Ladder Canyon Trail & Painted Canyon Loop Hike

5 miles - Moderate Effort
3 Hours (Total)
560 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 1,330 feet
No Dogs Allowed

Considered one of the best desert hikes in Southern California, the Ladder Canyon Trail, with a loop through Painted Canyon, is a must-do. The hike weaves through the canyons in Mecca Hills Wilderness, a rugged and beautiful series of rock formations and slot canyons created by the San Andreas fault and thousands of years of erosion. And, of course, there are the famous ladders. To do the hike, you'll climb up and down several ladders to scale the steep cliff walls. Don't worry, the ladders aren't that scary and I'll explain the experience in detail here in this guide. Another great thing about the Ladder Canyon Trail is that you have great views of the high mountains when you are not in a canyon. Overall this is an incredible hike.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike the Ladder Canyon Trail & Painted Canyon Loop
How To Navigate the Dirt Road to the Hike Start
Understanding How to Do the Ladders Safely
Tips and Tricks for the Hike

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

Where is the Ladder Canyon Trail?

The start of the Ladder Canyon Trail is at the end of the unpaved Painted Canyon Road in Mecca, CA, in the eastern part of the Palm Springs / Coachella Valley area. Use this trailhead address:
Painted Canyon Trailhead, Painted Canyon Rd, Mecca, CA 92254

Check the weather before you go. If there are thunderstorms or flash flood warnings for the area, you don't want to be on this hike. If there has been rain recently, Painted Canyon Road can be closed. Check its status here.

Navigating Painted Canyon Road

Getting to the Ladder and Painted Canyon Trailhead is an adventure in itself, and there are many different stories out there about what the experience is like. Here's the deal.

It's about 4.5 miles on the unpaved Painted Canyon Road to get to the trailhead. The sand is generally hard-packed and rutted in spots. Some sections have soft sand that you can get stuck in. Normally you can drive almost to the trailhead before you hit any soft sand.
If you have a two-wheel drive or low-clearance vehicle, and the sand gets too soft, just back up and park somewhere safe. It's okay to park along the side of the road, and people often park from 0.6-0.3 miles away from the trailhead and walk. That said, I've seen low-clearance vehicles get to the trailhead without a problem. It's whatever you're comfortable with.
If you have a truck or jeep, you'll be fine.
If you do get stuck, know that there's generally no cell-phone service in the canyon and you'll probably have to hitch a ride with another hiker back to the road.
Some guides have reports of cars being broken into. As far as I can tell, there are no more robberies here than any other trailhead in Southern California. Be smart and don't leave any valuables in your car.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 8 — Here's the start of the (all dirt) Painted Canyon Road. Don't get scared by the sign, plenty of low-clearance cars can do this.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 9 — Most of Painted Canyon Road is like this, hard-packed sand with some washboarding.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 10 — Some sections have soft sand. Conditions change as often as the wind blows, so just be aware as you drive.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 11 — If you do get stuck, put some flat rocks under the wheel that drives your car (usually the front), in the direction that you need to get out of the sand in (usually backing up). Your tires can sometimes grip the rocks and break free.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 12 — If you hit a lot of soft sand as you get closer to the trailhead, just park on the side of the road. This is about 0.4 miles away.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 13 — The Painted Canyon Trailhead is easy to spot and has parking spots right in front of the canyon start.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 15 — There is also parking down along the canyon wall.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 14 — Painted Canyon Road dead-ends at the trailhead, so don't worry about passing it.

There are no bathrooms or water sources at the trailhead or on the hike. There is a primitive toilet at another parking area about 1 mile down the road from the trailhead.

Gear for the Hike

This is a backcountry hike and you should prepare accordingly. And although there are shady sections in the slot canyons, other sections are exposed. It's not a hike to do in warmer conditions. People who are not prepared need to get rescued from Ladder and Painted Canyons quite often.

Bring at least 1L of water, more if it's hot.
Trekking poles are best left at home since you'll be climbing and descending ladders.
The trail is very sandy at times, if you have low gaiters, it'll help keep the debris out of your shoes.
You don't need any special gear for the ladders.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Ladder Canyon Trail Maps

So first, a warning. There are several trails through the canyons here, and the route that I describe in this guide is the most popular and easiest to do for most folks. But there are other canyons with ladders and ropes and other scrambling challenges. I highly recommend "dipping your toe" into the area with this routing, and then exploring the other canyons and trails later. All of the markers left by local hikers on this route are geared to this popular routing.

And plan on a slower pace than normal. You'll be climbing rocks and ladders, and hiking in soft sand. If you're not used to hiking 5 miles normally, this isn't the trail to push your limits on.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 7 — Local hikers have nicely marked the loop trail up Ladder Canyon and back down Painted Canyon with these big rock arrows, which you can find at most intersections or tricky parts of the hike.

Bad Gps Signal In Canyon — Note that a GPS always comes in handy, but when you are deep in the canyons, they can be inaccurate as they struggle to get a signal. Here are my tracks from several hikes in the canyons here. You can see how the GPS struggles to get a good fix with the high canyon walls.

Technically dogs are allowed here, but getting them up and down the ladders would be tough, so I wouldn't recommend bringing them.

Understanding the Ladders

The ladders can be intimidating if you haven't done them before, but once you do one or two, it's a cakewalk. The ladders have been placed on parts of the trail where you have to scale a canyon wall. I'd say the tallest is probably about 12-15 feet. And a massive thank you to the Coachella Valley Hiking Club for maintaining the ladders here out of their own pockets.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 27 — Here's an example of a ladder section. When you get to a ladder, give it a light shake and make sure it's all secure.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 4 — The ladders are usually secured at the bottom with rocks so they don't slip.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 3 — The ladders are in decent shape but do get banged up. Sometimes a rung or two can be missing.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 6 — Look for a secure rock at the top of the ladder when you have to pull yourself up.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 5 — Bleeding is not compulsory on the hike but I usually bang myself up a little bit. Long sleeves and pants would probably solve the problem.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 2 — When the canyons flood, the ladders get washed away. You might spot some remnants of ladders past as you hike up the canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 1 — If you choose to go down a ladder front-ways, the way I'm doing here, be careful, it's easy to slip off. It's safer to face the ladder.

When it's hot out, keep your eyes open for lizards and snakes. The trail is fairly busy and animals are generally scared away, but be cautious when reaching up the rocks just in case.

Ladder Canyon Trail and Painted Canyon Loop Hike Directions

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 17 — Check the trail board at the trailhead for any notices. They also recommend taking a picture of the map.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 16 — Head up Big Painted Canyon from the parking area. You're basically walking up the canyon, so don't stress about finding a "trail trail."

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 18 — The canyon is wide, sandy, and easy to follow.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 19 — Look at this rockfall!

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 20 — Soon Big Painted Canyon narrows. It's spectacular and feels like something from a National Park.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 21 — Okay, this junction is very important. Look for the big rock arrow in the middle of the path pointing left. There will also be a big rockfall in front of a slot canyon to your left. You're going to climb up the rockfall and into Ladder Canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 22 — When you look at the rockfall to the left, it will seem nearly impossible to scale. Go into it and to the left of the fall to find the hidden trail up the rocks.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 23 — You'll climb up some big rocks but it's not a technical scramble in any way.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 24 — As you climb look for the small cave and ladder to your left. You can also go up that route if you'd like. I find climbing up the rocks to be a bit easier here.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 25 — Once you get to the top of the rockfall and enter Ladder Canyon, you have another pile of rocks to climb up. Again, nothing technical.

If the next ladder is missing, go back to the last photo and look for rocks pointing to the right, which will lead you to a small downward rock scramble that you tackle instead of the ladder in the next photo. Thanks to reader Cole O. for the update.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 26 — The first ladder you encounter has you climbing down.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 28 — The top looks sketchy, but there are rocks up there that you can grab onto to and pull yourself up the very top.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 29 — Keep heading up the narrow and beautiful Ladder Canyon. Some parts climb up the rock but don't require a ladder.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 30 — The canyon is narrow but wide enough for a person to get through.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 31 — One last ladder for you in Ladder Canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 32 — Now you start walking up the slot canyon. It's level and pretty easy.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 33 — As you climb, the cliffs start to open up and you see sky.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 34 — When you get to the intersection with the side canyon, keep hiking straight.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 35 — You'll come out of the canyon and start a rocky climb to the top of a hill.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 36 — At the top of the hill, the views open up and it's spectacular. Keep hiking uphill on the trail.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 37 — There are a lot of handy arrows on this stretch of trail. All the way until you come back in Painted Canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 38 — Look back to your left as you hike for nice views of Mount San Jacinto.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 39 — Soon you'll see the gorge that is Painted Canyon down to your right. Continue on the trail left along the rim. There's a side trail to the right here. Avoid it and keep heading up the loop.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 40 — Don't get too close to the edge here, it's a sheer drop into Painted Canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 41 — Keep following the arrows on the ridgeline trail.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 42 — Keep straight, avoiding any side trails.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 43 — Toward the end of this stretch there's a viewpoint with rock cairns to the left. The trail continues right as indicated by the rock arrow.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 44 — Here's a view from that last spot. On the left, San Jacinto, on the right, San Gorgonio.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 45 — Shortly after that the trail will veer right. Follow the arrows to stay on the loop trail.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 46 — You come to a steep little descent into Painted Canyon. Hike down into the canyon and make the right into the wash.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 47 — You're basically going to be hiking down Painted Canyon wash until you get back to the start. At this point it's pretty wide. Pick any path along the wash that you'd like.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 48 — Soon the canyon gets narrower and you get to experience all the colored rocks in Painted Canyon.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 49 — When you get to the T junction, bear right and keep hiking down the wash.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 50 — There's lots of beauty as you hike down the wash.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 51 — Keep right as you pass the ladder and canyon to the left.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 52 — Another ladder! Climb on down.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 53 — And right after that you'll encounter your last ladder of the hike.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 54 — Continue hiking down Painted Canyon,

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 55 — Toward the end you'll see the rocks you scrambled up into Ladder Canyon on your right. Head straight toward the parking area.

Ladder Canyon Trail Directions 56 — And soon you're back where you started. That's the hike!

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.