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 […]

Needle Peak – Death Valley National Park

Scramble up a peak with views over Anvil Spring Canyon, Butte Valley, and much more. Total Distance: 7.0 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 2,669ft. (3,582ft. to 5,772ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: October-May Special Permits: None […]

Manly Peak & Anvil Benchmark – Death Valley National Park

Scramble up a peak with quite a bit of prominence with views over Butte Valley and much more. Total Distance: 5.6 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 3,479ft. (4,390ft. to 7,129ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: October-May […]

Anvil Spring Canyon – Death Valley National Park

Walk down a desolate and deserted desert canyon to a small spring. Total Distance: 13.8 miles out & back Elevation Gain: 1,726ft. (3,520ft. to 2,558ft.) Difficulty: Very Strenuous 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Strenuous View Rating: Author’s Rating: Visitor Rating: Visitor Difficulty Rating: Pets: No Horses: Yes Best Seasons: October-May Special Permits: None Water Availability: No potable […]