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Ice Box Canyon Trail -- Return to the Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Icebox Canyon Trail
Icebox Canyon
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.

Icebox Canyon
Happy hiker on the ledge below the falls (view NE)
Icebox Canyon
Descending traverse above Lower Pool (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Route runs across the ledge, then turns down (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
The route descends the slickrock into the cleft behind the tree
Icebox Canyon
End of the traverse above Lower Pool (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
The cleft behind the tree (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
The cleft and the tree (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
The route runs down the wash (view NE)
Icebox Canyon
Base of the fallen giant Ponderosa Pine (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
The fallen giant Ponderosa Pine is now bleached white (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Continuing down the canyon (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Don't forget about the bypasses through the trees (view SE)
Ice Box Canyon Ice Box Canyon
Icebox Canyon
Cliffs tower above the wash (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Continuing down the wash (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Continuing down the wash (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Just past the cliff on the left, the trail exits the wash (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers scrambling down the wash (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Just past the cliff on the left, the trail exits the wash (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Approaching the exit trail (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Trail starts up steep hillside by passing under oak trees (view NE)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers exiting the wash by climbing the steep bank (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Starting up the trail (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Steep, rocky trail under the trees (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Steep, rocky trail beyond the trees (view NE)
Ice Box Canyon
Arriving atop the bench (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
A not-so-rocky bit of trail (view NE)
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Ice Box Canyon
A spot of winter sunshine on the trail (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Back into the shadows (view E)
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Ice Box Canyon Ice Box Canyon
Ice Box Canyon
Well-defined and not-so-rocky trail (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Returning to the Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker passing Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker on easy trail (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker approaching Red Rock Wash (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker descending into Red Rock Wash (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker descending into Red Rock Wash (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker at edge of Red Rock Wash (view NE)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker crossing Red Rock Wash (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker crossing desert flats (view E)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker approaching Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Trail winds up hillside towards Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Approaching Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E)
Ice Box Canyon
Returning to Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240330

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