Box Canyon Loop

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Fishing · Geological Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

At just over 3 miles this loop has it all. There is light scrambling, views, wildlife waterfalls, swimming, and cool historical remains to explore.

1. $7 fee
2. Rattlesnakes
3. Poison Oak
4. Poison Ivey
5. Cliffs
6. Bring lots of water (can be very hot and dry)

Parts are very narrow and can be crowded so be cool about having to break your cadence.

Start by looking over the spring at the viewpoint. Take the Rim Trail west to a place that has a long iron eye bolt protruding from the ground. This is the start of Box Canyon Springs Spur that will quickly drop down to the water's edge. Push on through the sometimes overgrown bushes to a water meter and a great waterfall with great picture-taking options.

Keep going to a wood bridge. The trail leaves the old road briefly as it skirts the little lake. Sometimes there is a port-a-toilet there. You can safely swim here, assuming you know how and the cold water is not too much for you. There is a nice beach with shade trees here too. The trail immediately turns to a doubletrack and harsh desert the rest of the way out to the Snake River on Box Canyon Springs Trail where you curve around a high canyon wall before heading up a sister canyon called Ceader Draw Creek.

When the road forks, go left and climb out of the canyon on a switchback. There are views of the river and hatcheries along the way. Once out of the canyon and back on top, take the trail leading left and away from the road for a few rim-top views. after a bit you'll find the Box Canyon Springs Trail again but you have seen all that already so finish the loop on Box Canyon Springs Trail.

Lots of poison oak and nettles along with watercress and various desert sage for a crazy contrast of plant life. We found 2 otters, 3 red tail hawks and a muskrat. There are a lot of rattlesnakes in the area but we got lucky and met none.

A majority of the water was diverted and captured just after the lake for use in the fish hatcheries nearby. Even as you run along the covered canal, you'll find small dammed-up springs in the bushes with pipes to the canal to get the most out of the canyon. In the springtime, the water flow is higher and the extra water is allowed to flow to the river in the original route. There is an old bridge and some foundations to be found if you look hard.