Canyoneering Route Description

Ice Box Canyon - 3A(B) III
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada.

Quick Facts

10-07-07, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 10.5 hours) . Pictures Icon

Time Required - 8 to 10 hours
Distance - 2.7 miles Total, 200 feet Technical
Rappels - 2 Rappels, Longest Rappel 160 feet.
Elevation Range - 4290 - 5350 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 160 feet and 50 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.  If the fall is only trickling and it is a HOT day no wet suit is needed.  The pool that needs to be crossed to get to the final rappel can be quite chilly and full even in mild weather with little water flow, that is why a wet suit is still recommended.

General Comments

Ice Box canyon is located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas Nevada.  A popular hike goes up the bottom of Ice Box Canyon and ends at the bottom of a 160 foot water fall.  Spring snow melt can result in a lot of water flowing over this water fall but the rest of the year water flow is minimal.  The hike up the wash in the canyon up to the bottom of the water fall, is a popular hike in Red Rock.  When there is significant water flow this water fall is a beautiful hike destination.

There is a canyoneering route for the entire Ice Box Canyon.  That route uses most of the same approach as the route to Ice Cube Canyon, then down Ice Box Canyon down to and over the water fall then out to the trail head via the standard hiking trail.  That is not the route covered here.

This "alternate route" starts at the trailhead and soon climbs up the right (north) side of the canyon then drops back to the canyon floor just above the large water fall.  Very little of the actual Ice Box Canyon Canyoneering route is followed for this route.  This alternate route to do only the lower water fall, shows and describes the route for only the fun part.  This alternate route for Ice Box Canyon does not mess with the long approach and not so challenging canyon of doing the full route.  We have hiked all the way up Ice Box canyon with no gear.  The upper part of the canyon does not feel like it would be interesting to descend as a canyoneering route.

This Alternate route involves a lot more work than some may think it is worth.  Most of the approach route involves a lot of scrambling and light climbing.  The payoff is rapping down a water fall that is about 160 feet.  Because the approach requires a lot of scrambling and light climbing, it is recommended to pack as light as possible.  You will thank yourself for the smaller pack size when you see how much you will lug it around only to do 2 rappels.

The water rating of A (B) is due to the seasonal presence of water flowing in the canyon.  As spring warms up the accumulated snow higher up the will be significant water flow in the canyon and over the waterfall.  As the year goes on the water flow decreases until it finally stops.  So the amount of water you find will depend on when you go.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the entrance gates to Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop, drive 8.1 miles on the scenic loop to the Ice Box Canyon trailhead.  Park in the parking lot.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Map Link Icon
Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the entire route.
first part of approach.
Map of the second part of approach and the technical section.

Details

The Approach:
From the trailhead (tIce BoxCyn), follow the main hiking trail about 0.2 miles to a trail junction (jCnectrTrl-Ice) where a connector trail crosses over the Ice Box Canyon trail.  Continue west on the Ice Box Canyon trail for about 600 feet where you will leave the main trail (jIce BoxLowr).  Leave the trail to the right (west). 

About 600 feet from the trail you may find a path (wIceBxLwrRP-01) that leads toward the first climb.  From here you will not be traveling on the main trail.  It starts out pretty easy to follow, since there are signs of occasional foot traffic.  The terrain will get a bit steeper as you approach the base of the mountain.

The first climb (wIceBxLwrRP-02) is a climb / scramble up to a chimney, then up the chimney and into a gully.

Ron and Bonnie shortly after leaving the trailhead.
Ron and Bonnie shortly after leaving the trailhead.

Approaching the area with the first climb. Approaching the area with the first climb.

A closer look at the first climb. A closer look at the first climb.

Details of the first climb. Details of the first climb.

Once you have climbed up into the gully, continue up it for about 60 or 70 feet to where you will climb out of the gully (wIceBxLwrRP-03) to your left.  Shortly after exiting up and out of the gully, make your way to where you will be able to look left down the ridge (wIceBxLwrRP-04) and see a large, flat, brown black platform of rock.  This platform is not your goal.  It is a land mark so you will know you are in the right spot. 

A look too far up the first gully. This is a look up the gully from where you should exit the gully to the left.
This is not a section of the gully you will go up!
It is a visual queue of what it looks like in the gully above your exit point.

Large rock platform to look for as a landmark. Large rock platform to look for as a landmark.

From here continue about 140 feet to the southwest 210° to a large horn like rock (wIceBxLwrRP-05).  To get there you will need to scramble over some large boulders.  Climb between the horn and the canyon wall.  On the other side of this passage, traverse a ledge to get to the next gully.

A view of the horn like rock. A view of the horn like rock.

Climb between the horn like rock and the canyon wall here. Climb between the horn like rock and the canyon wall here.

Traverse the ledge on the other side of the horn like rock. Traverse the ledge on the other side of the horn like rock.

Climb about 1,000 feet up the gully on the other side of the horn.  This gully is wide and has what appear to be gullies that branch off of it.  While climbing this gully stay on the left side of anything that appears to be a fork.  Exit the gully (wIceBxLwrRP-06) to the left just before getting to a large dead tree.

A look down the second gully. A look down the second gully (the gully after the horn like rock).
After traversing the ledge after the horn like rock, this is what you will see looking down the gully you find yourself in.

A tree just above the exit point of the second gully. A tree just above the exit point of the second gully.
Travel up the second gully (the gully passed the horn like rock) almost to this tree.
Remember to stay to the left at any point in this second gully that appears to be a fork.

Exit point on the left side of the second gully. Exit point on the left side of the second gully.
Exit the gully on the left side and get out to the ridge through here.

Climb to the crest of the ridge on the left side of the gully (wIceBxLwrRP-07).  From the crest of the ridge continue southwest 220° about 150 feet to a short crevice or chute (wIceBxLwrRP-08) running up about 80 feet to the northwest.  After climbing up the chute or crevice continue southwest 227° about 1,000 feet to the crest of the next ridge.  The route from the chute or crevice to the next ridge crest (wIceBxLwrRP-09) is pretty easy travel.  There are a couple obstacles to climb up and over.

Climb the short crevice - chute. Climb the short crevice - chute.
There were cairns at top and bottom but they may not always be around.

Just past this ridge crest is a good view of the Buffalo Climbing Wall in the distance.  Keep your eyes open to the left, at one point along the route you get a good view down to the big waterfall you will eventually end up at.  Continue about 500 feet to the southwest to the beginning of a large bowl (wIceBxLwrRP-10) you will need to hike around. 

A view of the Buffalo Climbing Wall. A view of the Buffalo Climbing Wall.

A look down to the water fall. A look down to the water fall.

Go around the bowl by hiking around it to the right while trying not to lose elevation.  Just before getting to the other side of the bowl you will need to drop into a wash (it had water when we were there in October) then back up out of it.  On the other side of the wash make your way up to the ridge point with a large rock on it.  This ridge point is the end of the bowl (wIceBxLwrRP-11).

A view of the ridge on the far side of the bowl. A view of the ridge on the far side of the bowl.

A view of the route to the ridge on the other side of the bowl. A view of the route to the ridge on the other side of the bowl.

The wash to travel across just before reaching the other side of the bowl. The wash to travel across just before reaching the other side of the bowl.

Walk a short distance around the ridge to the top of a gully (wIceBxLwrRP-12) going down to the left.  Work your way down the gully about 300 feet to the bottom.  It is possible to travel right down the center of the gully but there is a lot of bushwhacking there.  I traveled down the right side of the gully with little trouble and almost no bushwhacking.

A view down the last gully to the floor of Icebox Canyon. A view down the last gully to the floor of Ice Box Canyon.

The Canyon / Technical Section:
Once at the bottom of the gully (wIceBxLwrRP-13) you are on the floor of Ice Box Canyon about 500 feet from the top of the water fall.  Travel down the wash (east).  You will quickly come to a pool of water that stops your travel.  Look right to find a large boulder to the right.  Go up and over this boulder to the right to bypass the pool. 

Just before reaching the water fall (dIce BoxR1-2) will be a pool, which is right at the top of the water fall. The first rappel is anchored from a tree about 40 feet up canyon and drops about 15 feet into the pool.  Even with little water flow in the canyon this pool will be a swimmer.  Unless it is HOT out you will want a wet suit on this one.  On the other end of the pool are the anchors for the second rappel down the falls.

Rap 2 is anchored from two bolts LDC in the watercourse and drops about 160 feet over a big waterfall.  This is the big waterfall that the standard trail hikes up to the bottom of.

After raping down the water fall, hike back to the trailhead by following the wash to a path (jTrl2WshCnct1) on the left leading up to the main trail.  Follow the main trail about 0.8 mile back to the trailhead.

Anchors on the other side of the pool at the top of the water fall. Anchors on the other side of the pool at the top of the water fall.

The second rappel is about 160’ down the falls and into a larger pool.  It is anchored from 2 bolted hangers LDC.  Enjoy this rappel since it is the reason you are doing this route.  It is a beautiful sight from the bottom looking up.  If you have ever hiked up to the water fall and looked it over from the bottom, you may find it even more of a thrill to rap down the fall.

A look over the edge of the rap down the water fall. A look over the edge of the 160 foot rap down the water fall.

A view from the ledge pat way down the water fall. A view from the ledge pat way down the water fall.

Rapping down the water fall. Rapping down the water fall.

A look down canyon from the bottom of the rappel of the water fall. A look down canyon from the bottom of the rappel of the water fall.

The Exit:
After finishing the rappel down the water fall, walk down canyon (east) following the wash.  About 0.3 miles down the wash start looking for one of a few trails that leave the main wash and take you up the steep left (north) bank to more trails above.  Take any one of these trails heading up the steep left (north) bank of the wash.  Once on top of the banks you will be greeted with a few trails webbing all over but all leading back to the Ice Box trailhead.

GPS Waypoint Information

Downloadable GPX files available at BG-Gear Store (easier than manual entry and a great way to support Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.  Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format. 
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
Icebox Lower (1) - Approach
  1. tIceBoxCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.15007   W -115.48403        Elev: 4,290 Feet
    Ice Box Canyon Trail head on the Red Rock Scenic Loop
  2. jCnectrTrl-Ice          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14799   W -115.48654        Elev: 4,300 Feet
    A junction where a connector trail crosses over the Ice Box Canyon Trail.
  3. JIceBoxLowr          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14751   W -115.48820        Elev: NaN Feet
    Point you leave the trail for the "Icebox The Hard Way" route to the top of Ice Box Canyon Water Fall. This is the point where the route leaves main trail and heads up the North side of the canyon.
  4. wIceBxLwrRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14773   W -115.49027        Elev: 4,410 Feet
    The path here leads west toward the first climb on the route.  It does not look frequently traveled, but is easy to follow.
  5. wIceBxLwrRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14767   W -115.49175        Elev: 4,650 Feet
    Point where the Icebox Canyon The Hard Way route starts a climb up the canyon wall. This spot is where you must climb up a chimney into a gully.
  6. wIceBxLwrRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14771   W -115.49195        Elev: 4,700 Feet
    After climbing a short up the gully past the chimney, climb out of the gully here to the left (southwest).
  7. wIceBxLwrRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14762   W -115.49212        Elev: NaN Feet
    After climbing out of the gully and reaching this point, you should be able to see the large, flat, brown black platform of rock.
  8. wIceBxLwrRP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14728   W -115.49220        Elev: NaN Feet
    Large rock that looks sort of like a horn. Climb between this horn rock and the canyon wall to get to the next gully.
  9. wIceBxLwrRP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14806   W -115.49518        Elev: 5,360 Feet
    After getting past the horned rock, climb northwest up the gully you find yourself in.  Climb left out of the gully above the horn rock here.
  10. wIceBxLwrRP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14773   W -115.49512        Elev: NaN Feet
    A point on the crest of the ridge after leaving the gully. This is a point on the ridge after leaving the second gully that makes the route easy to find.
  11. wIceBxLwrRP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14746   W -115.49549        Elev: 5,350 Feet
    Climb up this short crevice to continue the route. There is a short crevice about 30 feet to climb up here to continue the route.  There were cairns there at one time.
  12. wIceBxLwrRP-09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14552   W -115.49812        Elev: NaN Feet
    This is a point on a crest of a ridge just before you get to the bowl to hike around.
  13. wIceBxLwrRP-10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14457   W -115.49940        Elev: NaN Feet
    Starting point of a large bowl to hike around.
  14. wIceBxLwrRP-11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14342   W -115.50143        Elev: 5,240 Feet
    This is the other side of the bowl you will hike around to get to the other ridge.
  15. wIceBxLwrRP-12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14285   W -115.50145        Elev: NaN Feet
    This is the top of the gully that drops into Icebox Canyon from the north side near the top of the falls.  Follow that gully down to the floor of Icebox Canyon.
  16. wIceBxLwrRP-13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14229   W -115.50127        Elev: 4,980 Feet
    This is the bottom of the gully that takes you to the floor of Icebox Canyon a few hundred feet from the water fall.
Icebox Lower (2) Canyon and Exit
  1. wIceBxLwrRP-13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14229   W -115.50127        Elev: 4,980 Feet
    This is the bottom of the gully that takes you to the floor of Icebox Canyon a few hundred feet from the water fall.
  2. dIceBoxR1-2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14283   W -115.50001        Elev: 4,890 Feet
    Raps 1 and 2 for Ice Box Canyon. Rap 1 is a 15 foot rap from a tree to a pothole that is a swimmer. Rap 2 is on the other side of that pool with bolted anchors for rappelling the water fall with a rap length of 160 feet.
  3. yIceBoxBt1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14292   W -115.49976        Elev: NaN Feet
    This is the bottom of the Icebox Canyon route.  This is the large water fall that is so popular on the Icebox Canyon hiking trail.  From here follow the main hiking trail to get back to the trailhead. Rapping down the watter fall is 160 feet from bolted hangers.
  4. jTrl2WshCnct1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14451   W -115.49549        Elev: 4,530 Feet
    A connector trail that joins the main trail and the wash. The connector trail meets the main trail here.
  5. JIceBoxLowr          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.14751   W -115.48820        Elev: NaN Feet
    Point you leave the trail for the "Icebox The Hard Way" route to the top of Ice Box Canyon Water Fall. This is the point where the route leaves main trail and heads up the North side of the canyon.
  6. tIceBoxCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.15007   W -115.48403        Elev: 4,290 Feet
    Ice Box Canyon Trail head on the Red Rock Scenic Loop

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