On March 30, 2004, I hiked a couple of the trails at Red Rock Canyon with Ken, a friend and coworker. We chose the Lost Creek Trail since we knew that there was a possibility of a waterfall due to recent rains and melting snow. We also hoped to reach nearby Ice Box Canyon, which we were able to do.
We reached the Lost Creek waterfall only to learn that it was down to a small "shower", but it was still interesting and a reasonably easy hike. The Ice Box Canyon trail was quite different. Some hiking references list it as easy, others challenging. We took an overland trail instead of following the stream bed. We found it more than easy! It requires climbing lots of steps and even jumping boulders for most of the way followed by a steep descent to the stream bed. From there, you can crawl over boulders further into the canyon. We spared ourselves this additional abuse while acknowledging that decades ago we would have done it.
We were on the trails almost 5 hours and estimate we did about 7 miles since we parked at the Ice Box Canyon trailhead and then walked the trail to the Lost Creek trailhead so our vehicle would be near the completion point. Following a pictures with some comments.
We arrived just after sunrise and waited for the gates to open at 6a.m.
Ken starts on the dusty trail.
Wildflowers are springing from recent rains
Lots of work has been done to mark the trails.
The waterfall had become just a good shower.
Lots of lizards and we saw a couple rabbits.
The plane . . .
The trail get rocky.
Climbing becomes necessary.
That was rough! Let's go again in a few weeks!