Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Trail | Unique Slot Canyon Hike

If you are in Southern California, the Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Trail is not to be missed! But it’s not your average walk in the park. The hike is best known for it’s slot canyon sections that have ladders to allow hikers to climb through different levels of the canyon. And Painted Canyon gets its name for the stunning colored layers of rock.

Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Featured

It also includes a section up on the rim of the canyon that offers sweeping views, including the Salton Sea to the Southwest. The trail is located in the sandy/rocky canyons so even just getting to the trailhead can be an adventure. But if you are near Palm Springs or Joshua Tree, then Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Trail should definitely be on your radar.

Stats For Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Hike

Distance: 4.9miles

Elevation: 908ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Type: Lollipop Loop

Bathroom: Pit toilet 1 mile before trailhead

Dogs: No

Leave No Trace

These sandy canyons very are susceptible to erosion from human traffic. So stick to the trail to help prevent further damage to this beautifully sensitive area. There is no bathroom at the trailhead and basically no place along the entire narrow canyon trail to relieve yourself. So plan ahead and stop at the bathroom 1 mile before the trailhead on the left side of the road. And as always, pack out any and all trash!

Flash Flood Danger

Slot canyons like Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon are subject to flash flooding if there is rain in the drainage basin. Flash floods present a serious danger for hikers trapped in the canyon. Avoid this hike if there is any rain in the forecast nearby.

Getting to The Painted Canyon Trailhead

The trail begins at Painted Canyon Trailhead in Mecca, CA. Getting to the trailhead can be a challenge because the road is not paved. The road has variable sand conditions in the wash of Painted Canyon. The road is subject to closures due to flooding. You can check current conditions here.

If the road is open then visitors will face variable sandy conditions in the last mile before the trailhead. 4×4 or all-wheel drive are recommended. However, under good conditions, people do make it with 2wd. High-clearance is not generally necessary, but expect some washboard conditions. Use caution and common sense.

Start of The Painted Canyon Hike

The trail begins in the Painted Canyon. We recommend having the GPS map view from AllTrails loaded to your phone to help you navigate this hike. The canyon is still quite wide and tall at this point, but it begins to narrow quickly. We recommend hiking the loop clockwise, which means you need to look for the left turn into Ladder Canyon about a ½ mile into the canyon. (Don’t be fooled by the first canyon split on the left at about .1 miles).

When we hiked it, there was a large rock arrow on the floor of Painted Canyon that points to the entrance of Ladder Canyon.

Ladder Canyon

The entrance to Ladder Canyon begins to climb pretty quickly and some moderate scrambling is required. The bottom section of Ladder Canyon is the most narrow slot canyon section of this hike. There are ladders in place to help hikers climb the large pour-offs that would otherwise be un-hikeable without climbing gear.

Emily in the upper section of the Ladder Canyon slot canyon

The long winding hallways of Ladder Canyon extend for nearly a mile, getting progressively wider at the top allowing more light in. Eventually, you reach the top of the rim.

Up On The rim

Once you are up on the rim of Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon, you are treated with panoramic views for miles. A web of sandy canyon drainages and washes snake all around you.

Once you hike a little further, you can see the Salton Sea to the southwest, and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains dominate the horizon to the west. The rim section continues uphill until it’s tame enough to descend back into the Painted Canyon.

Painted Canyon

Once back in the Painted Canyon, you hike down the sandy wash. The walls of Painted Canyon are decorated with striated hues of pink, purple, salmon, black, and white.

There is one last tricky section in Painted Canyon with a couple of steep drops in a slot canyon section. There is a rope for descending one section, and another ladder for the final drop.

From here, you just follow the Painted Canyon downhill to the trailhead.

Difficulty And Routes

While this hike is not very long and the elevation change is gradual, it does present some unique challenges. There are narrow sections that can be too small for some people. The moderate scrambling, ladders, and rope descent require a certain fitness and coordination that may not be suitable for all people. Also, there is no guarantee that the ropes and ladders will be in perfect condition, which could be dangerous or make a certain section impassable.

And the sandy wash sections in Painted Canyon add a hidden difficulty that doesn’t show on paper. All of this coupled with possible hot temperatures can make this hike more difficult than your average 5-mile hike.

We recommend doing this hike clockwise because it’s easier to climb up the ladders and descend the rope, rather than vice versa. And the sandy wash in Painted Canyon is easier coming down than hiking up.

Rope Canyon Alternate Route

There is another variation of this hike called Rope Canyon Trail, which is a loop of Ladder Canyon and Rope Canyon. Rope Canyon is the first fork on the left after leaving the trailhead. There is a 20-foot rope to allow hikers to climb or descend the large pour-off. Using this rope requires great upper body strength, especially if ascending. We think that doing this version misses some of the pretty upper sections of Painted Canyon that provide some great variety in contrast to the slot canyon sections.

Takeaway: Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Trail

Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Trail is one of the most unique hikes we’ve ever done. The ladders, ropes, slot canyons, and stunning geology will certainly provide a sense of adventure. If you are in Southern California it is worth traveling for this one-of-a-kind adventure. Leave No Trace and Happy Hiking!