Icebox Canyon Falls

One for the list

Is it plungeworthy?

—feet tall

A ephemeral.

Scale12/60

Documentation10/20

Character14/20

The details

Type: Ephemeral
Coordinates: 36.14101, -115.50289

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About Icebox Canyon Falls

Icebox Canyon Falls is a ephemeral in Nevada.

Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.

Plungeworthy rates Icebox Canyon Falls 3.6/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

A seasonal waterfall at the head of a box canyon that rarely sees direct sun — hence the name. Small pools and light bouldering on the way up, and the shade makes it a legitimate hot-weather escape even when the falls is dry.

Water flows roughly December through April. In summer expect a beautiful, cool, dry canyon.

Getting there

Trailhead: Ice Box Canyon trailhead, about 8 miles along Red Rock Canyon's 13-mile Scenic Drive — small lot
Parking: Small trailhead lot
Road: Paved Scenic Drive
Hike: 2.4 mi round trip, 570 ft of climb (Moderate to strenuous — steep, with boulder-hopping in the upper canyon)
Heads up: October 1 through May 31, the Scenic Drive requires a timed-entry reservation (recreation.gov) for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

When to go

December through April for flowing water — winter and early spring after storms is the sweet spot.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: Red Rock Canyon NCA entrance fee: $20 per vehicle, $10 motorcycle, $8 bicycle, $5 pedestrian; timed-entry reservation required Oct 1–May 31
Dogs: On leash, 6 feet max
Hours: Scenic Drive hours vary seasonally, roughly 6 a.m.–5 p.m. in winter up to 6 a.m.–8 p.m. in summer
Camping: None in the canyon — Ricardo Campground is the NCA's only camping
Warnings: Flash floods — stay out of the canyon entirely if thunderstorms are forecast. Rattlesnakes in warm months.

Researched from HikingGuy — Ice Box Canyon Trail · Red Rock Canyon NCA — Ice Box Canyon · Red Rock Canyon NCA — Fees. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Icebox Canyon Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.