We set off for a local adventure this past weekend to Red Rock National Park – one of our go-to locations for hiking during the cooler months in the Las Vegas, Nevada.
Location: Icebox Canyon, Red Rock National Park, Las Vegas, Nevada – Click here for driving directions.
The park is open year around and there is a fee to gain access. The prices vary from $5 per pedestrian/bicycle to $15 per vehicle. You can visit their website here for more details on pricing. As indicated in our previous post, if you are a frequent hiker of National Parks, you should definitely get an America is the Beautiful Pass! It is absolutely worth the $80 annual fee. There are some individuals who can obtain the pass at a discounted rate and if you serve in the military, you can get a pass for free! Check out this website for all the details.
Distance: The official distance is 2.2 miles roundtrip according to the park’s website but as you can see in the AllTrails map below, you can add distance to the trail by scrambling different parts of the trail along the way.
Trail Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This is the perfect trail if you are looking for a quick hike that still gets your heart rate up. The majority of the hike takes place in the canyon where you scramble over large boulders. The climbing can be strenuous if you are not used to exercising but we saw several people of all shapes and sizes conquering this trail so do not let that stop you!
We have hiked this trail several times before and our best advice is to hike early in the morning. This trail is VERY popular and becomes crowded quickly. We arrived at 8:00 a.m. which was sufficient for September (spring is probably a different story). The other reason we suggest hiking early is to avoid the heat. The first part of this trail – before you hit the canyon – is flat ground and in direct sunlight with limited to no shade (see below). If you do plan to hike later in the day, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and wear a hat!
Once you get to the end of the trail, there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy a snack. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb up the canyon wall. I cannot say this portion of the hike ended well – I may have slid down a portion of the upper level wall – but what are a few battle wounds for, if not for a good story!
Repeat Trail: Yes!
This is definitely a trail worth returning to if you get the chance. The distance keeps it reasonable and the scrambling adds to the hike’s intensity. Whether you are a local or visiting, this is definitely a hike worth doing. If you are looking for a longer hike, I would suggest the White Rock Loop which is also located at Red Rock. That trail is approximately 6.5 miles and is gorgeous! We will be redoing that hike in the near future so be sure to check back!
If you have any questions about this trail, feel free to reach out and ask questions.
The Art of Forest Bathing 