Red Rock Canyon Trail #223

Red Rock Canyon Trail #223 is a remote Chiricahua Wilderness hike built around Red Rock Canyon’s narrow rhyolite corridor, then a steep pull up to Sage Peak and onward to a junction on the Rucker Canyon Trail. Expect a sustained, physically demanding day with routefinding responsibility on primitive terrain.

The opening miles run through the canyon floor for about 2.5 miles, following the narrow corridor with a generally gentle grade before the route begins to work upward out of the canyon.

After leaving the canyon, the trail climbs steeply via switchbacks into higher, rugged ridgelines, crossing and going over Sage Peak before continuing toward the Rucker Canyon Trail connection.

There are defined trail link-ups along the way: a junction with Upper Rucker Canyon Trail (about 0.5 mi from the first switchback section) and then the main connection point to the Rucker Canyon Trail at the ridge between Rucker and Price Canyons.

Route length is commonly tracked as ~11.1 miles as an out-and-back to Sage Peak, or ~14.9 miles for a longer traverse-style option. Typical time-on-trail is about 8.5 to 9 hours for competent parties moving at a steady pace.

Trail surface is unpaved and visibility is generally good, but the route is remote and minimally maintained; sections can be washed out or impacted by downed trees, so plan for rough, degraded footing in places.

More information: Conditions, Visitor information, Red Rock Canyon Trail #223