Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
 It is a long, steep scramble down (view NE) |
Overview The Ice Box Canyon Trail leads into one of the deep, narrow canyons that cut into the Red Rocks cliffs, climbing about 500 ft in 1.1 miles to a series of waterfalls. The hike is delightful, but the trail and canyon bottom are rocky, so it is slow going and moderately strenuous. The bottom of the canyon rarely gets full sun, resulting in perennially cool conditions, hence the name. High cliffs and water polished rock block further progress up the canyon. This hike runs through Mojave Desert Scrub community up into Pinyon-Juniper Woodland community, and also up into the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area where a few low-elevation ponderosa pine can be found. Presented here are photos of the return. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and photos, see Ice Box Canyon. |
 Departing waterfalls, trail stays high on sandstone slickrock (view NE) |
 Without water in Lower Pool, this looks low to the ground |
 Happy hiker on the ledge below the falls (view NE) |
 Hiker on traverse above Lower Pool (view NE) |
 Sandstone ledge leading to cleft and tree (view E) |
 End of the traverse above Lower Pool (view N) |
 The cleft and the tree (view NE) |
 The tree at the bottom of the cleft (view NE) |
 The route runs down the wash (view NE) |
 Roots of the fallen giant Ponderosa Pine (view E) |
 The fallen giant Ponderosa Pine (view NE) |
 Trail run right of big boulder in the middle of the wash (view E) |
 Edge of the big boulder; climbing down is easier than up (view E) |
 Route turns right onto trail through the trees (view E) |
 Trail through the trees (view E) |
 Trail through the trees (view E) |
 Trail through the trees (view E) |
 Back in the wash (view E) |
 The route continues down the wash (view NE) |
 Approaching exit from the wash (view NE) |
 Arriving at exit from the wash (view NE) |
 Continuing too far -- turn left (view E) |
 If you see this boulder with open mouth, turn back (view E) |
 Trail runs up through tunnel in the trees (view E) |
 Trail climbs up through tunnel in the trees (view E) |
 Trail climbs up through tunnel in the trees (view E) |
 Breaking out of the tunnel in the trees (view E) |
 Arriving at top of tunnel in the trees (view E) |
 Arriving out of the wash back onto the bench (view E) |
 Back on the rocky trail (view E) |
 First view of the red-and-white Calico Hills (view E) |
 The rocky trail continues down the canyon (view E) |
 So many rocks (view E) |
 The trail continues on the bench (view E) |
 The trail bends left to dip though a gully (view NE) |
 The trail drops into the gully with walls of shrubs (view NE) |
 Hackberry Tree in the bottom of the gully (view E) |
 Trail climbs out of the gully (view E) |
 Back on the bench (view E) |
 The trail continues down the rocky bench (view E) |
 The view open up as the trail exits the narrow canyon (view NE) |
 First trail marker on the way down (view NE) |
 The trail continues down the rocky bench (view E) |
 Another trail marker on the way down (view NE) |
 Another trail marker where the trail bends right (view NE) |
 Limestone gravel on the trail marks the start of easier walking |
 The trail continues down the bench (view E) |
 Approaching the Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E) |
 Returning to the Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E) |
 Hiker on easy trail continuing past trail junction (view E) |
 Hiker approaching Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker at top of stone stairs above Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker descending into Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker descending stone stairs into Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker at edge of Red Rock Wash (view NE) |
 Hiker passing through Desert Willow Trees at edge of Red Rock Wash |
 Hiker crossing Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker exiting Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker crossing desert flats (view E) |
 Hiker crossing desert flats (view E) |
 Trail winds up hillside towards Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
 Hiker approaching Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
 Hiker returning to Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view NE) |
 Ice Box Canyon Trailhead parking area (view NE) |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 250705
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