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. |
 Happy hiker on the ledge below the falls (view NE) |
 Descending traverse above Lower Pool (view NE) |
 Route runs across the ledge, then turns down (view NE) |
 The route descends the slickrock into the cleft behind the tree |
 End of the traverse above Lower Pool (view NE) |
 The cleft behind the tree (view NE) |
 The cleft and the tree (view NE) |
 The route runs down the wash (view NE) |
 Base of the fallen giant Ponderosa Pine (view NE) |
 The fallen giant Ponderosa Pine is now bleached white (view NE) |
 Continuing down the canyon (view E) |
 Don't forget about the bypasses through the trees (view SE) |
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 Cliffs tower above the wash (view NE) |
 Continuing down the wash (view E) |
 Continuing down the wash (view E) |
 Just past the cliff on the left, the trail exits the wash (view E) |
 Hikers scrambling down the wash (view E) |
 Just past the cliff on the left, the trail exits the wash (view E) |
 Approaching the exit trail (view E) |
 Trail starts up steep hillside by passing under oak trees (view NE) |
 Hikers exiting the wash by climbing the steep bank (view NE) |
 Starting up the trail (view NE) |
 Steep, rocky trail under the trees (view NE) |
 Steep, rocky trail beyond the trees (view NE) |
 Arriving atop the bench (view E) |
 A not-so-rocky bit of trail (view NE) |
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 A spot of winter sunshine on the trail (view E) |
 Back into the shadows (view E) |
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 Well-defined and not-so-rocky trail (view E) |
 Returning to the Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E) |
 Hiker passing Dales Trail and SMYC Trail junction (view E) |
 Hiker on easy trail (view E) |
 Hiker approaching Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker descending into Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker descending into Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker at edge of Red Rock Wash (view NE) |
 Hiker crossing Red Rock Wash (view E) |
 Hiker crossing desert flats (view E) |
 Hiker approaching Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
 Trail winds up hillside towards Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
 Approaching Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
 Returning to Ice Box Canyon Trailhead (view E) |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240330
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