📍 Circular Route | 1.9 km | 20m Elevation | ~25 minutes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Would road-trip again (but maybe not plan a whole vacation around it)
🥾 Hike At-a-Glance
- Distance: 1.9 km (circular route)
- Elevation Gain: 20 m (basically flat)
- Time: ~25 minutes (plus photo stops… so, maybe 45!)
- Best For: Road-trippers needing a leg stretch, movie buffs, families with kids
- Highlights: Sandstone cliffs, quirky rock formations, desert wildflowers, cinematic backdrops
- Difficulty: Easy, more of a playground than a hike
At under 2 km, Hagen Canyon Nature Trail might not sound like much of a “real hike”, but don’t let the distance fool you. This short loop in Red Rock Canyon State Park turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly fun stops of our entire trip.
We’d planned it as nothing more than a quick leg-stretcher on our way out of Death Valley toward Sequoia National Park. Half an hour to shake off the drive, snap a photo or two, and keep moving. Instead, we found ourselves wandering happily through sandstone cliffs, fascinating rock formations, and bursts of desert flowers and before we knew it, the “quick stop” had become one of the highlights of the day.
It makes sense when you learn that Red Rock Canyon has starred in countless movies and TV shows, from Jurassic Park to Law & Order to Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The scenery is so dramatic it practically demands a camera. To Daniel’s despair, that meant we stopped every few feet to take yet another picture (or three).
The trail itself is short, flat, and beautifully maintained. Off-trail exploration is allowed too, which meant the teens scrambled up rocks, we posed for ridiculous photos, and everyone got to play “explorer” for half an hour. We didn’t see another soul while we were there, so it felt like we had our very own desert playground.
A word of warning: there is no shade whatsoever on this trail. Even though it’s short, the desert sun can be unforgiving, so bring water and maybe a hat if you’re walking in the warmer months.
When it comes down to it, Hagen Canyon is exactly what a road-trip stop should be: easy to access, easy to enjoy, and packed with surprises. Definitely worth the detour.
What We Loved
✨ Having the entire trail to ourselves
✨ Clambering on rock formations for goofy family photos
✨ The crazy variety of red, orange, and yellow cliffs
✨ Spotting desert wildflowers in bloom
Verdict: 4 stars — a perfect “stretch-your-legs” adventure that turned into way more fun than we expected.
🧳 Packing List
- 🎒 Daypack
- 💧 Water bottle or hydration pack
- ⛑ First aid kit
- 🧢 Hat & 🕶 Sunglasses
- 🌧 Rain jacket
- 🧥 Warm top/layers
- 👟 Proper boots/shoes
Go Together Life 
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