Hiking

 

Check Current Road Conditions

If you choose to travel on backcountry roads, be aware that rescue is likely to be extremely delayed. Travel prepared to survive, with 2 full size spare tires and extra food and water.

Current Road Conditions

 

There are few constructed trails here, but in a place this desolate you usually don't need them. Most hiking routes in the park are cross-country, up canyons, or along ridges.

Hiking Seasons
The best time to hike in Death Valley is from November through March. Summer temperatures can be dangerous in the park's lower elevations. Even during spring and autumn the heat can be unbearable for most people. Save the low elevation hikes for the cooler winter days. The high peaks are a pleasant escape from the heat in summer, but are usually covered with snow in the winter and spring. If you must climb them during winter season, be sure to be properly equipped with adequate winter clothing, an ice axe and crampons.

Water
Due to the dry climate of Death Valley, you must drink more water here than in other places, even in the cooler winter months. Always carry adequate water (at least 2 liters for a short winter dayhike, 1 gallon or more for longer warm season hikes and overnighters). Springs are rare and should not be considered reliable. Boil or treat water from these sources before using.

 

 

Mosaic Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Easy Hikes

Harmony Borax Works: 0.4 mi (0.6km)
Salt Creek Interpretive Trail: 0.5 mi (0.8km)
Badwater Salt Flat: 1 mi (1.6km)
Natural Bridge: 1 mi (1.6km)
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: 2 mi (3.2km)

Moderate Hikes

Ubehebe Crater Loop: 1.5 mi (2.4km)
Darwin Falls: 7 mi (11.3 km)
Badlands Loop: 2.7 mi (4.3km)
Golden Canyon: 3 mi (4.8km)
Desolation Canyon: 3.6 mi (5.8km)
Mosaic Canyon: 4mi (6.4km)
Willow Canyon: 4.2 mi (6.8km)
Gower Gulch Loop: 4.3 mi (6.9km)
Sidewinder Canyon: 5 mi (8.4km)
Fall Canyon: 6 mi (9.6km)
Dante's Ridge: 8 mi (13km)

Difficult Hikes

Panamint Dunes: 7 mi (11.3km)
Little Bridge Canyon: 7 mi (11.2km)
Corkscrew Peak: 8 mi (12.9km)
Wildrose Peak: 8.4 mi (13.5km)
Telescope Peak: 14 mi (22.5km)

 

Harmony is also a great place to see the night sky.

NPS/K.Moses

Harmony Borax Works

Length: 0.4 mi (0.6km) Paved loop
Time: 30 minutes round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 50 ft (0.015km)
Location: 1 mile (1.6km) west of Furnace Creek on CA-190
Parking: Paved area with large spaces for RV's and buses
Closest Restroom: No restrooms. Furnace Creek Visitor Center 1 mile (1.6km) east.
Route: The paved loop takes you back in time as you learn the stories of Death Valley borax and the 20-Mule Teams. Interpretive panels along the way explain details of the borax processing, the story of the Mule Skinner, life in Harmony, and more.

 

Salt Creek

NPS/K.Moses

Salt Creek - Closed

Length: 0.5 mi (0.8km) ADA accessible wooden boardwalk loop CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGE
Time: 30 minutes round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Flat
Location: Salt Creek Road located 13 miles (20km) west of Furnace Creek on CA-190. The unpaved Salt Creek Road is typically passable to sedans.
Parking: The open gravel parking area is large enough for RV's and buses.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilets are located in the parking lot.
Route: The boardwalk is open year-round, however, water only flows down to the boardwalk from November through May. The best time to visit is during the Spring (February - April) when the Salt Creek Pupfish are in spawn. Interpretive signs along the way explain pupfish behavior, their adaptations, and how they relate to other pupfish around the Mojave Desert.

 

Natural Bridge.  Water is the force behind much of the beauty that we see in Death Valley today.

NPS/K.Moses

Natural Bridge

Length: 1 mi (1.6 km) out and back round trip
Time: 45 minutes round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 86 ft (26m)
Location: The unpaved Natural Bridge Road is 13.5 miles (22km) south of CA-190 on Badwater Road and is typically passable to sedans.
Parking: Open parking area large enough for buses and RV's.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet located in parking lot.
Route: The route from the information sign up the canyon to the bridge formation is easy to follow but very rocky. The canyon continues a short distance beyond the bridge where it abruptly ends at a dry waterfall.

 

Badwater Basin -the lowest place in North America.

NPS/K.Moses

Badwater Salt Flat

Length: 1 mile (1.6km) out and back trip to edge of salt flat. 5 miles (8km) each way to the other side.
Time: Average hiking speed is 2 mph (3.2 km/h), make your own adventure!
Difficulty: Easy to difficult depending on length. It is flat. Do not attempt when it's hot!
Elevation Gain: Flat
Location: Badwater Road 30 minutes (17 miles/27km) south of Furnace Creek.
Parking: Paved parking lot with large spaces for RV's and buses.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet located in parking lot.
Route: The lowest point in North America is a beautiful salt flat covering over 200 square miles (322km) of the valley. ADA accessible ramp leads down to boardwalk.

 

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

NPS/S.Stulberg

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Length: 2 miles (3.2km) round trip out and back
Time: 1.5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain: 185 ft (65m)
Location: Located in Stovepipe Wells Village 30 minutes (24mi/39km) west of Furnace Creek.
Parking: Paved lot with pull through spaces for buses and large RV's.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilets located in parking lot.
Route: The summit of the high dune is 1 mile (1.6km) each way. No formal trail. These are the most famous and accessible dunes in Death Valley.

 

Ubehebe Crater Loop.  Use caution near the edge!

NPS/D.Kish

Ubehebe Crater Loop

Length: 1.5 mile (2.4km) loop
Time: 1 hour round trip
Difficulty: Moderate. Exposed edges! Not good for those with a fear of heights.
Elevation Gain: 500 ft (152m)
Location: 8 miles (13km) west of Scotty's Castle
Parking: The paved lot directly overlooks the crater and is large enough for buses and large RV's.
Closest Restroom: No restrooms. Nearest restrooms are located at the unstaffed Grapevine Ranger Station 5 miles (8km) east of the crater.
Route: The hike is commonly done in a counter-clockwise direction where hikers begin with the uphill section first. Within 0.5 mi (0.8km) Little Hebe Crater comes into view and is a common destination for those looking for a shorter trip.

 

Darwin Falls is a rare and special place in the Mojave Desert.  Please protect it.  No swimming!

NPS/C.Salomon

Darwin Falls

Length: 7 miles (11.3 km) out and back round trip
Time: 2.5 - 5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderate*
Elevation Gain: 450 ft (137m)
Location:
Due to recent flooding, visitors must now park on the shoulder of CA-190 and hike to the trailhead. Trail conditions have changed. Heavy erosion has left debris and steep, unstable dirt edges. Hikers are advised to use caution.
The unpaved Darwin Falls Road is located 1.2 miles (2km) west of Panamint Springs on CA-190. To the trailhead (first 2.5 mi/4km), Darwin Falls Road from CA-190 is typically passable to a sedan, however it is much more comfortable in a high clearance vehicle. Travelling from the town of Darwin to the trailhead is recommended for 4x4 high clearance vehicles only. Steep grades and unmarked intersections. Traveling to Darwin from the falls is not recommended.
Parking: Small gravel parking area. Not recommended for large RVs.
Closest Restrooms: No restrooms. The nearest facilities are located at the privately owned Panamint Springs Resort.
Route: Unmarked. From the bulletin board head past the gate and into the wash up the canyon. The unmarked route is fairly flat but rocky as it transitions from a desert wash into a high walled canyon. Inside the canyon thick vegetation, stream crossings, and large slick rocks require that hikers use caution as they work their way deeper into the oasis. Please protect this fragile resource. No swimming!

 

Golden Canyon

NPS/K.Moses

Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Badlands Loop

Length: 3 to 8 miles (5 to 13km) routes.
Time: 1.5 to 4.5 hours round trip depending on route.
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous.
Elevation Gain: 535 ft to 834ft (163m to 254m).
Two Locations:

• Golden Canyon trailhead located 2 miles south of CA-190 on Badwater Road.
• Zabriskie Point on CA-190 located 3.5 miles east of Badwater Road.

Parking: Paved lots at both locations. Large spaces for RV's and buses.
Closest Restroom: Located in both parking lots.
Route: A maze of canyons and badlands create hiking opportunities galore. Go to the Golden Canyon page for route details, map, and GPS data.

 

Desolation Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Desolation Canyon

Length: 3.6 mile (5.8km) out and back round trip
Time: 2.5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Elevation Gain: 600 ft (183m)
Location: The short unpaved Desolation Canyon Road is located 3.7 miles (6km) south of CA-190 on Badwater Road. Typically passable to sedans.
Parking: Open gravel parking area large enough for buses and RV's.
Closest Restroom: No restroom at site. Golden Canyon parking lot 1.7 miles (2.7km) north has a vault toilet in the parking lot.
Route: Unmarked route with rock scrambling required. Go to the Desolation Canyon page for details.

 

Polished marble walls of Mosaic Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Mosaic Canyon

Length: 4 miles (6.4km) out and back round trip
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft (366m)
Location: The 2.3 mile (3.7km) unpaved Mosaic Canyon Road is located in Stovepipe Wells Village just across from Stovepipe Wells Campground. The road is typically passable in a sedan.
Parking: A large gravel parking area. Buses and large RV's not recommended.
Closest Restroom: Stovepipe Wells Village at the general store and restaurant.
Route: Many hikers choose to hike to the first set of beatiful canyon narrows less than 0.5 miles (0.8km) into the canyon. Check out the Mosaic Canyon page for a map, GPS data, and details about how to make this classic hike a longer adventure.

 

Seasonal Waterfall at Willow Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Willow Canyon

Length: 4.2 miles (6.8km) out and back, round trip
Time: 2.5 hours, round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Elevation Gain: 776 ft (237m)
Location: An unmarked gravel access road is located on Badwater Road 31.5 miles south of CA-190 between mile markers 31 & 32. The access road is less than 0.5 miles (0.8km) long and is typically passable to a sedan. Same as Sidewinder Canyon.
Parking: Open gravel area large enough for buses and RV's.
Closest Restroom: No restrooms nearby. Follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Route: This route isn't very physically demanding, but finding the canyon and seasonal waterfall is a reward that only cross country navigators get to enjoy. No road and no hiking route signage. From the parking area avoid the small foothills and canyons to the east. Instead make your way north/northeast wrapping around the foothills and head toward the deep canyon in the mountains. Most of this route is across the rocky alluvial fan and exposed to the sun. The last 0.25 miles (0.4km) into the narrow canyon is over polished bedrock before ending at the waterfall.
Visit the Sidewinder/Willow page for more route information.

 

Sidewinder Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Sidewinder Canyon

Length: 5 miles (8.4km) out and back round trip
Time: 6 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,580 ft (482m)
Location: An unmarked gravel access road is located on Badwater Road 31.5 miles south of CA-190 between mile markers 31 & 32. The access road is less than 0.5 miles (0.8km) long and is typically passable to a sedan.
Parking: Open gravel area large enough for buses and RV's. Same location as Willow Canyon.
Closest Restroom: No restrooms nearby. Follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Route: See Sidewinder Canyon page for route information.

 

 

Hiking up Fall Canyon

NPS/D.Kish

Fall Canyon

Length: 6 miles (9.7km) out and back, round trip
Time: 3.5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Elevation Gain: 2,460 ft (752m)
Location: The 2.7 mile (4.3km) unpaved two-way section of Titus Canyon Road is located 11.9 miles north of CA-190 on Scotty's Castle Road. The road is typically passable to sedans.
Parking: Open gravel parking area not recommended for large RV's or buses.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet in the parking lot.

Route: See the Fall Canyon page for route information, a map, and GPS data.

 

Panamint Dunes

NPS/D.Kish

Panamint Dunes

Length: 8 miles (12.8km) out and back
Time: 4-5 hours round trip
Difficulty: Moderately difficult
Elevation Gain: 1,028 ft (313m)
Location: Unmarked cross country route off the unpaved Lake Hill road, approximately 4.5 miles east of Panamint Springs on the north side of CA-190. Access to the trailhead requires a high clearance vehicle.
Parking: Small gravel lot.
Closest Restroom: Panamint Springs Resort or Emigrant Canyon Rest Station. No restroom along the trail, follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
GPS Data: 36° 27.673'N, -117° 27.331'W (the highest dune)
Route: From the prominent bend on Lake Hill Road approximately 5.5 miles (8.9km) from CA-190 take a direct route toward the dunes to the north. The unmarked route is uneven, sandy, and partially rocky. The elevation gain is gradual until you reach the dunes at approximate 3 miles in. From there, sandy and strenuous to the tops of 4 different dunes.

 

Little Bridge

NPS/D.Kish

Little Bridge Canyon

Length: 7 mile (11.2km) out and back, round trip.
Time: 5 hours round trip.
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 1,900 ft (590m)
Location: CA-190 at milemarker 89 eastbound.
Parking: No official parking lot or signage. Park on the shoulder of the eastbound lane of CA-190 at milemarker 89. There is enough space for multiple vehicles, however large RV's are not recommended. Use caution along this high speed highway.
Closest Restroom: One mile (1.6km) east, vault toilets are located in Mesquite Dunes parking lot.
GPS Data: GPS data for the unmarked route is for supplemental purposes only. Take a map and compass when exploring the trail-less wilderness.
Route: See the Little Bridge Canyon page for route information, a map, and GPS data.

 

The view from Wildrose Peak toward Badwater.

NPS/D.Kish

Wildrose Peak

Length: 8.4 miles (13.5km) out and back, round trip.
Time: 6 hours round trip.
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 2,200 ft (671m)
Location: From CA-190 follow Emigrant Canyon Road past the Wildrose Campground to the parking area at the Charcoal Kilns. The final 2 miles is a maintained gravel surface typically passable in a sedan. 25 ft vehicle limit.
Parking: 25 ft vehicle limit. Open gravel area.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet in parking area. No restroom along the trail, follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Route: A great hike for when it starts getting too hot in the valley. Winter storms may bring some snow. See the Wildrose Peak page for route information, a map, and GPS data.

 

The view from Corkscrew Peak is spectacular, spanning over rolling hills, Death Valley, salt flats, and other mountain ranges in the park.

NPS/E. Letterman

Corkscrew Peak

Length: 7.3 miles (11.7 km) out and back, roundtrip
Time: 5-6 hours round trip
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 3,080 feet (939 m)
Location: Along Daylight Pass Road at 36.73458, -116.97209.
Parking: There is a small parking area along the north side of the road.
Closest Restroom: Hell's Gate Information Kiosk. Follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Route: The trail starts at an unmarked trailhead, and there is no designated trail. This route includes rock scrambling and route finding. Please refer to the Corkscrew Peak handout for additional details.

 

Telescope Peak Summit

NPS/D.Kish

Telescope Peak

Length: 14 mile (22.5km) out and back, round trip
Time: 7 hours round trip
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 3,000 ft (914m)
Location: From CA-190 follow Emigrant Canyon Road past the Wildrose Campground to the parking area at the Charcoal Kilns. The final 5 miles is a maintained gravel surface typically passable in a sedan. 25 ft vehicle limit.
Parking: 25 ft vehicle limit. Open gravel area.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet in parking area. No restroom along the trail, follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
GPS Data: GPS data for the unmarked route is for supplemental purposes only. Take a map and compass when exploring the trail-less wilderness.
Route: Check out the Telescope Peak page for detailed descriptions, map, and GPS files for your trip.