A
FEW GREAT HIKES IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL
PARK
Hiking
distances indicated are roundtrip
and
approximate
- consult the A-Z
Guide
for more information
BADWATER BASIN:
A seemingly flat 8 mile walk, or longer if you are
here in July and become dehydrated, disoriented,
and delirious - paved access from the Badwater
parking area on Highway 178, about 15 miles south
of Furnace Creek - it's downhill to the lowest
walkable place in North America (-282 feet), then
uphill back to your vehicle - bring sunglasses and
keep your body covered from the intense blinding
light of the salt flat - keep off this ground if
wet - at the lowest point, look up and west to the
summit of Telescope Peak, 11,331 feet above you
(another great hike).
CHLORIDE CITY:
A very hilly and mountainous undefined hike through
the remains of a ghost town - paved and dirt access
from the Boundary Canyon road that becomes Highway
374 once it enters Nevada, about 15 miles east of
Stovepipe Wells - it's mostly drivable on dirt
roads, but can be day hiked if you are so
inclined.
CORRIDOR CANYON:
A very strenuous 4 mile mountain and canyon hike to
an incredibly remote and constricted canyon - dirt
access from the Racetrack Valley road, about 29
miles southwest of Scotty's Castle - go with a very
capable group of people, for rescue is as remote a
possibility as the land itself.
DARWIN FALLS:
A moderate 2 mile constricted and overgrown canyon
hike to very idyllic waterfalls - dirt access from
Highway 190, about 1 mile west of Darwin - this is
a locale that few would imagine exists in Death
Valley National Park - additional falls can be
accessed if you wish to scramble up rock cliffs to
the upper sets of falls.
EUREKA SAND DUNES:
A difficult and sandy 4 mile hike to the top of
sand dunes nearly 700 feet high - dirt access from
the South Eureka Dunes road, about 40 miles
northwest of Scotty's Castle - these are the dunes
that sing or bark when wind conditions are right -
views from the top include the striated Last Chance
Range to the east, and the Saline Range to the
west.
FALL CANYON:
A moderately difficult 5 mile hike in a spectacular
canyon with high rock walls, similar to Titus
canyon but without the road - paved access from the
road to Scotty's Castle, and then dirt for 3 miles
to the parking area - about 23 miles north of
Stovepipe Wells - park in the dirt lot where Titus
Canyon exits the Grapevine Mountains - this canyon
is the one just north of Titus Canyon - longer
hikes can continue on up to the crest of the
Amargosa Range for more determined
hikers.
GOLDEN CANYON:
A relatively easy 5 mile hike through Golden Canyon
to Zabriskie Point, and then back down Gower Gulch
- paved access from Highway 178, about 3 miles
south of the Furnace Creek visitor's center - Red
Cathedral lives in here, and photographs in late
afternoon of this terrain can be awesome - this
could be a one-way hike to Zabriskie Point if
someone picks you up on the other end, which is
paved on Highway 190 - don't miss Manly Beacon
while here.
GROTTO CANYON:
A 1 to 6 mile hike in an incredibly tight canyon
where some passages are only wide enough for a
human - dirt access from Highway 190, about 3 miles
east of Stovepipe Wells village - can be made a
more difficult hike if you choose to go farther up
canyon to dryfalls that must be scrambled
(hopefully they're dry at least, because if you see
water coming, you're in trouble) - don't hike here
if you're claustrophobic.
HARMONY BORAX WORKS:
An easy 0.25 mile walk around the old Harmony Borax
plant, where an original set of 20 mule team wagons
is displayed in a fenced area - dirt access from
Highway 190, about 2 miles north of Furnace Creek
visitor's center - the history here will keep you
enthralled as you are transported back to the hard
working times of the 1880s.
HUNGRY BILL'S RANCH:
A strenuous 3 mile canyon hike to an old and
historic fruit and nut ranch - dirt access from the
dirt West Side road, about 30 miles south of
Furnace Creek visitor's center - trail is narrow
and cliffside in places - numerous stream crossings
- lots of wildlife - on the eastern slope of the
Panamint Range - an extended trek can be done from
the ranch, over the top of Panamint Pass, and down
into Surprise Canyon to Panamint City ... very
difficult, requiring primitive overnight
camp.
INYO MINE:
An easy or moderate undefined hike around the ruins
of a historic mining camp and ghost town - dirt
access from the Echo Canyon road, about 2 miles
south of the Furnace Creek visitor's center - a
great walk for ghost town enthusiasts - you'll also
enjoy the Eye of the Needle natural formation on
your drive in.
JEAN LEMOIGNE'S CAMP:
A relatively difficult 4 mile hike to the remains
of famous prospector Jean LeMoigne's old camp and
mine - dirt access from Highway 190, about 7 miles
southwest of Stovepipe Wells village - the road in
is very rough.
MARBLE CANYON:
A fascinating 3 mile hike into a very narrow and
constricted canyon with high walls and petroglyphs
- dirt access from the Cottonwood Canyon road,
about 11 miles east of Stovepipe Wells village -
much longer hikes can be enjoyed by continuing on
over dryfalls into Deadhorse Canyon, and even up to
the Goldbelt Spring area northeast of
Hunter Mountain.
MOSAIC CANYON:
An easy and relaxing 1 to 4 mile canyon hike into
constricted rock narrows - dirt access from Highway
190 at Stovepipe Wells - the farther you hike up
canyon, the greater the difficulty level - some
portions are so tight that people barely fit
through them - requires some scrambling.
NATURAL BRIDGE:
An uphill 0.5 mile hike to a rock formation that
forms a natural bridge or archway - dirt access
from Highway 178, about 15 miles south of the
Furnace Creek visitor's center - dirt road in is
very well graded.
PANAMINT CITY:
A difficult 14 mile canyon hike up Surprise Canyon
to the infamous Panamint City ghost town - dirt
access from the Indian Ranch road, about 27 miles
northeast of Trona - used to be a drivable road,
however severe weather events and environmental
closure have made this a trek only for the most
athletic distance hikers - includes scrambling over
several difficult dryfalls - best done with an
overnight primitive camp - your reward is the old
smelter chimney and abandoned ghost town of
Panamint - study the fascinating history before you
go.
SALT CREEK:
An easy 0.5 mile boardwalk hike over and around
Salt Creek - dirt access from Highway 190, about 15
miles northwest of Furnace Creek visitor's center -
here is where some of the cute Pupfish live, little
critters around an inch or so long - water is
saltier than the ocean, however by how much depends
from which source you get the
information.
SARATOGA SPRING:
An easy 1 mile hike to the amazing little body of
water that appears to be a small lake or a huge
spring - dirt access from Highway 127, about 37
miles northwest of Baker - longer hikes can easily
be made by exploring the old mining roads and
ruins, off limits to vehicles - this is the extreme
southern end of Death Valley,with nice views of the
Panamint and Amargosa Mountain Ranges - remote and
rarely visited.
SCOTTY'S CASTLE:
An easy 0.5 mile walk around the grounds of the
Death Valley Ranch of Albert and Bessie Johnson,
commonly known as Scotty's Castle - paved access
from the Grapevine Canyon road, about 53 miles
northwest of the Furnace Creek visitor's center -
guided tours are available for a fee, which will
increase the walking involved - food and gift shops
are also available.
STOVEPIPE SAND DUNES:
A moderate to difficult undefined hike to the top
of sand dunes in sight of Stovepipe Wells village -
paved access to parking along Highway 190, about 2
miles east of Stovepipe Wells village - long hikes
can be made in and around the sand piles - these
are the dunes that are most often photographed for
postcards and vistas of the area - views from the
top include the Cottonwood Mountains to the west,
the Amargosa Range to the east, and Tucki Mountain
to the south.
TELESCOPE PEAK:
A difficult, steep, and precipitous 14 mile hike to
the top of the highest elevation in Death Valley
National Park, 11049 feet above sea level, and
11,331 feet above Badwater Basin immediately to the
east - dirt access from the Wildrose Canyon road,
about 39 miles east of Panamint Springs Resort -
generally necessitates an overnight at Mahogany
Flat primitive campground for most enjoyable
experience - all day hike, with unsurpassed vistas
in all directions, including far into Nevada - only
for the most athletic and experienced hikers - best
in late September before snow falls.
THE GRANDSTAND:
An easy and absolutely flat 1 mile hike across The
Racetrack playa to a huge outcropping of rock from
the dry lake bed floor - dirt access from the
Racetrack Valley road, about 35 miles southwest of
Scotty's Castle - a short scramble up the rocks
provides grand views of The Racetrack, and you may
also see a few boulders with paths behind them that
have fallen off this outcropping and onto the lake
bed.
THE RACETRACK MOVING ROCKS:
An easy and absolutely flat 1 mile hike across The
Racetrack playa to be amidst many small to large
boulders, most of which have long trails etched
into the playa surface behind them ... a
fascinating phenomenon that has captured the
imaginations of many over the years - dirt access
from the Racetrack Valley road, about 40 miles
southwest of Scotty's Castle - study the rocks,
their sizes, and hardened tracks to determine a
theory of how the forces of nature determine the
directions of travel.
TITUS CANYON:
An easy canyon hike into one of the most beloved
areas of the Park - dirt access from the Scotty's
Castle road, about 22 miles northwest of Stovepipe
Wells village - park at large dirt lot three miles
from pavement - one way vehicular traffic comes
down the narrow canyon with spectacular walls -
when the canyon is closed to vehicles after storm
damage to the road, hikers will have it all to
themselves (more often than you might think) -
distances for this hike can be as short as a mile
or as far as you have the ability and desire to go,
even into Nevada and on to Rhyolite if you are a
long distance backpacker.
WILDROSE PEAK:
A moderately difficult 8 mile hike to the 9,064
foot summit that is Telescope Peak's little sibling
- dirt access from the Wildrose Canyon road, about
36 miles east of Panamint Springs Resort - could
necessitate an overnight at Thorndike primitive
campground depending on how late you start -
beautiful vistas in all directions - recommended
for athletic people - best in late September before
snow falls.
WINDY POINT:
A moderate 0.75 mile hike up a steep hill behind
the Death Valley Ranch (Scotty's Castle) to the
hillside where Death Valley Scotty is buried -
paved access from the castle parking lot - will
make most people out of breath if walked briskly -
very nice views of the Johnson ranch house complex
from 160 feet above.
