Distance: 4.9 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 1332' (high point on loop)
Elevation Gain: 908'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.7
Round trip time: 2 hours
Recommended water: 20 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Painted Canyon Road
Difficulty: Easy
Leisa joined me doing a very popular loop through Ladder Canyon. We drove through Coachella to the Mecca Hills and finally 4 miles of dirt road to reach the trailhead on Painted Canyon Road. The dirt road was washboarded, but flat and no major obstacles. Small sedans with low clearance were at the trailhead so any car can make it. Most of the canyon is wide and sandy. About a half mile up the trail, there is a wooden marker on the right side that signals the entrance to the main ladder section on the left. The entrance looks like it might be difficult, but there is a good trail going around and through the boulders. The first ladder is installed under one of the boulders here but we didn't need it. The first ladder we used was a 10' downclimb. The next three were going up dry falls, some as high as 20'. In between was a fun narrow slot section. Leisa thought it was the trail version of Chutes and Ladders. We followed the main channel to the top of the ridge where a well worn trail continued. We passed another party making their way clockwise around the loop.
When the trail turned, we weren't quite sure whether to drop down into the wide canyon below or stay on the ridge. Leisa noticed the ridge trail had rocks across it, so we dropped into the canyon which turned out to be correct. The next two miles were wide, sandy, and easy going. Then we reached two more ladder downclimbs. In the final mile, we passed dozens of people going counter-clockwise. Several asked our advice on the route and we filled them in as best we could. Driving out, we stopped at a restroom and decided to explore another canyon that might have been Ropes Canyon. Another group had started ahead of us but turned back quickly. We continued up mostly class 2+ terrain without the aid of ladders. At one tricky spot, Leisa waited for me to go ahead a few hundred yards to look for a roped section. The canyon continued with more of the same but no ropes. It was a nice way to cap the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment