A seasonal road sign warning of road restrictions is shown on Kyle Canyon at the junction of State Route 158 (the road connects Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon) on Mount Charleston Thursday, April 5, 2012.
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019 | 3:52 p.m.
People heading to Mount Charleston for the Thanksgiving holiday should leave early, take emergency supplies and pay attention to weather alerts, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.
Officials are expecting an influx of visitors from Wednesday to Saturday, which will coincide with a winter storm advisory.
“Motorists who go to the mountain unprepared could cause unnecessary risks to themselves and first responders and take (them) away from other emergency situations,” the patrol said in a news release.
Motorists should make sure they have a full tank of gas and cold weather gear, as well as food, water and charged cell phones, the patrol said. If it’s snowing, troopers may turn away vehicles without four-wheel drive or snow chains, the patrol said.
Parking on Mount Charleston is limited to 3,500 vehicles along State Routes 156, 157 and 158, and the available spaces fill up quickly on holiday weekends, the patrol said.
“General rule of thumb is if you’re leaving your house to go to Mount Charleston after 12 p.m., there is probably no parking left,” the patrol said.
Cars parked illegally will be ticketed and towed, officials said.
The patrol, Metro Police and the Nevada Department of Transportation will monitor traffic conditions and could close the roads leading up to the mountain, the patrol said.
For up-to-date road conditions, visit: gomtcharleston.com or nevadadot.com.
