Trail Canyon: Currently Closed
Trail Canyon is currently closed, and unlike some of the other Tropical Storm Hilary-related closures in this area, there's no announced reopening date at all. The Forest Service closed the trail, trailhead, and access road in August 2023 after the storm caused significant damage, and as of this writing, officials say significant repair work is still needed with no timeline given. This guide describes the trail as it exists so you know what you're missing and can plan for whenever it eventually reopens — do not attempt to hike it based on old trip reports or trail apps that may not reflect the closure.
Before You Go: Trail Canyon, its trailhead, and its access road are closed under an active Forest Closure Order, with no projected reopening date. This is part of the same Tropical Storm Hilary (August 2023) storm-damage response that closed Bristlecone Trail's Upper section (targeted reopening 2029) and Mary Jane Falls Trail (targeted reopening fall 2027) — but Trail Canyon has no target date at all. Several third-party trail sites and apps may still show this trail as open; they are out of date. Check the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area's current conditions page or call the Ranger Station before making any plans.
Trail Snapshot (When Open)
Status | Closed indefinitely since August 2023; no reopening date announced
Distance | 2.4 miles one-way / 4.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain | ~1,520 ft
Difficulty | Moderate
Fee | None
Location | Kyle Canyon, near Echo Road
Distance | 2.4 miles one-way / 4.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain | ~1,520 ft
Difficulty | Moderate
Fee | None
Location | Kyle Canyon, near Echo Road
What the Trail Offered
When open, this was a moderate hike following a wide, wooded canyon corridor along a creek bed, connecting to the North Loop Trail at a saddle near Coxcomb Ridge — no scrambling required, steeper in places but straightforward. The trail offered views of Coxcomb Ridge, Charleston Peak, and the cliffs of Mummy Mountain, with a wide, tall-pine canopy along most of the route. A 0.5-mile side trip to Cave Spring and a longer connection to Mummy Spring were both accessible from this trail.
Part of a Larger Storm-Damage Story
This closure is part of the same widespread storm-damage response that affected Bristlecone Trail's Upper section and Mary Jane Falls Trail, all tied to Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023. Unlike those two, which have projected reopening dates (2029 and fall 2027 respectively), Trail Canyon currently has no timeline at all.
What to Do Instead
If you were hoping to hike in this part of Kyle Canyon, Fletcher Canyon and Griffith Peak are both currently open, well-documented alternatives in the same general area.
Practical Advice
- Do not attempt to enter this closure zone.
- Check the Spring Mountains NRA current conditions page for status updates.
- Consider Fletcher Canyon or Griffith Peak as open alternatives in the same general area.
- Do not rely on trail apps that may not reflect this closure.
- This closure has no projected reopening date, unlike some of the other Tropical Storm Hilary closures in this area.
- Several third-party trail listings still incorrectly show this trail as open — don't trust them.
- Check official Forest Service sources, not tourism sites, for the most current status.
Trail Canyon was a solid moderate hike before the 2023 storm damage. Right now, respecting the closure is the only responsible option — check official sources periodically rather than assuming a timeline, and choose one of the open alternatives nearby in the meantime.
