Ladders Hike - Mecca, CA Wilderness Area

I learn so many new places to hike from my friend Roxy.  Just a hour and a half west from Quartzsite are the Mecca, CA Hills.  They are just south of Joshua Tree NP and east of Palm Springs, and north of Slab City.

It has been fun spending time with Roxy this year helping her with her van’s charging system.  Roxy is on Facebook under A Nomad For Nature at: https://www.facebook.com/ANomadforNature/

Her travels on blog and on YouTube off a great selection of places to hike and see.



(Above: AllTrails screen capture)

It was a good hike as a workout goes at 6.8 miles and over 1000 ft elevation.  


(Above: AllTrails screen capture)

There is more than one hike in these slot canyons with ladders.  Not knowing what ladder hike was the best, I ended up picking the canyon to the left that is least interesting and no ladders.  

Above is one slot in front that goes around a corner

The hike stats off gradually and steepens as it narrows at the end

Then the trail takes you up on top of the hills around the slot canyons

The picture above is from the center ridge between the main canyons that heads up/down the most ladders.  I decided not to go down these ladders as most people come up and as I approached the ridge to go down there were about 15 people in the ridge that came up.  It turns iut it was a wedding party.

Not wanting to cross cross others with ladders I opted to retrace my steps to head down the other canyon to the right in the map.  

Some guys in a group were hiking up and explained how most people hike the ladders.  Good to know for next time. 

The more beautiful rock lined canyon for the return trip was much more interesting.

Above is one of two ladders to climb up or down.  Most Hike down these.  Some rungs are broken and the ladders were not fastened or didn’t extend enough not to have to slide in your bottom next to the ladder to then rotate to get on it.  Going up ladders is easier from my perspective.  If you have concern over ladders or you have mobility issues you should pass this ladder hike.  Children seem to enjoy the fun of the ladders.

When I arrived at the parking lot for the hike early in the morning there was only one other car.  When I got back there were about 20 cars.  This is a very popular area for hiking even for a Friday.

If ladders don’t bother you then head into the main canyon (one to right) hike in until you see an arrow on the ground made of washed stone.  It points to a narrow slot canyon into the center of the main right and left canyon and this will have the most ladders and will bring you up on the ridge.  Then return to the right canyon for two more ladders.

This is not what I did, but I wasn’t disappointed as it was a great hike and I did catch a couple of ladders.

Happy Trails and Thanks Roxy,

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com