Ladder Canyon Trail

Our club, Heritage Hiking Club, scheduled this hike for our adventure day. Having never experienced this wonder in the desert, all I had to go on was the previous pictures I had seen. Let me tell you, this is one of those bucket list hikes that all Californian's should see. Don't get me wrong, all our welcome, but being 59, I had never been here. Wow, how this state always ceases to amaze us. This limestone / sandstone area was carved from running water, eons, ago. The cool box like canyons and you wind thru the narrows pulls you back in time when water was prevalent. These narrowing canyons as you walk thru from the bottom have been better accessed thru the addition of real aluminum ladders. Funny how people create access to location. Imagine section of ladders in hard access spaces, eases your entrance to the next levels. There are enough to help but not to many to take as to not take away from the adventure. It's a curious blend of Hiking, bouldering, and laddering. Lol. Not sure that last one is a real word. Take a look at some of the pictures. You will get our drift. As all hikes, take only pictures, leave only memories.

Highly recommend going up the ropes and down the ladders. What an awesome hike! Bring lots of water and be careful on the ladders as some of the rungs have been compromised.

Bring water and a jacket in your AWD/4WD vehicle. Climb the ladders if it's not too scary, to get the best views.

Really really really fun! We're from Denver and love hiking and climbing, and this trail experience was so much fun and very unique! It's a serious slot canyon, which is really cool with great votes at the top of the ridge. Climbing up the ladders left by others was interesting. Then scaling down the ropes was challenging and fun. A few of the ropes were falling apart, so next time I'll take a 20 foot rope to donate and leave behind to replace the one that is on its last season. This is a trail for people in good shape that like climbing and a good adventure. Very highly recommended!

The walk was fantastic. Great views, some nice little climbs to keep also the younger members of the group happy. Definitely a place to visit again.

Nice hike!
We went up the robes and down the ladders that's the best way to go.
Nice weather

A fun roughly 5.5 mile hike. The ladders were a bit of a challenge but were easy to get through. Highly recommend.

It’s a beautiful place to hike took the kids and they enjoyed it! So peaceful and relaxing
Rock mountains everywhere the ladders where a bit challenging but we enjoy it after all.
Now
The road it’s a bit rough but if you have a jeep or any 4wheels truck there’s no worries
But we still made with our Honda Accord

Lots of fun and exploration. Watch carefully for the arrows formed from rocks on the ground to mark the trail.

It was my first time in the canyon very satisfied with the 4 hour walk in the canyon I really recommend it. It's fun and distracting but bring company.

This is such a great easy hike and a great place to take people to change thier mind about what a desert looks like or is.there are some really cool side canyons to explore. Bring water, more water than you think you could ever need. It can get warm but there is always that one person who did not bring enough.
We found some nice shade and had a fantastic lunch. Then head north to go to Desert Hot Springs and soak in the pools at one of the hotel spas. Day pass is cheap and because of covid, very few people. They also have good and cheap food.

This is a MUST DO if you are in Palm springs area. It's about an hour long drive from the downtown area and you are guaranteed to reach the trail head using a 4x4 vehicle which is all sand at certain spots. FOLLOW the signs (folks on the trail have used rocks to make arrows to follow) we covered around 8 miles on the trail.

The ladders are the star of the show here most are super easy to get you to some great views except one in the canyon which has a 3-4 feet gap. Check the weather before you go, avoid windy days.

Remarkable spot. My kids loved it. Too busy on the day we went but people were polite and helpful, mostly masked up. Narrow passageways through the rocks were like being on a movie set. Amazing.

Another of the many beautiful canyons, oasis' geologic features, and trails that ring the Coachella Valley. Fun for all age groups!