This is the latest in the season I’ve done this hike. It was beautiful as always including needles still showing on the larches. A few minor muddy spots.
Last miles once the road turned to dirt are easy to manage in any vehicle. Just don’t leave your car window open while driving, like my sister did, or risk a car full of mud puddle…oops.
As always, this is a great loop for the kiddos too. With markings and it being a loop no one will get lost either. Just always bring/load maps for safety.
In the summer there are some fab spots to soak your feet in the river while nibbling on some lunch.

Rainy day hike with pops of color courtesy of the larches. Trail was muddy in places with many puddles that were easy to skirt.
There is a tree down across the road just before the parking lot. We parked on the road and stepped over the tree although you could also join the trail directly from the road further down. Toilet in good condition but bring your own TP

Icicle Gorge — The Mandatory Detox Send

Chad (Author), Brad, Brock, and Trent // Oct 19, 2025 // The Quad Squad

Look, if you don't follow up a 15-mile alpine send and two nights of Oktoberfest mayhem with a "recovery" run, did you even lift? Sunday was dedicated to flushing out the residual toxins from consuming das boots last night and proving that our cardio engine runs on spite and supplements.

This wasn't just a hike, it was the 4Loko Fun Run. This is mandatory active recovery where, by new Quad Squad rules, we supplement our gains by crushing a 4Loko at specific checkpoints. The objective was high-mileage, low-elevation, and maximum pump selfie opportunities through the whole trip.

Pre-Game & Weather Check: Double-Hammered

We hit the Icicle Gorge trailhead on Sunday morning. The first order of business: the mandatory pre-workout. We lined up in the parking lot and shotgunned White Monster Energy drinks—pure adrenaline and zero-sugar gains. Then, because rules are rules, we followed that up with a mandatory 4Loko opener to really kickstart the fun run.

The weather? It was pure mood. The high alpine was getting hammered by a winter storm, and honestly, it felt appropriate because the boys got hammered even harder by Leavenworth's finest German lager last night. It was a perfect detox environment.

We took the route counter-clockwise like the strategic athletes we are—get all the flat, less scenic garbage out of the way first. We only save the good stuff for the main event.

Brock's Weakness & Brad's Vision

We made quick time until we hit the Rock Island Campground. That's where we witnessed true weakness. Brock totally lost it and puked everywhere in an occupied campsite. What a loser. Seriously, dude, hydrate better. The weak link must be shamed.

But where there is shame, there is opportunity. Brad, ever the visionary, immediately got the crew together to take mandatory shirtless pump selfies off the Rock Island Campground bridge. Gotta document the gains, even if the background is a little muddy.

To reset the vibe after Brock's failure, we paused for our second mandatory 4Loko break before continuing. The next section was basic—just some quaint forested nonsense. But then we hit the log bridge crossings. We don't see a bridge, we see a piece of equipment. We immediately turned one of them into a gym, getting some rain-slicked dip exercises in on the bridge railing—perfect for triceps. Always be training.

The Peak Scenery & Final Send

The peak moment of this route is the quick, decisive climb to a rocky structure overlooking the Icicle River. When we got there, the lighting was chef's kiss for the lens.

Okay, I won't lie. For a split second, the bros tore up at how beautiful the scenery was... for some selfies. We captured some absolute fire content. It was majestic, even if it was just glorified tree views. Some Instagram hunnies passed by, so we took the opportunity for flex for the ladies too. 

To fuel the exit, we crushed the final mandatory 4Loko. Finally, we crossed the main bridge overlooking the rocky gorge—an impressive view that lasted about two seconds—and bombed back to the trailhead. We set a ridiculous pace on the way out, knowing exactly what was waiting for us: the Jeep Gladiator, packed full of ice-cold, well-deserved brewskis.

Conclusion: Icicle Gorge: a decent recovery run with solid lighting and a few opportunities to catch a pump. Brock needs to step up his hydration game. 10/10 for the scenery, 6/10 for the workout, 4/LOKO for the 4Loko run. 

One of our favorite hikes. The Icicle Canyon never disappoints with the views of the river, mountains and sky. A few blow downs but passable. Smoke from the Sugarloaf fire settled in by 1pm so glad we started earlier in the day. Note: some kind soul is stocking the bathrooms with TP and removing trash during the federal government shutdown.

Hiked this loop on a Wednesday, and arriving at 10:00am we were met with a parking lot only about half full. The river loop is incredibly well maintained and provides for a solid 1.5-2 hour walk, generally flat and mostly in shade. Our smallish dog (still learning to hike) did great, including on a variety of log bridges and those with heavier structure. We crossed paths with several families including younger children, just an overall great mid-morning hike on a trail with small-to-medium effort for big payoff in the form of views of a variety of trees and other foliage, not to mention Icicle Creek itself.

Our party also tried out the upper section of the View Trail by crossing the road, and very quickly found enough overgrowth and fallen trees to make it un-navigable, at least for our mixed party (experienced and mobile hikers would likely have no problem, but we found it uncomfortable when trying to pass through with the dog).

Overall though a fabulous way to spend a late summer day.