Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Icebox Canyon, Red Rock

This hike is about 1.1 miles with an elevation gain of about 500ft. I would say this hike is easy, depending on how much hiking/scrambling you are used to. It get's a little chilly so I recommend bringing a fleece or jacket and long pants during winter and fall. Take the scenic loop for about 8miles; the parking area for this hike is the next turn out after the willow springs tournout.
View from Trailhead


There is a little bit of scrambling along the wash with no clearly marked trail for most of the hike (early on the trail is well defined). Just continue along the wash as far back as you can go! At times you may need to search to find a path around shrubs blocking the way.
Pics along the wash


Eventually you will run into some rock pools & a waterfall (depending on the time of year). People do go dip in the pools, however if you are planning to climb any further make sure you take your shoes off so they don't get wet! The rocks here are already slippery.
Pools & waterfall pics

It is possible to climb part of the way up the waterfall without equipment, but use caution. There have been reports of many accidents here resulting in EMS rescues. If you are going to attempt to climb, make sure your shoes aren't wet! I attached a picture of me making the climb below!

And here's what I saw from up there! I think the adventure of the climb was better than the end result in this case... lol


Well that's the end of the trail, time to turn around and go back! Now somehow my friend and I ended up heading back a slightly different way. We ended up in a second wash that runs parallel and below the main trail. At a certain point the shrubs got too thick to pass, so we just climbed a hillside on our left to get back on the main trail.

Yes, there IS ice in icebox canyon!!

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