| Statistics: |
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| Difficulty: 2
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Route Finding: 1.5
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| Distance One Way
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0.85
miles |
| Trailhead Elev
745 feet |
Elev Gain -480 feet |
| Avg Time One Way
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30 minutes |
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| Waypoints: |
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| Trailhead |
N 34° 13.207 W 118° 55.056
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Mesa Trail
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N 34° 13.207 W 118° 55.056
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Lizard Rock Trail
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N 34° 13.322 W 118° 55.534
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Trailhead/End of trail
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N 34° 13.322 W 118° 55.534
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Topographic Route Map |
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Elevation Profile |
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By Scott Legal
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Box Canyon is a small canyon tucked away in the north western part of Wildwood Park. The trail can be a loop with the Lizard Rock Trail and the Mesa Trail of it can be an out and back. The trail starts at the Mesa Trail. As of January, 2010 there is a brand new trail sign that points the way. The Box Canyon trail is to the right and the Mesa Trail heads to the left toward Lizard Rock.
There is another intersection about 30 yards past the trailhead sign. If you go straight you will hit a dead end about 20 yards further at a place called Box Canyon Overlook. Turn right to travel down into Box Canyon. The trail is a steep dirt road. The best time to hike this trail is when the trail is dry. Some trails in Wildwood Park are passable if slightly wet. The Box Canyon trail is primarily on a north facing slope. Consequently, after rains it takes a very long time for the trail to dry up. In addition, the mud is some of the densest, stickiest mud as anywhere in the park. So stay away from this trail if it has rained anytime within a week of your planned hike.
Box Canyon is notable for being a pass through for a large natural gar pipeline. On your way down into the canyon you’ll pass a large pipeline suspended 10+ feet above the trail. This shouldn’t be too surprising to see since the same pipeline travels beside the Mesa Trail for most of its length. However, I find this higher overhead pipeline rather interesting, even if it does kind of ruin the natural beauty of the canyon.
The trail is mapped on this page down to the intersection with the Lizard Rock Trail. I may map the trail to the end at some time, but there is no legal outlet there. So I rarely go that far and usually opt instead to head up the Lizard Rock Trail.
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Trailhead |
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Overhead pipeline |
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Further down the trail |
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