Shady Hollow / Stepladder Loop (Extended) - 5/21/26

Half of the hike is on Tin Can Alley.

Hiking up Tin Can Alley

Descending on Stepladder Trail

Starting out Shady Hollow Trail

A good go-to 6 mile hike without too much altitude preparation starts at the Stepladder Trailhead, across from the Spring Mountain Gateway Visitor Center at the traffic circle on Kyle Canyon Road. Sue, Susan and I began the hike at the east end of the parking lot. At this time, it is difficult to find the trail since it is lying between the bushes with no sign. On up the trail just a little ways, we came to a cross trail. We turned right onto the Shady Hollow Trail. This led us around the mountain to the left with fragrant cliff rose blooming. As the trail curved around, we began seeing Angel Canyon on the right and the Showgirl Trail descent from the hill in the middle. We continued up the left wash on the Tin Can Alley Trail.

Rounding the bend on Shady Hollow

La Madre Mountain Range from Shady Hollow

Sue and Susan on the Trail

Tin Can Alley

The Tin Can Alley Trail is a popular bike trail that young people ride down at breakneck speed. It is best to hike this trail on weekdays and in the ascending direction due to the sometimes oblivious young bike riders using the trail from the top down. However, today, the only other people using the trail were a group of hikers led by an old friend of mine. From the top, the trail zigs and zags down the hill starting from anywhere around Robbers' Roost and above (maybe Juniper Trailhead). There are a few trail signs. One of the first ones that you come to on the ascent, names a trail that takes a sharp turn to the left up the hill. By using this trail, we could have made a shorter version of the Shady Hollow / Stepladder Loop. About 4 miles. We continued with the longer version by continuing to follow Tin Can Alley. Near the top of the hike, we made a couple of wiggles and came to another sharp turn to the left. This was our jumping off point. We turned left from the Tin Can Alley to begin our descent on the Cowboy Trail. The trail keepers have improved a couple of parts of this trail and you no longer feel like you are going to fall off the side of the hill! Nearing the Stepladder Saddle Junction, our trail laid on top of the old Deer Creek Road.

Trail Junction in Tin Can Alley

Susan taking a water break in Tin Can Alley

Picking up trash on Cowboy Trail

Stepladder view to Griffith Peak

Finally at the saddle, we chose the Stepladder Trail to finish the loop down to the cars. This trail hugs the Stepladder Peak mountainside. It was a long slow descent. Slippery. Finally, we came to the recently created use trail that shortcuts down to the parking lot. By this time, we were ready for cutting it short a little. It was a beautiful day and the three Lady Hikers enjoyed the hike. 

Stats: 6.2 miles; 1200' gain; 4.5 hours

Coming into the trailhead on use Trail

We like lizards!

Susan finishes the clean up!