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Canyoneering Route Description

Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) - 4B IV
Only the lower section via the Sneak Route.
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada.

Back to the Canyoneering Trip Report List page.

Pictures 05-03-09

Quick Facts

05-03-09, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 10.5 hours)

Distance - 3.7 miles Total, 0.7 miles Technical
Rappels - 11 Rappels, Longest Rappel 190 feet.

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the technical mileage is determined.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, two 200 foot ropes, 50 feet of 1" webbing for sling placement, and wet suits. On one trip I used a 3 / 2 shortie wet suit with a 3 mil shirt over it and was pretty comfortable all day. I used the same set up the year before and experienced a few cold hours.  A 5 mil full wet suit is probably best except during the hottest part of the summer (July and August). 

It is a good idea to pack light for the route since the approach involves long steep sections with significant exposure.

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the gear used list is determined.

General Comments

The Sneak Route into Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) shaves off 4.3 miles and saves about 2.5 hours as compared to the full route and goes through some very good scenic areas.  The approach portion of the route involves a few sections of moderate class 4 climbing.  The definitions of 4th and 5th class climbing are a bit vague and more of a subjective matter, so some might call this low class 5.

To save time and a few miles, the sneak route starts from the Ice Box Canyon trailhead (where the route will also end) then climbs up and over to the next canyon.  This route drops into Ice Cube Canyon just above the lower technical section of the canyon.  The upper technical section of Ice Cube and 0.6 miles of the middle non-technical section are not included on the sneak route.  

While the sneak route does shave off some time and a few miles, it does not allow you to experience the upper technical section of Ice Cube, which I believe is worthwhile (especially rap 8 which has a special charm I personally enjoy).  Try both routes and see which you like best.  

Pack light for this route.  The approach has sections where you will need to assist each other with getting your packs up short climbs with significant exposure.   A thank you goes out to Ron Graham for showing us the route. 

The entire Ice Cube Canyon route consists of Upper Ice Cube Canyon (technical), Middle Ice Cube Canyon (non-technical wash walking and boulder hopping) and Lower Ice Cube Canyon (technical).  The Sneak Route, described here, starts from the bottom and includes a very small portion of Middle Ice Cube Canyon and all of Lower Ice Cube Canyon.  This Sneak Route does not include the upper technical section.  The rappels for Ice Cube Canyon are labeled from the top of the canyon.  There are 12 rappels in Upper Ice Cube Canyon which are not on this particular route, so the first rap on this route will be labeled as Rap 13.  There are a total of 11 rappels on the route and are labeled from R13 to R23.

Getting to the Trailhead and Exit Vehicle (Escape Pod) Parking

To get to the Trailhead

From the entrance gates to Red Rock drive 7.9 miles on the scenic loop to the Ice Box Canyon trailhead.  This is where the route begins.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

The route is done as a loop and no exit vehicle is needed.

Maps

Map showing entire route.

Click for High-Res version.
Right Click then select "Save Target As" to save the Hi-Res version.

GPS Waypoint Information

Waypoint coordinates are given with the WGS84 datum and in Lat/Lon hddd° mm.mmm' format unless otherwise noted.

Details

The Approach:
From the Ice Box Trailhead (tIceBoxCyn), follow the Ice Box canyon trail.  As the trail gets closer to the canyon it follows along the top of the bank of Ice Box Wash.  Along the bank of the wash are many smaller and still well defined trails.  They all tend to interconnect and wonder in an out of each other going to the same place.

About 0.8 miles from the trailhead there is a small trail (jTrl2WshCnct1) that cuts left down the side of the bank into the Ice Box Wash.  Turn left and follow it down to the wash.  The trail is cut through some heavy vegetation and is almost tunnel like as it descends to the wash.  

Once in the wash continue up stream another 0.2 miles to the spot where you will climb out of the wash (wIceCubSnkRP-1).  A couple land marks might help identifying the spot to climb out.  There is a very tall dead pine tree in the wash about 100 feet up canyon of the climb out.  When you see the tall dead pine tree look for a very large boulder about 100 feet down canyon from the tree that has a large vertical flat face on it facing the south wall of the canyon.

The climb out of the wash (wIceCubSnkRP-1) starts up a steep (pretty much vertical) section of the canyon wall.  The wall is full of a lot of rock features which make the climb a bit easier but assisting each other with packs is still necessary.

Diagram of the climb out of Ice Box Wash.

About 90 feet up you will find a small ledge to the right.  From this small ledge continue up the canyon wall another 50 feet or so to a huge ledge.  The huge ledge has a rock overhang above it.  

On the left side of the huge ledge is a deep chute continuing steeply up the canyon wall.  The chute is easy climbing part of the way with high and narrow walls.  As you get closer to the top of the chute and it widens out a bit and there are a couple spots that will take some effort to get up and are best done without a pack.

As you get a little further up the chute there will be some moderately heavy vegetation.   Before entering the bushes traverse right around to an open flat area.  From this flat area, look for cairns marking a route (wIceCubSnkRP-2).

The cairned route will curve around left and lead up a few easy climbs over boulders up the slope to the south east.  After a short distance you will begin to get a good view of the high vertical cliff wall to the south east and all of the gentle slope leading to it.  Continue south east until you get next to the vertical cliff wall (wIceCubSnkRP-3).  Then turn right (south west) and follow along the base of the cliff wall.  This is still part of the cairned route.  

The cairns are not placed often enough to be an easy follow.  But there are enough here and there to help you feel you are on the right path.  It is still best to already know which way to go.  Take a look at the picture showing the approximate route drawn on it.

Diagram of the route after the first major climb out of Ice Box Wash.

The cairns lead roughly along the base of the cliff wall toward a very large drainage (maybe considered a canyon?).   As you get close to the base of the drainage / canyon you will be greeted with a vertical chute that accesses the more moderate slope above.  The chute is not able to be climbed.  From the base of the chute climb up left and traverse left along a ridge running along the bottom of a large flat face of rock.  At the other end of the ledge is and easy climb up right along another ledge leading to the area above the chute (wIceCubSnkRP-4).  

Once above the chute continue east up the drainage / canyon.  The start of this area is up steep slick rock with little debris.  This area is very steep and will definitely get your attention in a few spots.  You will need to navigate around a couple spots that are too steep to go straight up.  Further up it is a little less steep and is full of rock debris.  As you ascend the area widens and is easier to travel on the left side.  Stay on the left side and keep going a little further left as you climb up.  About 900 feet up from the chute you bypassed with the ledges, the drainage tops out.  At the top you will find a rocky ridge.  The ridge has a point (wIceCubSnkRP-5) on the left that gives great views of red rock and offers a great spot for a snack and water break.

From the point, travel south along the left (east) side of the ridge that runs to the south.

Diagram of the route leaving the point with a view over Red Rock Scenic Loop.

After traveling a little over 300 feet along the left (east) side of the ridge, you will find a chute.  The chute is about 20 feet and has a shrub growing on the bottom left of the chute which is shaded by overhanging rock.  Climb up the chute.   

After climbing up the chute continue going up along the rocks.  As you climb up from the chute keep an eye out on the left for a large flat vertical rock face that is almost completely covered in light green lichen.  Make your way over to the base of the large vertical flat green rock (wIceCubSnkRP-7).

Diagram of the route up to the rock covered in light green lichen.

From the base of the large green rock, traverse around it to the left (east).  As you traverse follow the natural flow and stay high.  You will need to drop down a little to get to the last climb up and around the large green rock.  

Once around the large green rock follow a ledge that continues to get wider and easier to follow.  A couple hundred feet past the large green rock the ledge turns into a bit more of a wide open area (wIceCubSnkRP-8) with more cairns leading the way.  

From the more open area of the ledge, continue southwest following the cairns around the bend to the right.  200 – 300 feet along the way you will find a passage with a pine tree growing in it and a lot of shrubs along its bottom.  Go through the passage (wIceCubSnkRP-9) by traversing on the right side above the shrubs growing along its bottom.  

After getting through the passage, the area is a wide open steep slope, dropping down south to the Ice Cube middle section.  Continue almost due southwest and follow the cairns angling along and down the slope.   

About 450 feet from the passage along the slope is a large rock that looks like a pile of flat rocks that fell over (wIceCubSnkRP-10).  Continue along the cairned route another 1000 feet or so until you find yourself in the middle section wash of Ice Cube (jIceCubeSneak).

Diagram of the route down the last part into Ice Cube Canyon.

A little way down the wash you will find a drop that is bypassed by climbing up and around to the left (LDC).  

About 0.3 miles down canyon from where the sneak route drops into the canyon is Rap 13, which is the first rap on this route.

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:

For canyoneering / technical, refer to the listing for the Ice Cube Canyon full route, starting from point jIceCubeSneak.

The Exit:
For exit, refer to the listing for the Ice Cube Canyon full route.

Links to Pictures are at the top of the page.

Back to the Canyoneering Trip Report List page.