The Ice Box Canyon Trail is a favorite local hike. It's popular but less busy than Red Rock Canyon Park's big-name hikes. The scenery is stunning, with weathered limestone walls providing shade from the sun, making the hike usually much cooler than the surrounding landscape. Once inside Ice Box Canyon, there's some light scrambling as you navigate your way up to the point where the canyon walls make it impossible to continue safely. It's a fun adventure and feels different from Red Rock Canyon's other hikes.
Where is Ice Box Canyon?
Ice Box Canyon is located off the Scenic Drive through Red Rock Canyon Park, about 30-45 minutes from central Las Vegas.
The trailhead is on the second half of the Scenic Drive.There's parking on both sides of the road, and the trail is on the right side.There's a primitive toilet but no other facilities.
Gear For the Hike
You will have to do some easy scrambling on this hike, so light hiking gear or fitness clothes are a good bet. And I'd wear some good trail runners if you have them.
The hike is.a simple out-and-back. The first half of the hike follows a well-established trail. The second half is a scramble up the canyon.
Hike Brief
It's not too common, but you occasionally get snow in Ice Box Canyon. And if it's freezing, the streambed can have icy surfaces.
It's often 10-20°F cooler than the surrounding area once you are in the canyon.
There's a fair amount of scrambling once you are in the canyon. There are no extreme areas where you must pull yourself up boulders, but be prepared to go around and do small climbs up along the wall to pass certain boulders.
Usually, the stream bed is dry with some random pools of water. But it could be wet if there's snowmelt or rain.
If there are thunderstorms in the forecast, you should avoid the canyon. It is susceptible to intense flash floods. The water has enough power to move huge boulders, and it can move you. Watch this incredible video if you're skeptical (or just curious).
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions
The hike starts by the Ice Box Canyon trailhead sign.Head down the easy to follow trail across the flat area.When you get to the wash crossing, make a quick right.And look for the trail to continue across the wash.There's some minor uphill but overall this first part of the hike feels flat. Also notice the trail marker that points you in the correct direction.The walls of the box canyon are truly stunning as you get closer.
The coloration on the rocks is staining from minerals that are dissolved during erosion.
Look down in the canyon to your left, which is always pretty lush.As you approach the mouth of the canyon, the rocky trail splits. Take the upper trail to the right.Hike along the rocky upper trail.And then do a short descent to the stream bed.At the bottom, make the right and start the second part of the hike, which follows the stream bed.There's no real trail from here on out. You just follow the wash upstream.When you encounter big boulders blocking the path, look for a way around, which could be a trail on either side. In general most of the bypass trails are on the left hand side of the stream bed. You shouldn't have to climb up any high boulders.When you get towards the end and encounter the biggest set of boulders yet, climb up the rocks to the left.After climbing up you'll be on a rock shelf along the cliff. Follow that.And here you are, at the massive falls!When you're done at the end, just turn around and hike back the way you came.
