Ice Box Canyon via SMYC Trail - 12/6/19

Ice Box Canyon Waterfall

Heading into Ice Box Canyon

SMYC Trail (View toward Willow Springs)

Starting out SMYC Trail

Ice Box Canyon is a very popular trail/ scramble hike in Red Rock Canyon NCA. It is so popular, in fact, that the trailhead parking is quite often full to capacity. Plus, the canyon has been plagued with graffiti off and on for many years. For these reasons, our club doesn't delve into its beautiful rock walls very often. But, a month ago, Rita and I did a pre-hike into the canyon to see what it looked like after several years of abstinence. We found a couple of rocks with bright blue graffiti scribbled on them about halfway through the canyon wash, but the waterfall area at the end of the hike was cleaned up and ready for prime time. On another note of interest: On that pre-hike, we saw a female bighorn on a large ledge about 30 feet up the north wall about halfway up the canyon wash. She seemed content laying there until we noticed her but she stayed in the area of the ledge until we were gone.

Damp SMYC Trail

The out and back hike into Ice Box Canyon from its trailhead on the Scenic Loop is only around 3 miles. So, sometimes our club will avoid the possible traffic jam at the trailhead and lengthen our hike by starting at the Lost Creek Trailhead on the Willow Springs spur road.

SMYC Puddles - North Blue Diamond Hill in Distance

By using the SMYC Trail to access Ice Box Canyon, the hike is lengthened to 4.5 miles and parking is usually available in the morning hours.

Ice Box Canyon / SMYC Trail Junction

Hiking into Ice Box Canyon

Rain had poured down in various parts of Las Vegas and the surrounding mountains twice in the last two weeks. As is usual in the desert, the rain had nowhere to go except down through the canyons and into the urban basins. As hikers, we try to judge when is the best time to go into the canyons after a good rain. There will be water in the washes that impede efforts to hike through but this changes many of our hikes into adventures. Today, sixteen hikers gathered at the Lost Creek Trailhead looking for some fun! We truly had no idea what to expect when we reached Ice Box Canyon. Water? No water? Rushing water? A trickle? At least it can be said that we were all pretty excited about the prospects!

Beginning the Wet Wash

We started out the SMYC (Spring Mountain Youth Camp) Trail. This beautiful trail runs along the base of the escarpment between Willow Springs and Ice Box Canyon. There are two or three short hills to climb along the trail as it crosses deep wash gulleys.

Wet & Slippery Rocks

The earth was damp and sometimes held puddles. We saw several large deer prints in the mud. No deer sightings today but the masters of camouflage may have been hiding among the brush.

Creek Monster Rock and Waterfall with Pool

Finding our way through the Rocks and Water

After a little over a mile, we junctioned with the Ice Box Canyon Trail and turned right. This trail is either well-marked in some places or offers several options that all go to the same place. As we made our way into the canyon walls, the trail zigzagged down and up past a side wash and we started hearing water rushing in the nearby main wash. We followed the trail all the way to the end where it dropped down the hill to the left and into the wash. (There is an optional drop down about thirty yards before this.) Once we got to the bottom of the embankment, we saw the water level that we would be dealing with in the next couple of hours. There was a good flow of water but it was not "rushing." In fact, the water just skimmed over some of the rocks.

Ice Box Creek

Perfect! With waterproof shoes, getting up past some of the obstacles would be possible without taking a swim! And, there would be beautiful little waterfalls all along the way.

Climbing the Tree & Rocks to the End Game

The first obstacle area, which came immediately, may have been one of the most difficult. (See the ninth photo.) We queued up to start taking in the wheres and how tos of the scramble in the water.

The End Game all to Ourselves!

Breaking at the Waterfall (10 of 16 Hikers)

Each of us had our own techniques on getting up the wet wash. Some of us plowed through the brush on the sides and some of us didn't mind getting our shoes a little wet. Some of us tried our skills at bouldering and some of us relied on past knowledge of side trails up the embankments. Needless to say, we ended up divided into small groups; each group according to their techniques. The participants today were all skilled hikers and needed very little encouragement to tackle the job. The two most amazing things about the whole hike were the beauty of the "water meets canyon" scenario and the beauty of a great group of hikers following the lead of whoever they could see in front of them and calling out suggestions or questions when confronted with a decision.

Yep! Awesome!

Most of us knew where the tree/rock climb was near the end of the canyon so when I got there, more than half of the group was already up there. I made sure that whoever was behind me saw the odd junction and I scampered up.

The Lower Waterfall

Now at the waterfall, we took our break. Lots of photos of the beautiful display. I had seen it before but not in a long while. Worth the scramble and we were the only ones there!!

Following David back via the Trail Route

Back into the Water

It wasn't until we were out of the wash that we saw any other hikers. Then there was a steady stream of "thrill seekers." David Hardy had led us out by using mostly trails along the sides so the trip down didn't take nearly as long as the trip up. We junctioned with the SMYC Trail and hiked on out and back to the cars. It was a beautiful day! And, oh so fun! As a last thought, a few of us took the short hike up to the Lower Lost Creek Waterfall to see what kind of water flow was there. See the last photo. Ice Box Waterfall was definitely the winner!

4.5 miles; ~600 feet elevation gain; 3.5 hours

Starting back on the SMYC Trail

Red

Side Trip to Lower Lost Creek Waterfall