Ice Box Canyon via Willow Springs - 12/6/21

Ice Box Canyon Dry Fall

Ice Box Canyon Trail and Canyon

Willow Springs Loop (South side)

Ancient Rock Shelters

A Fantastic Four parked at Willow Springs Trailhead at Red Rock and started a 5 mile hike that, in the end, seemed like a 6 mile hike! The Willow Springs Loop starts there noted with a sign and soon led us up a very steep stair-stepping hill. The trail is interesting as it travels up toward the cliff walls and down and around to the Ancient Rock Shelters found on the Children's Discovery Trail. From there, we visited the Lost Creek Waterfall (very dry) and hiked back by the spring and boardwalk. The spring was very healthy! The trail took us to the junction with the SMYC Trail and we turned right. The SMYC Trail goes for one mile along the escarpment cliffs with beautiful rock colors. Both of these trails are very well marked.

Willow Springs Loop / SMYC Trail Junction

SMYC Trail

Nearing the Ice Box Canyon Trail Junction

Dropping into Ice Box Canyon Wash

We looked for wildlife but found none in the brushy Red Rock Wash below nor in the cliffs and caves above. The trail rolls up and down and up and down and, finally, flattens out as it junctions with the Ice Box Canyon Trail where we turned to the right. This trail is also in better shape than I have ever seen it. We stopped frequenting Ice Box Canyon when the trail became a mess with graffiti, smokers, and foul language. However, today, the trail was well marked down to the wash and we were the only ones there first thing in the morning. We used the last drop into the wash at the end of the trail and began scrambling. We were able to scramble all the way up with the exception of one short trail go around on the left side. (Unfortunately, the fallen tree can no longer be used.)

Scrambling up Ice Box Canyon

Ice Box Canyon Wash

Climbing up to the Rock Shelf

Break Time

Nearing the top of the wash, we shimmied up the tree on the left side and gained the rock shelf to the left of the waterfall area. On the way down, we didn't use the tree and scrambled the huge boulders instead. While up at the waterfall, we took our photos and a snack break. It was quite cool so we didn't stay too long. We decided to take the trail as far down as we could so we found the beginning next to the rock wall. There was a lot of bending, brush and such as the trail led us up and down next to the south wall of the canyon. Finally, we were spit back out into the wash and there was just a little bit of scrambling left to go before we found the exit point. We climbed up the hill and followed the weaving trail back to the SMYC Trail junction.

Fantastic Four in front of the Dry Fall

The Bouldered Way Down

Junction with SMYC Trail

SMYC Trail

We had passed several hikers by then and we saw that there were a lot of cars in the parking lot down the hill. Back on the SMYC Trail, we followed the up and down and up and down with tired legs! At the Lost Creek Trailhead, we crossed the road to complete the Willow Springs Loop back up to the cars. Phew! What a workout! A lot of hills and scrambling had given us a great workout! We passed the ancient hand prints and found the cars!

Stats: 5.1 miles; 950' gain; 3.5 hours

SMYC Trail

Nearing Lost Creek Trailhead

Willow Springs Loop (North side)