Canyon–Ladder Canyon (Medium) Loop, 5 sights

2.7 mi · ▲ 1,206 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Canyon–Ladder Canyon (Medium) Loop, 5 sights is a 2.7-mile loop near Cactus City, CA. It climbs 1,206 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly sand. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi587 – 1,165 ft · steepest grade: 31%2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Painted Canyon Road (Easy) 33.61906, -115.99911
Nearest town Cactus City, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Canyon–Ladder Canyon (Medium) Loop, 5 sights

2.7 mi · ▲ 1,206 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 587–1,166 ft

Loop

Trailhead: Painted Canyon Road (Easy) · 33.61906, -115.99911

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:59 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Painted Canyon Road (Easy), heading NE.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Ladder Canyon (Medium), heading N.
  3. 0.3 miSharp left onto Canyon, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Ladder Canyon (Medium), heading N.
  5. 0.3 miBear left onto Ridge, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miBear left onto Canyon, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Ridge, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right onto Ropes Canyon (Hard), heading S.
  9. 0.2 miBear left onto small canyon -unconfirmed-, heading SW.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Ropes Canyon (Hard), heading SW.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right onto Painted Canyon Road (Easy), heading S.
  12. 500 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

73% sand27% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:59 AMSunset 7:43 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Painted Canyon Road (Easy) Trailhead