california - Mecca - Meccacopia Little Box Canyon Loop

A scenic loop, especially nice in early spring, when the flowers are blooming.

On the Box Canyon Road, 7.3 mile past the crossing with the painted canyon road.
Park close to the map with Meccacopia.

Start hiking east, then south, the road is marked Meccacopia.
We hiked mostly off road to the right.
As the road turns left, keep on going in the narrow wash. You will meet the road again at point "Road".

Follow the road over a saddle, hike right of it and keep a watch for the road.
At the crossing with the Little Box Canyon, keep on going south.
The road goes down into a wash, as you see a large wilderness sign at point "Wilderness" leave the road and head west.
Follow the wash downhill, close before point "Canyon 1" you see a canyon going to the right, ignore it.

Warning: After point "Canyon 1" the canyon is to be considered dangerous, the walls are high and very unstable.
This canyon is marked "The Grotto" on the topo map.

We did however enter the canyon and it's a beautiful slot like canyon. How far you can get depends on where the boulders came down.
The return route may get blocked after an earthquake, so be warned.

Going back, at the first opportunity leave the canyon at point "Canyon 1", this is a more steep, not very distinct wash, but an easy spot to get out of the canyon.
Notice the Jeep trail on your left going steeply up the hill, follow this trail up.

After the top of the hill, you will see a rock arrow, follow it to the hidden spring oasis. You can't make it all the way, but the views are really superb and well worth the detour.

Some may hike to the bottom of the canyon, but consider it more dangerous and it will make the loop even longer.

Coming back at the rock arrow, turn left, following the "main" jeep trail.
As the jeep trail goes over an other hill top, at point "top", the trail goes down really steep to the right.
Better go a bit further and descent there, that's a lot easier.

Follow the canyon to the left (as seen from the top) north/west.
Look for a saddle on your right and go down the canyon on the other side, on yet another faint jeep trail.

This narrow canyon eventually ends in the Little Box Canyon.
Follow this canyon to the left/west.

You can go all the way to the Box Canyon Road and follow it to your right all the way to the car.
Or you can at point "X" go into the fork and take the more adventurous route.
Follow this canyon upstream until you can't go any further, hike uphill on the left side and head for the saddle at point "Saddle 2".

From now on it's more cross country to the car. You have to pass a couple off small washes.

Eventually you will meet the wash or the road towards the car.

Pictures

Hiking time: 4 Hour, 50 Minutes.
This is a longer hike, with little shade, so don't try this on a hot day.
In early March with 80 degrees was hot enough.

This hike was really colorful in early March 2011.