the master planning, that the forest service has really had to take a hard look at, was how do we cover operations and maintenance?" Phillips said.

Funds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act could be used for construction, but then the facilities would have to be maintained, she said.

"Like so many federal agencies our funds are declining. For us to build new facilities we pretty much have to show we have some way to have a financially-sustainable facility there," Phillips said.

"The roads right now on the west side are in pretty bad shape. To put developed campgrounds at the end of those roads was going to require the paving of those roads and it was estimated anywhere from $500,000 to almost $1 million per mile to bring those roads up to standards so a passenger car could travel on those roads and camp at the end," Phillips said.

A market feasibility study on west side improvements suggested off-highway vehicle routes could entice those off-road user groups to help maintain the trails, Phillips said. A two-day workshop was held at Mountain Falls Resort last December to discuss possible off-road vehicle routes with various user groups.

"We probably feel that there's a necessity or a need for a couple of campgrounds, for instance at the Wheeler Pass area. We also think maybe some campground or picnic facilities over on the Lovell Road area," Phillips said.

The Lovell Road turnoff is about halfway to Las Vegas, near Mountain Springs. It's the only paved road into the Spring Mountains west of the pass.

The forest service is engaged in the "endless surveys" for botanical species and cultural artifacts before undertaking any improvements, she said.

Some of the funds from the Mount Charleston license plates, about $200,000, funneled through the nonprofit Red Rock Conservancy, are being used to hire a volunteer OHV coordinator focusing on the west side, Phillips said.

Death Valley National Park Superintendent J.T. Reynolds said national park officials work with different off-highway vehicle groups on the use of 1,200 miles of unpaved, back country roads, like the Gear Grinders.

Pahrump public lands member Claire Toomey inquired about equestrian facilities in the current plan. She said horseback riders may not have room in the campgrounds after the off-road vehicle riders and campers.

At Wheeler Wells there's a possibility of equestrian camp sites, Phillips said.

"We know there's a great deal of equestrian use on the west side, actually more on the west side than the east side," Phillips said. "That's something we would definitely work into any campground development."

Toomey said some old corrals at Wallace Canyon could be a good starting point for equestrian trails.

Carol Hotchkiss, U.S. Forest Service recreation planner, said equestrian and off-road vehicle groups would be encouraged to discuss issues together.

Public lands board member George Gingell asked why roads up to the campgrounds needed to be paved.

Phillips said the campgrounds would have to be accessible by a variety of vehicles. She added the dirt roads often get washed out after major rains, like on Aug. 8 when Lovell Road looked like a river.

"I think the original plan was pretty ambitious because we were actually looking at development at the simple level of development at the end of almost each of those canyon roads. This is where we're going to need to pare it down and focus maybe on the Lovell and just the Wheeler Well area for the development," Phillips said.

A trailhead is open now at Lovell Canyon and some hiking and equestrian trails, she said, near the Torino Ranch for children.

Matt Luis was concerned about law enforcement.

Luis said about the only time he's seen a ranger on the west side of the Spring Mountains was on the opening day of chukar hunting season.

"We're talking about putting these trailheads in, inviting people in, no enforcement or nothing," Luis said.

Luis added Boy Scout organizations are usually looking to participate in outdoor recreation projects.

Public lands board member Al Balloqui suggested volunteers may want to serve as rangers. Newly-hired Las Vegas BLM Field Office Manager Mary Jo Rugwell said her agency has had success using volunteers to run cultural resource programs.