Smoke Tree Slots – Death Valley National Park

Two slot canyons south of Smoke Tree Canyon. Total Distance: 9.25 miles out & back with spurs Elevation Gain: 1,008ft. (-2ft. to 599ft.) Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: November-April Special Permits: None Water Availability: No potable or reliable […]

Smoke Tree Canyon – Death Valley National Park

Smoke trees grow in this canyon in the Owlshead Mountains. Total Distance: 14.2 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,137ft. (-2ft. to 2,021ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 10+ Mile Difficulty: Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: November-April Special Permits: None Water Availability: No potable or reliable […]

Through-Granite Canyons Crossover – Death Valley National Park

Connect Through Canyon and Granite Canyon as a loop. It is recommended to go up Through Canyon and down Granite Canyon. Total Distance: 1.4 miles point-to-point Elevation Gain: 602ft. (1,346ft. to 1,871ft.) Difficulty: Easy 0-5 Mile Difficulty: Moderate View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: November-April Special […]

Through Canyon – Death Valley National Park

Hike all the way through (thus the canyon’s name) the Owlshead Mountains via a desert canyon. Through Canyon is the southernmost of the five officially-named canyons in the northeastern section of the Owlsheads. Total Distance: 17.2 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,108ft. (-22ft. to 1,967ft.) Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous 10+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous View […]

Granite Canyon – Death Valley National Park

Follow a desert canyon up through narrows and granite boulders into the Owlshead Mountains. Of the five officially-named canyons in the northeastern section of the Owlsheads, Granite Canyon is the second-to-southernmost, with only Through Canyon to the south. Total Distance: 14.2 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,006 (-23ft. to 1,878ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 10+ […]

Contact Canyon – Death Valley National Park

The most scenic of the five officially-named canyons in the northeastern section of the Owlshead Mountains with rock formations along the wide wash. Contact Canyon is the middle of the five, with Owlshead Canyon to the north and Granite Canyon to the south. Total Distance: 15.0 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,638ft. (-71ft. to […]

Owlshead Canyon – Death Valley National Park

Explore a desert canyon with rock formations, narrows, and scalable dryfalls. Owlshead Canyon is the second-northernmost officially-named canyon on the east side of the Owlshead Mountains. Total Distance: 12.0 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,708ft. (-97ft. to 2,210ft.) Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous 10+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty […]

Talc Canyon – Death Valley National Park

An off-trail route to a desert canyon with dryfalls and rock formations. Talc Canyon is the northernmost of the officially named canyons on the east side of the Owlshead Mountains. Total Distance: 12.0 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,578ft. (-101ft. to 2,321ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 10+ Mile Difficulty: Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor […]