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Ice Box Canyon Trail
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Icebox Canyon Trail
Icebox CanyonEdge of the parking area at Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view W)

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.

Link to map.

Link to BLM Georeference PDF map file.

Icebox Canyon Trail
Ice Box Canyon Trail System sign (view S)


Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...this moderately strenuous hike requires hiking on a rocky trail and climbing over and around boulders in the wash after the trail ends. Be careful when high enough to fall and get hurt, and always watch for wet or icy rocks. Be particularly careful on the water-polished slickrock at the base of the falls.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and please try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, even though this is a short hike, be sure to bring what you need of the 10 Essentials.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located along the Scenic Loop Road in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 1 hour west of Las Vegas. Drive out to Red Rocks, pay the fee, and then drive about 2/3rds of the way around the Scenic Loop to the Ice Box Canyon Trailhead. Park here; this is the trailhead.

Icebox CanyonStart of the Ice Box Trail (view W from the trailhead)

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail runs west to cross Red Rock Wash before climbing towards the mouth of the Ice Box Canyon. Early on, the trail is well defined as it leads up towards the mouth of the canyon. About 0.2 miles out, the trail intersects the SMYC and Dales trails (Wpt. 2). The SMYC Trail runs north to the Willow Spring Area, while Dales Trail runs south to Pine Creek Canyon.

Although it is not entirely apparent from the start, the trail does not follow Ice Box Wash up into the canyon, at least not initially. Rather, the trail climbs onto a rocky bench north (right) of the wash.

At about 0.8 miles out, the canyon narrows, the bench pinches out (Wpt. 03), and the trail drops steeply into the bottom of the canyon. From this point, there is not trail, but the route continues up the wash, climbing over and around boulders all the way to the end. If the bottom of the canyon seems blocked by boulders, look for paths through the shrub live oaks on south (left) side of the canyon to get around obstacles and pools of water.

Icebox Canyon
Grand scenery (view N up Red Rock Canyon)

After about 0.20 miles of scrambling up the wash, the route passes the remains of an ancient Ponderosa Pine. This majestic tree grew right in the bottom of the canyon, but it died and fell over. The living tree used to mark the end of the official Ice Box Canyon Trail, but now the huge log marks the end of the trail and serves as a monument to the memory of this grand old tree.

Just past the ponderosa pine tree, hikers can look up the canyon and see that it forks. The route continues up the wash for another 5 minutes to the fork (Wpt. 04). At the fork, cliffs block the northern fork of the canyon, while overhanging walls and a seasonal waterfall block the southern fork. The destination, however, is a few steps farther up the south fork.

Icebox Canyon
Hiker approaching Red Rock Wash (view W)

In the bottom of the wash, a series of three water-sculpted pools block access to the base of this waterfall. To get up to the base of the falls, backtrack a few feet, climb the south wall behind a tree using a cleft in the rocks, then climb onto and traverse a ledge that leads into the base of the falls. The first pool is in the bottom of the wash at this point and is easy to get to, but be prepared for some serious slickrock scrambling to get to the second and third pools (Wpt. 05).

In the northern fork of the canyon, a waterfall blocks easy progress after just two or three minutes of scrambling. That route looks passable with some climbing, but I would want a rope for the down climb. I've heard that a "rabbit hole" somewhere in here permits access to the upper canyon.

Enjoy a cool lunch at the base of the falls, then when ready, retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Icebox Canyon
Hiker crossing Red Rock Wash (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker approaching west bank of Red Rock Wash (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Hiker on stone stairs leading to the bench (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers on north bench below Ice Box Canyon (view W)
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Icebox Canyon
Junction with Dales Trail and SMYC Trail (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Trail junction sign (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Trail sign at junction (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Watch for the rarely seen Black-chinned Sparrow in this area
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Ice Box Canyon
Lots of rocks in the trail (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Getting into the shadows (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
The bench narrows (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Some hikers cut down off the bench here (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Very steep route to the wash bottom (not the best route; view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
The main trail continues on the bench (view NW)
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Ice Box Canyon
A bit of dirt trail (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Another route down to the wash; worse than the previous route
Ice Box Canyon
The rocky trail continues (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Rocky trail (view W)
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Ice Box Canyon
A ponderosa pine growing up against the cliffs (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
The trail ends as the bench pinches out (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Steep trail descends to the wash (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Rocky trail descends steeply to the wash (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
The trail runs through a tunnel beneath the trees (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Trail emerging out from under the trees (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
In the wash, the route continues up the wash (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers starting up the wash (view SW)
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Ice Box Canyon
Boulder-filled wash (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers navigating boulder-filled wash (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Boulder-filled wash (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
In places like this, try to stay left (view W)
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Icebox Canyon
Bypassing a pool of water (view NW)
Ice Box Canyon
Staying left to bypass the pool of water (view W)
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Ice Box Canyon
Staying left on a bypass (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Staying left on a bypass (view W)
Icebox Canyon
Another pool of water (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Same place, but without the water (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Back in the wash bottom (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Approaching the grand, old tree that died and fell over (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Boulder-filled wash (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Approaching the fork in the canyon (view W)
Ice Box Canyon
Turning into south fork; use bypass behind tree (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Pool of water can block access to the falls (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Hikers at the bypass (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Above the bypass, the route traverses sloping ledge (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Route across sloping ledge (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers on ledge traversing cliff above Lowest Pool (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Hikers on ledge traversing a cliff (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
View up the canyon (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Upper and Lower falls during winter (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Upper and Lower falls during summer (no water; view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Lower falls during winter (view SW)
Ice Box Canyon
Lower falls during summer (no water; view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Lower falls (view SW)
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Upper and Lower falls (view SW)
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Upper falls (view SW)
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Upper falls (view SW)
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Middle falls and pool (view SW)
Icebox Canyon
Middle falls and pool (view SW)

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location Easting Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi) Verified
01 Trailhead 636455 4001450 4,280 0.00 0.00 Yes
02 Dale-SMYC junction 636233 4001217 4,307 0.21 0.21 GPS
03 Trail drops into wash 635455 4000820 4,520 0.61 0.82 GPS
04 Fork in the canyon 635110 4000720 4,640 0.24 1.06 GPS
05 Upper pools 635083 4000681 4,710 0.03 1.09 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240730

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