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Canyoneer Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada - Stav is Lost

Canyoneer Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV

Class 3 3B (190 ft max) 8.8 miles 2800 gain 9-12 hrs Loop
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Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) GPX Track

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Mar 27, 2022 — Ice Cube Canyon (also known as The Maze) is the most famous and likely best technical canyon within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Despite living in Las Vegas, I haven't done this one until now. Being a local canyon, I kept putting it off because I didn't think it could be all that good, but I couldn't have been more misguided. It's got the gorgeous textures typical for Red Rock, fun narrows that are more common in Utah, a bunch of rappels, short swimmers, and a straightforward approach. This is an excellent canyon with the added benefit of being close to home.

If you have two cars with high clearance you could set up a shuttle and cut a few miles off of the road walk, but we did not and had to make it a full loop. Additionally, you may want to consider getting a late exit pass from Red Rock in case things move more slowly than anticipated to avoid getting a ticket. We read about a "sneak" route from BluuGnome that skips more than half of the distance in the canyon, but apparently this is a convoluted approach route. The upper portion of The Maze is beautiful and worth the extra effort, anyway. Finally, there's apparently been some sort of bolting war within The Maze. I suppose some folks think it's okay to clip bolts when others are expecting them to be there. Hey, if you don't want to use the bolts, then ignore them! Fortunately, today we had a well-bolted canyon that sped things up considerably. That being said, in case some elitist decides to remove the bolts, it's prudent to bring a bunch of webbing and the knowledge of how to build natural anchors, though I suppose that's the case with any canyon.

Chris, Matt, and I set out from the Lost Creek Parking Area and headed along Rocky Gap Road, taking this road to a point at around the 5400' contour where a cairn marks a well-traveled trail on the left, the unofficial North Peak Trailhead. This trail leads steeply for about 1500 feet to gain the crest of the Keystone Thrust (the point on the ridge where the limestone visibly shifts to sandstone). The last few hundred feet ascends over Class 2 sandstone slabs/talus with cairns marking the way. Once at the crest we headed south, more or less following the Keystone Thrust line. A social trail leads to the head of The Maze.

We geared up and started down. The canyon's upper section has a few narrows and cool, twisting formations. The rappels in this section are short, and there are a bunch of fun downclimbing/partner-assist obstacles. The Maze then opens up for a bit under a mile and then enters the extended second half of technical canyoneering. While most rappels in this section are also short, there are a few aroud 100' and the final rap is about 190'. The lower portion also has a significant number of swimmers and wading.

I'll let the photos with captions below take it from here in more detail.

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photo protector Along Rocky Gap Road, entering the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness.
Along Rocky Gap Road, entering the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness.
photo protector Along Rocky Gap Road.
Along Rocky Gap Road.
photo protector We left Rocky Gap Road and ascended this trail, which led up to the ridge in the center.
We left Rocky Gap Road and ascended this trail, which led up to the ridge in the center.
photo protector View back toward Rocky Gap Road.
View back toward Rocky Gap Road.
photo protector View back a few hundred feet below the ridge where sandstone slabs/talus make the trail more of a cairned route. Rocky Gap Road seen below.
View back a few hundred feet below the ridge where sandstone slabs/talus make the trail more of a cairned route. Rocky Gap Road seen below.
photo protector On the ridge crest, view toward Charleston Peak and the La Madre Mountains in the distance.
On the ridge crest, view toward Charleston Peak and the La Madre Mountains in the distance.
photo protector On the ridge, a view south toward Bridge Mountain (left). The Maze begins in front of (north of) Bridge Mountain.
On the ridge, a view south toward Bridge Mountain (left). The Maze begins in front of (north of) Bridge Mountain.
photo protector Following the Keystone Thrust line, roughly.
Following the Keystone Thrust line, roughly.
photo protector View back along the social trail.
View back along the social trail.
photo protector Nearing the head of The Maze.
Nearing the head of The Maze.
photo protector Starting down The Maze. An initial obstacle can be avoided on the left.
Starting down The Maze. An initial obstacle can be avoided on the left.
photo protector Just past the first very short rappel. Already getting gorgeous.
Just past the first very short rappel. Already getting gorgeous.
photo protector A partner-assisted downclimb.
A partner-assisted downclimb.
photo protector View back at the second rappel/handline.
View back at the second rappel/handline.
photo protector Rap 3 off a log.
Rap 3 off a log.
photo protector A series of short downclimbs through narrows. Some may prefer to rap.
A series of short downclimbs through narrows. Some may prefer to rap.
photo protector View back at a partner assist drop.
View back at a partner assist drop.
photo protector Rap 5. Rap 6 seen below off a log.
Rap 5. Rap 6 seen below off a log.
photo protector Rap 6 into a pool. We stayed on rappel and meandered through the slot as it continued horizontally for a bit before dropping.
Rap 6 into a pool. We stayed on rappel and meandered through the slot as it continued horizontally for a bit before dropping.
photo protector Rap 7. Where Chris is in the background, the canyon turns left and enters a tight slot.
Rap 7. Where Chris is in the background, the canyon turns left and enters a tight slot.
photo protector Tight slot. Downclimb-able. BluuGnome reports this is avoidable, but I don't know why you would. It's one of the more interesting sections.
Tight slot. Downclimb-able. BluuGnome reports this is avoidable, but I don't know why you would. It's one of the more interesting sections.
photo protector View back up the tight slot.
View back up the tight slot.
photo protector A gorgeous twist in the narrows.
A gorgeous twist in the narrows.
photo protector Rap 8 into a small pothole, followed by another drop into another pothole below.
Rap 8 into a small pothole, followed by another drop into another pothole below.
photo protector Continuing down the canyon through a few short down climbs.
Continuing down the canyon through a few short down climbs.
photo protector More downclimbs (or a rappel).
More downclimbs (or a rappel).
photo protector Rap 10 (or downclimb) into a pool. Rap 11 is just past Matt ahead.
Rap 10 (or downclimb) into a pool. Rap 11 is just past Matt ahead.
photo protector The canyon opens. This marks the end of the first portion of The Maze. A bit less than a mile of boulder-hopping and canyon walking begins.
The canyon opens. This marks the end of the first portion of The Maze. A bit less than a mile of boulder-hopping and canyon walking begins.
photo protector View back up-canyon.
View back up-canyon.
photo protector Forested section as we descend. There are a few short drops within the open section, but we didn't need ropes for any of them. I recommend putting away your gear so nothing gets snagged on the sometimes brushy portions.
Forested section as we descend. There are a few short drops within the open section, but we didn't need ropes for any of them. I recommend putting away your gear so nothing gets snagged on the sometimes brushy portions.
photo protector A drop, avoidable on the left.
A drop, avoidable on the left.
photo protector Avoiding the drop, view back up-canyon.
Avoiding the drop, view back up-canyon.
photo protector A short down-climb via rabbit hole.
A short down-climb via rabbit hole.
photo protector The second part of Ice Cube Canyon begins! Others reported tis as being rap 13, so I'll call it that for consistency. Up until this point we managed to only do 7-8 rappels, but to each their own.
The second part of Ice Cube Canyon begins! Others reported tis as being rap 13, so I'll call it that for consistency. Up until this point we managed to only do 7-8 rappels, but to each their own.
photo protector Close-up of rap 13.
Close-up of rap 13.
photo protector Passing under a neat, massive boulder spanning the canyon.
Passing under a neat, massive boulder spanning the canyon.
photo protector Some scrambling after rap 13.
Some scrambling after rap 13.
photo protector Rap 14.
Rap 14.
photo protector Rap 14.
Rap 14.
photo protector Looking back up at rap 14.
Looking back up at rap 14.
photo protector Rap 15, getting narrow again.
Rap 15, getting narrow again.
photo protector Waist-deep wade to rap 16.
Waist-deep wade to rap 16.
photo protector Hairpin turn, rap 16 on the left. Rap 15 visible on the right.
Hairpin turn, rap 16 on the left. Rap 15 visible on the right.
photo protector Rap 16, looking down-canyon.
Rap 16, looking down-canyon.
photo protector Looking back at rap 16.
Looking back at rap 16.
photo protector Ledge bypass (Class 2) to avoid rap 17.
Ledge bypass (Class 2) to avoid rap 17.
photo protector Short, annoying rap 18.
Short, annoying rap 18.
photo protector Another hairpin turn at rap 19.
Another hairpin turn at rap 19.
photo protector Chris coming down rap 19.
Chris coming down rap 19.
photo protector Rap 20, which can be downclimbed via a Class 3 move, followed by a rabbit hole.
Rap 20, which can be downclimbed via a Class 3 move, followed by a rabbit hole.
photo protector View back toward rap 20 (which we down-climbed).
View back toward rap 20 (which we down-climbed).
photo protector A narrow section with a surprisingly deep pool. We were able to stem the whole way, and then use some climbing moves toward the end when the pool widened.
A narrow section with a surprisingly deep pool. We were able to stem the whole way, and then use some climbing moves toward the end when the pool widened.
photo protector Close-up within the long stem-able section. It curves left and opens up. Between Chris and Matt is a chockstone that may sometimes not be covered in water.
Close-up within the long stem-able section. It curves left and opens up. Between Chris and Matt is a chockstone that may sometimes not be covered in water.
photo protector Past the stemming, a wide and deep section. This spot was really gorgeous.
Past the stemming, a wide and deep section. This spot was really gorgeous.
photo protector View back.
View back.
photo protector
photo protector A short downclimb into a swimmer.
A short downclimb into a swimmer.
photo protector View back toward the swimmer.
View back toward the swimmer.
photo protector Class 2/3 boulder-hopping to the get to rap 21. You can likely down-climb through the boulder pile, but there was a bolt to the left of the farther rock in this photo.
Class 2/3 boulder-hopping to the get to rap 21. You can likely down-climb through the boulder pile, but there was a bolt to the left of the farther rock in this photo.
photo protector View back toward the boulder pile.
View back toward the boulder pile.
photo protector Rap 21.
Rap 21.
photo protector View back toward rap 21.
View back toward rap 21.
photo protector Short walk to rap 22.
Short walk to rap 22.
photo protector Chris above rap 22. We can now see the desert floor below!
Chris above rap 22. We can now see the desert floor below!
photo protector View back at Matt coming down rap 22.
View back at Matt coming down rap 22.
photo protector A view from the start of rap 23. The anchor required an exposed stemming move to reach.
A view from the start of rap 23. The anchor required an exposed stemming move to reach.
photo protector View back at rap 23.
View back at rap 23.
photo protector Close-up of Chris halfway down rap 23.
Close-up of Chris halfway down rap 23.
photo protector Chris at the last section of rap 23.
Chris at the last section of rap 23.
photo protector The pool at the base of rap 23 is avoidable with some gymnastics.
The pool at the base of rap 23 is avoidable with some gymnastics.
photo protector At the base of rap 23, where we took off our gear and headed down to the Ice Box Canyon Trail.
At the base of rap 23, where we took off our gear and headed down to the Ice Box Canyon Trail.
photo protector View back at the last rap.
View back at the last rap.
photo protector Big boulder obstacles to contend with to get down to the trail.
Big boulder obstacles to contend with to get down to the trail.
photo protector View back toward the last rap (center) as we make our way to the Ice Box Trail. We took the trail to the road and followed that back to our car.
View back toward the last rap (center) as we make our way to the Ice Box Trail. We took the trail to the road and followed that back to our car.

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