Ladder Canyon in Mecca Hills
Mecca, California
Details
Distance
4.43 miles
Elevation Gain
1119 ft
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by Michael Fricke
Ladder Canyon is a hike that involves climbing ladders and walking through canyons up to great views on the Mecca Hills and Salton Sea.
From Box Canyon Road turn on to Painted Canyon Road a dirt road that will lead you to the trailhead. From the trailhead start into the canyon. After a few hundred feet there will be rocks forming an arrow pointing you towards a ladder. Go up the ladder and follow the trail from here. There will be a few ladders on the way up. You will climb up to top of the canyon and get some great views.
Follow the ridge and rock arrows until you are back in the large main canyon, Painted Canyon, which you started in. There are a few side canyons you can explore on the way out that are optional. There are two ladders on the way down if you do the loop this way.
CAUTION:
Do not attempt this adventure if there is rain in the forecast. There can be flash flooding which creates a very dangerous situation in these slot canyons.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Ladder Canyon in Mecca Hills Reviews
Great hike but definitely take a picture of the trails
5.0
This is one of my favs desert/canyon hiking in California
5.0
Absolutely a must. Best to use a 4WD or AWD to get to trailhead.
5.0
Phenomenal hike for the whole family. My 10 year old and i had a blast with this trail!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Big Painted Canyon
Night Hike Painted Canyon
Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Loop
Camp at the Salton Sea
Explore Cottonwood Spring
Camp at Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree NP
Community
© 2025 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy