21 Best Hikes in Death Valley National Park
Twenty-one Death Valley hikes for salt flats, marble narrows, volcanic craters, badlands circuits, desert peaks, and an easy pupfish boardwalk.
Death Valley's hiking spans almost two vertical miles, from the salt flats below sea level to high Panamint summits. This guide treats those landscapes as different trip decisions: short boardwalks and badland walks, polished canyon narrows, volcanic rims, cross-country dunes, and remote ridge objectives.
The 21 routes match the park's current named day-hike inventory without counting Artists Drive as a hike or padding the list with repeated Golden Canyon, Badwater, and Ubehebe variants. Every included map passed route identity, deterministic rendering, corridor-overlap review, and native visual inspection.
Heat, flash floods, washed-out roads, and winter snow can make the same route reasonable one week and unsafe the next. Check current conditions and alerts before leaving pavement, carry all needed water, and turn around earlier than you would in a cooler park.
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What changes a hiking day here
Low country belongs to the cool season
The National Park Service recommends November through March for most valley hikes and advises against low-elevation hiking in summer. Heat can remain dangerous even in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit. A predawn start is not permission to continue after the day turns hot.
Carry the water; do not count on finding it
Take at least two liters for a short winter hike and a gallon or more for longer warm-weather travel. Springs are rare and unreliable. Darwin Falls is a protected water source, not a place to swim, wash, or refill without treatment.
A canyon forecast is part of the route
Do not enter a canyon during rain or when storms threaten its drainage. Sidewinder, Fall, Titus, Golden, and Gower offer few easy exits once water and debris begin moving. Turn around before conditions deteriorate.
Road status decides the real mileage
A closed or damaged approach can add miles or remove a route from the day entirely. Download the park road map before losing reception, carry a full-size spare on backcountry roads, and never drive around a closure into the desert.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidewinder Canyon | 4.1 mi | 2 hr 42 min | Moderate | Demanding slot-canyon exploration for self-reliant hikers |
| Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge | 9 mi | 6 hr 23 min | Hard | A long desert ridge traverse with summit views |
| Dante's View Ridge Walk | 0.9 mi | 29 min | Moderate | A high overlook with very little walking |
| Telescope Peak Trail | 12.4 mi | 9 hr 1 min | Hard | The park's major high-elevation summit day |
| Badwater Basin Salt Flats | 1.9 mi | 33 min | Easy | Walking onto the lowest exposed ground in North America |
| Wildrose Peak | 8.3 mi | 5 hr 3 min | Hard | A real summit hike above the valley heat |
| Natural Bridge Canyon Trail | 1.5 mi | 1 hr 1 min | Moderate | A short canyon walk to a natural rock span |
| Artist's Drive Hill | 0.4 mi | 1 hr | Moderate | A quick climb above the painted hills |
| Artists Palette | 0.3 mi | 1 hr | Moderate | A compact walk among multicolored volcanic hills |
| Desolation Canyon Trail | 3.7 mi | 2 hr 21 min | Moderate | A quieter badlands canyon with light scrambling |
| Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral | 3 mi | 1 hr 52 min | Moderate | A direct walk into the park's most colorful canyon walls |
| Badlands Loop from Zabriskie Point | 2.6 mi | 1 hr 10 min | Moderate | A compact loop through the folds below Zabriskie Point |
| Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Zabriskie Point Loop | 6.4 mi | 3 hr 55 min | Moderate | The complete Golden Canyon badlands circuit |
| Harmony Borax Works | 0.4 mi | 9 min | Easy | A short accessible history walk |
| Mosaic Canyon Trail | 3.5 mi | Varies | Moderate | Polished marble narrows and varied canyon geology |
| Salt Creek Interpretive Trail | 0.5 mi | 20–30 min | Easy | An easy boardwalk through a rare desert wetland |
| Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes | 2.2 mi | 1 hr | Moderate | Open dune walking with no fixed tread |
| Corkscrew Peak | 7.3 mi | 5 hr 59 min | Hard | A rugged desert summit away from developed trailheads |
| Titus Canyon Narrows | 3.1 mi | 2 hr | Easy | A short walk between the towering walls at the canyon mouth |
| Fall Canyon | 6.5 mi | 3 hr 23 min | Moderate | A long limestone canyon without technical slot moves |
| Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail | 1.8 mi | 54 min | Moderate | A complete volcanic-crater rim circuit |
Sidewinder Canyon
- Distance
- 4.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,050 feet
- Time
- 2 hr 42 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Take the unmarked gravel spur from Badwater Road between mile markers 31 and 32; use the open gravel parking area shared with Willow Canyon.
- Best time
- A cool winter day with no rain in the forecast or upstream drainage.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Sidewinder begins with a route-finding walk across an alluvial fan, then enters a broad canyon with three tighter side slots. The best sections are earned rather than handed over by a sign or boardwalk.
The official description is blunt: some passages require climbing ledges higher than six feet and squeezing or crawling through gaps about eighteen inches wide. The map library's 4.1-mile trace is a conservative line; the park describes a five-mile, roughly six-hour outing. Turn around before any move you cannot reverse.
What helps on this route
- Carry the official GPX plus a paper map and compass; there is no route signage.
- Do not enter if rain is possible, and do not count on a phone signal for rescue.
Terrain and access: Trail-less alluvial fan, rocky canyon floor, tight slots, high ledges, scrambling, squeezing, and serious flash-flood exposure.
Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge
- Distance
- 9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,530 feet
- Time
- 6 hr 23 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the designated Dante's View parking area and leave the road and turnarounds clear.
- Best time
- A cool, clear morning with little wind and no thunder risk.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
The route leaves the developed Dante's View area and follows the crest toward Mount Perry, trading a roadside panorama for a sustained ridge hike. The high start does not make the trip easy: repeated rises and exposed terrain accumulate across the out-and-back.
Wind, cold, snow, and summer heat can all reach this ridge. Carry a route plan and enough water for the full return, and turn around if visibility or footing deteriorates.
What helps on this route
- Confirm Dante's View Road is open before the long drive from the valley.
- Stay on durable ridge tread and avoid shortcuts across fragile desert slopes.
Terrain and access: Exposed ridge, loose rock, repeated climbs, little shade, wind, broad views, and a summit turnaround.
Dante's View Ridge Walk
- Distance
- 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 290 feet
- Time
- 29 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Park at the end of Dante's View Road; vehicles longer than the posted limit must stop below the final climb.
- Best time
- Sunrise or a clear cool afternoon, when haze is low and wind is manageable.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
The short ridge path extends the famous overlook northward, with Badwater far below and the Panamint Range across the basin. Even a few hundred yards separates the walk from the paved viewpoint crowd.
Elevation makes this cooler than the valley floor but also windier. The ridge edge is loose in places, and winter storms can leave snow or ice. Stop where footing or visibility stops feeling certain.
What helps on this route
- Carry a layer even when Furnace Creek is warm.
- Save the unprotected ridge for another day during strong wind or lightning.
Terrain and access: High desert ridge, loose rock, short climbs, abrupt slopes, wind exposure, and possible winter snow or ice.
Telescope Peak Trail
- Distance
- 12.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,260 feet
- Time
- 9 hr 1 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Park at Mahogany Flat only when the rough access road and designated spaces are open and safely reachable.
- Best time
- A snow-free, stable day with a first-light start.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Telescope Peak rises far above the salt basin and follows a high Panamint ridge through pinyon-juniper country and bristlecone pines. The long approach and high point create a mountain day that feels entirely different from the park's canyon walks.
Road access, altitude, snow, lightning, and strong wind can each end the plan. Carry warm layers and navigation, set a conservative turnaround time, and do not treat the remote trailhead as guaranteed two-wheel-drive access.
What helps on this route
- Check the Mahogany Flat road report before leaving pavement.
- Acclimate when possible and descend for headache, confusion, or worsening altitude symptoms.
Terrain and access: Remote rough-road access, high forest, open ridge, loose rock, sustained climbing, altitude, and severe exposure.
Badwater Basin Salt Flats
- Distance
- 1.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 10 feet
- Time
- 33 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the signed Badwater Basin lot on Badwater Road. Park only on durable, designated surfaces.
- Best time
- Cool-season sunrise, when the basin is quiet and the salt polygons catch low light.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
A boardwalk reaches the edge of the salt, then footprints fan onto the white basin. The mapped out-and-back continues far enough to leave the roadside bustle and see the polygon texture without pretending the whole playa is a maintained trail.
The flat grade disguises the exposure. There is no shade, the return looks shorter than it is, and wet salt can conceal soft mud. Stay on the established walking line and turn back before heat or footing becomes a problem.
What helps on this route
- Look back toward the parking area occasionally; the cars shrink quickly against the mountain wall.
- Do not collect salt or carve messages into the crust.
Terrain and access: Boardwalk, hard salt crust, occasional soft or wet patches, no shade, and a visually open route across the basin.
Wildrose Peak
- Distance
- 8.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,480 feet
- Time
- 5 hr 3 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Follow Emigrant Canyon Road past Wildrose Campground to the Charcoal Kilns when open; the final two miles are maintained gravel and vehicles are limited to 25 feet.
- Best time
- Summer morning for cooler high-country hiking, or a snow-free fall day with clear views.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Wildrose climbs from the charcoal kilns through pinyon-juniper woodland to a broad summit over Death Valley and Panamint Valley. It is the substantial mountain day in this collection and one of the few sensible summer options when lower elevations are dangerously hot.
High elevation swaps heat for wind, winter snow, and a long climb. The trail gains roughly 2,200 feet; the map library's trace is 8.3 miles while the current park directory rounds the route to about eight. Carry layers and abandon the ridge for thunder, hard ice, or poor visibility.
What helps on this route
- Check both Emigrant Canyon and Wildrose road status before committing to the drive.
- In winter and spring, snow may require mountaineering equipment and experience.
Terrain and access: Maintained mountain trail, steady climb, pinyon-juniper woodland, exposed summit ridge, wind, and possible snow or ice.
Natural Bridge Canyon Trail
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 460 feet
- Time
- 1 hr 1 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the signed Natural Bridge trailhead at the end of the short gravel approach from Badwater Road.
- Best time
- A cool-season morning before the canyon walls begin radiating heat.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Natural Bridge Canyon climbs a broad alluvial wash into a narrowing bedrock corridor and reaches the namesake span. Continuing beyond the bridge adds dryfalls and layered canyon walls without turning this into a maintained through-route.
The grade is modest, but loose gravel and overhead rock demand attention. Never enter when storms threaten the drainage, and do not stand below unstable-looking rock.
What helps on this route
- Stop the vehicle where the signed road and clearance permit rather than forcing the final approach.
- Turn around before afternoon heat makes the exposed return unsafe.
Terrain and access: Gravel wash, narrowing canyon, rock span, dryfalls, loose footing, no water, and limited shade.
Artist's Drive Hill
- Distance
- 0.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 140 feet
- Time
- 1 hr
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use a legal pullout on the one-way Artist's Drive loop without blocking traffic or fragile shoulders.
- Best time
- Late afternoon in cool weather, when the mineral colors deepen.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
This short path climbs from the scenic drive onto a low ridge where folded volcanic deposits show more shape than they do through a windshield. It is a walk for color and perspective, not mileage.
The approach and exact pullout are easy to miss on the one-way road. Do not reverse, improvise parking, or step onto closed restoration ground. Loose gravel makes the brief descent the trickier half.
What helps on this route
- Complete the full one-way drive after the walk; do not try to backtrack for a missed turnout.
- Use sun protection even for this short stop.
Terrain and access: Loose desert gravel, low exposed ridge, short steep pitch, roadside access, and no constructed shade.
Artists Palette
- Distance
- 0.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 140 feet
- Time
- 1 hr
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Use the designated Artists Palette parking area along the one-way Artists Drive loop.
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and low-angle color.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
This short route leaves the scenic drive and enters the mineral-stained badlands around Artists Palette. Walking the small folds and washes provides closer scale than the roadside viewpoint while preserving the drive itself as access rather than counting it as a hike.
The soft hills erode easily and informal tracks multiply quickly. Keep to durable existing lines, avoid climbing delicate slopes, and be ready to retreat from heat or runoff.
What helps on this route
- Artists Drive is one-way and has vehicle restrictions; verify the current road notice before entering.
- Do not collect colored rock or widen social paths for photographs.
Terrain and access: Short wash and badland paths, soft mineral soil, rolling grades, exposed sun, and scenic-drive access.
Desolation Canyon Trail
- Distance
- 3.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 820 feet
- Time
- 2 hr 21 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Park only at the signed Desolation Canyon access area and keep the rough approach clear for other vehicles.
- Best time
- A cool morning outside flood conditions.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Desolation Canyon threads into pale, folded badlands near Artists Drive. The wash gradually narrows and introduces small obstacles, giving the route a more exploratory feel than nearby roadside walks.
Some turns are easy to miss and dryfalls may require hands-on movement. Stay within the main drainage, reverse anything you cannot safely down-climb, and leave immediately if rain threatens upstream.
What helps on this route
- Download the route before arriving because reception is unreliable.
- Protect the soft walls by walking in the wash rather than cutting around bends.
Terrain and access: Badlands wash, narrow canyon bends, loose gravel, minor scrambling, no shade, and flash-flood exposure.
Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral
- Distance
- 3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 540 feet
- Time
- 1 hr 52 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the paved Golden Canyon trailhead lot two miles south of CA-190 on Badwater Road.
- Best time
- Cool-season morning before tour traffic and sun fill the canyon.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Golden Canyon narrows between fluted walls before a spur climbs into the red rock amphitheater beneath Red Cathedral. This out-and-back gives a strong sample of the badlands without committing to the full Gower circuit.
The Red Cathedral spur is steeper and rougher than the main canyon, with gravel, sand, and rock steps. Heat reflects from the walls. If the return canyon is already baking, the turnaround came too late.
What helps on this route
- Carry the official Golden Canyon map; several junctions lead into longer routes.
- Skip the spur when wet rock, thunderstorms, or heat make the confined finish a poor choice.
Terrain and access: Gravel wash, narrow canyon, loose sand, natural rock steps, steep final spur, and fully exposed badlands.
Badlands Loop from Zabriskie Point
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 440 feet
- Time
- 1 hr 10 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Start at the paved Zabriskie Point lot on CA-190, where vault toilets are available.
- Best time
- Just after sunrise in the cool season, once viewpoint photographers begin to disperse.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
From one of the park's busiest overlooks, the trail drops into a quiet maze of old lakebed. Repeated drainage turns and short climbs make the interior feel much larger than the 2.7-mile circuit suggests.
Small signs mark major junctions, but the folds can look alike. Photograph the map at the trailhead and watch for the correct return climb rather than following whichever boot track looks busiest.
What helps on this route
- Expect the final climb back to Zabriskie Point to feel hottest and steepest.
- Do not add Red Cathedral on impulse unless water, time, and temperature support it.
Terrain and access: Eroded badlands, compacted wash, short steep climbs, confusing drainages, loose gravel, and no shade.
Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Zabriskie Point Loop
- Distance
- 6.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,130 feet
- Time
- 3 hr 55 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Begin at a designated Golden Canyon or Zabriskie Point space and plan the exact loop direction before leaving.
- Best time
- A cool-season dawn start with a dry forecast.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
This long circuit links Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral country, Zabriskie Point, the Badlands, and Gower Gulch. It combines several individually published destinations into one continuous day rather than counting every nested connector as a separate hike.
Numerous junctions, open badlands, dryfalls, and long sun exposure make the loop more serious than any short component. Carry an offline map, follow signed junctions, and do not enter Gower Gulch when runoff is possible.
What helps on this route
- Photograph the trailhead map and choose a direction before starting.
- Carry more water than the mileage alone suggests; there is none on the route.
Terrain and access: Badlands ridges, canyon wash, junction network, loose gravel, dryfalls, sustained exposure, and a long loop.
Harmony Borax Works
- Distance
- 0.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 30 feet
- Time
- 9 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Use the paved Harmony Borax Works lot about one mile west of Furnace Creek on CA-190.
- Best time
- Early morning, evening, or after dark for the open sky; avoid the midday summer heat.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
This compact paved loop passes the remains of the borax plant and a twenty-mule-team wagon. Interpretive panels explain work and life at Harmony without turning the stop into a museum-length commitment.
It is a useful first walk after a long drive and a fair option for mixed-ability groups. The exposed pavement still becomes punishing in hot weather, so short mileage should not be mistaken for low heat risk.
What helps on this route
- Pair it with the Furnace Creek Visitor Center rather than squeezing in another low-elevation hike at noon.
- Bring a red-light flashlight if returning for stars.
Terrain and access: Paved interpretive loop, gentle grade, historic machinery, complete sun exposure, and no restroom at the site.
Mosaic Canyon Trail
- Distance
- 3.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 950 feet
- Time
- Varies
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the signed gravel road from Stovepipe Wells and the designated trailhead lot at its end.
- Best time
- Cool-season morning before the polished narrows become busy.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Mosaic Canyon begins with a tight passage of polished marble and breccia, then opens and narrows again farther up-canyon. The full walk continues beyond the first photogenic slot, adding gravel wash and rock obstacles.
Smooth stone can be slick and later dryfalls require judgment. Do not climb an obstacle you cannot reverse, and leave the drainage well before storm runoff or extreme heat becomes a concern.
What helps on this route
- Expect the final gravel approach to be rougher after storms.
- Yield in the narrowest passage so hikers do not step onto fragile side slopes.
Terrain and access: Polished marble narrows, gravel wash, dryfalls, light scrambling, intermittent shade, and a rough-road trailhead.
Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
- Distance
- 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 10 feet
- Time
- 20–30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Use the signed Salt Creek parking area only when the access road and boardwalk are open.
- Best time
- Late winter or spring, when water and pupfish activity are most likely and temperatures are mild.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Salt Creek's short boardwalk enters a saline wetland sustained within one of North America's driest landscapes. The route is easy, but its habitat value is the reason to visit: seasonal water supports the endemic Salt Creek pupfish.
Water and fish activity vary sharply by season, and floods can close the road or boardwalk. Stay on the developed surface, keep hands and pets out of the creek, and never disturb the fish or their shallow habitat.
What helps on this route
- Check current access before driving the unpaved road.
- Bring binoculars and view wildlife from the boardwalk without entering the water.
Terrain and access: Nearly level boardwalk and firm path, saline creek habitat, full sun, seasonal water, and flood-sensitive access.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Distance
- 2.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 270 feet
- Time
- 1 hr
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the large signed dunes parking area near Stovepipe Wells; never stop on the highway shoulder.
- Best time
- Sunrise, sunset, or a cool moonlit evening.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Mesquite Flat is a cross-country dune walk rather than a maintained trail. The mapped line points toward the higher dune field, but wind continuously rewrites footprints and each visitor must choose a safe return across open sand.
Soft sand makes the mileage feel longer, shade is absent, and the parking area can disappear behind ridges. Keep the vehicle bearing in view, avoid vegetation, and turn back early in heat or wind.
What helps on this route
- Record the parking coordinates before leaving the lot.
- Walk on bare sand and give mesquite hummocks and animal tracks room.
Terrain and access: Trackless soft sand, rolling dunes, sparse mesquite, no shade, wind exposure, and route finding by landmarks.
Corkscrew Peak
- Distance
- 7.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,250 feet
- Time
- 5 hr 59 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use a safe, legal pullout near the signed approach and keep every wheel outside the travel lane.
- Best time
- A cool, clear day with enough daylight for a slow descent.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Corkscrew Peak is an informal summit route on the park's northeast side, climbing washes and ridges to a distinctive high point. Sparse tread and multiple lines make navigation part of the outing from the first mile.
Loose rock, steep slopes, remote access, and exposure make this an expert desert objective. Carry offline topography, choose a descent line before the summit, and turn around if route finding becomes uncertain.
What helps on this route
- Do not rely on cairns alone; they may mark conflicting routes.
- Leave a trip plan and carry emergency water beyond the amount expected for the hike.
Terrain and access: Unmaintained wash and ridge route, loose talus, steep climbing, exposure, no water, and difficult navigation.
Titus Canyon Narrows
- Distance
- 3.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 720 feet
- Time
- 2 hr
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Approach the short two-way west end from Scotty's Castle Road only when the park lists it open; park without narrowing the road.
- Best time
- A cool weekday morning before vehicle traffic builds, with a dry forecast.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Walking the west end turns the grand finale of Titus Canyon into a manageable out-and-back. The walls close tightly around the old road, so the scale arrives quickly even without driving the rough one-way route from Nevada.
The route is still a road when open. Face traffic, move aside early, and never assume a closure applies only to cars. The park expects another long construction closure beginning October 1, 2026; check the live status rather than relying on this guide.
What helps on this route
- Choose Fall Canyon from the same area if vehicle traffic makes the narrows unpleasant.
- Do not enter during rain or when debris and fresh water marks show recent flooding.
Terrain and access: Graded dirt road, gravel, towering narrows, mixed vehicle and foot traffic, no shade, and flash-flood exposure.
Fall Canyon
- Distance
- 6.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,470 feet
- Time
- 3 hr 23 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Parking
- Use the west-side Titus Canyon and Fall Canyon access area; confirm the current road status before leaving pavement.
- Best time
- A calm cool-season morning, avoiding rain anywhere over the Grapevine Mountains.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
Fall Canyon works steadily into the Grapevine Mountains between tall walls and polished narrows. The walking is less acrobatic than Sidewinder, making it the better canyon choice for hikers who want distance and geology without squeezing through slots.
A dryfall blocks easy progress farther up canyon. The day hike is an out-and-back, so decide a turnaround while the return still fits daylight and temperature. Road repairs or a Titus closure can change the trailhead approach.
What helps on this route
- Mark the canyon-mouth exit on the way in; broad wash junctions look different on the return.
- Treat every rain forecast as a reason to choose an open ridge or developed stop instead.
Terrain and access: Rocky wash, deep limestone canyon, gradual ascent, polished narrows, dryfall turnaround, and no reliable water or shade.
Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail
- Distance
- 1.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 470 feet
- Time
- 54 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Route type
- loop
- Parking
- Use the paved Ubehebe Crater parking area and keep the rim turnaround open.
- Best time
- A cool morning with light wind and clear visibility.
- Pets
- Pets are not allowed on park trails. Trained service animals are allowed.
The rim route circles Ubehebe Crater and includes the spur toward Little Hebe, revealing the scale and layered colors of the maar volcano from changing angles. The climb back from low points on the rim is steeper than the short distance suggests.
Cinders roll underfoot and the rim is exposed to wind and drop-offs. Stay back from unstable edges, keep children close, and do not descend into the crater unless that separate steep climb is intentionally planned.
What helps on this route
- Walk the loop in the direction that keeps the strongest wind away from exposed edges.
- Protect the loose volcanic surface by staying on the established rim line.
Terrain and access: Loose cinder rim, steep short climbs, exposed edges, volcanic views, strong wind, and no shade.
Official planning sources
Trail access and safety details were checked against these National Park Service pages. The maps and profiles follow the corresponding route geometry.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Trail geometry and planning details include National Park Service public information.