Ice Box Canyon Trail
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Las Vegas Hikes

Ice Box Canyon Trail

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated January 19, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance
2.5 miles
Time
1-2 Hours
Total Climbing
570 feet
Difficulty
Moderate
Crowds
Moderate
Dogs
Leashed
Gear
What I Use
Weather
Latest Report
Park
Red Rock Canyon

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?

Red Rock Canyon Map 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.

Ice Box Canyon is one of the numerous hikes in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which the Bureau of Land Management runs. The hike is reached by driving around the (one-way) Scenic Drive. You must get a timed entry for Red Rock Canyon at some points in the year, so check the Recreation.gov website before you go. You don't have to pay an entry fee if you have a National Parks Pass.

Red Rock Canyon is Nevada's first National Conservation Area.

The Ice Box Canyon hike trailhead is about 8 miles past the Red Rock Canyon visitor center, just off the scenic drive. Use this trailhead address: Ice Box Canyon Trailhead, Ice Box Canyon, Las Vegas, NV 89161

Scenic Drive Map Ice Box Canyon
The trailhead is on the second half of the Scenic Drive.
Ice House Canyon Parking
There's parking on both sides of the road, and the trail is on the right side.
Ice Box Canyon Toilet
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.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Ice Box Canyon Trail Maps

Ice Box Canyon Trail Sign
You'll have trail markers like this on the first half of the hike, but once you're in the canyon, there are none. Just follow the streambed upstream.
Click to activate map
CalTopo
Print Map, Work With It Yourself
GPX
Bring the Guide to Any GPS

3D Map

Ice Box Canyon 3d Map
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

Ice Box Canyon Hike Snow
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

Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 1
The hike starts by the Ice Box Canyon trailhead sign.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 2
Head down the easy to follow trail across the flat area.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 3
When you get to the wash crossing, make a quick right.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 4
And look for the trail to continue across the wash.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 5
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.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 7
The walls of the box canyon are truly stunning as you get closer.

Ice Box Canyon Hike Weathering

The coloration on the rocks is staining from minerals that are dissolved during erosion.

Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 8
Look down in the canyon to your left, which is always pretty lush.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 9
As you approach the mouth of the canyon, the rocky trail splits. Take the upper trail to the right.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 10
Hike along the rocky upper trail.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 12
And then do a short descent to the stream bed.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 13
At the bottom, make the right and start the second part of the hike, which follows the stream bed.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 15
There's no real trail from here on out. You just follow the wash upstream.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 16
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.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 17
When you get towards the end and encounter the biggest set of boulders yet, climb up the rocks to the left.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 18
After climbing up you'll be on a rock shelf along the cliff. Follow that.
Ice Box Canyon Hike Directions 19
And here you are, at the massive falls!
Ice Box Canyon Cris Hazzard
When you're done at the end, just turn around and hike back the way you came.

Originally published February 3, 2023