Death Valley National Park Hiking Trails

Death Valley Hiking Trails

Death Valley's massive size means an almost endless supply of hiking areas. While the large majority of the park is extremely remote wilderness, and hence trail-free, there are several short dayhike options around some of the "developed" areas. Most longer hikes are actually just suggested routes, free of marked trails. Those are not yet covered here. Hiking distances given below are total, roundtrip distances unless otherwise stated. Difficulties are only a general guideline, for an adult in good condition, and do not take into account trail length. DO NOT HIKE in the low elevations in Death Valley during the hot months.

Death Valley National Park Trails Locator Map

(click map to open very large locator map of the hikes below)

Badwater

Length

1.0 miles

Difficulty

Easy

Trailhead

#1 - Badwater parking area

Rating

This hike, actually a trail-free walk, starts from the Badwater parking area located along Badwater Road 16.6 miles from its intersection with CA-190. This is just a free walk across the salt flat, about half a mile to its edge from the parking area. This is a very easy, flat walk - in the cooler months. Do NOT make this walk in the summer heat. At over 200 feet below sea level, ground temperatures can approach 200°F (yes, that's almost the boiling point of water).

Dante's View in Death Valley National Park

Dante's Ridge

Length

1.0+ miles

Difficulty

Moderate

Trailhead

#2 - Dante's View parking area

Rating

This hike begins from the parking area at the end of Dante's View Road, which leads 13.3 miles up from CA-190 just 1.7 miles before it exits the park at the eastern boundary. This trail leads up a ridge along Dante's View, providing constant panoramas and is a good escape from the heat of summer. You can make this up to a 4 mile hike one-way to Mount Perry, but there is no trail beyond the half mile mark.

Golden Canyon

Length

2.0 miles

Difficulty

Easy

Trailhead

#3 - Golden Canyon parking area

Rating

This hike begins from the Golden Canyon parking area, which is located along Badwater Road 2 miles from its intersection with CA-190. This is an easy hike back into a colorful canyon, which receives a good amount of shade, making it at least doable in the summer. There are many other similar canyons in Death Valley, but none are as easily accessed as this one, and Golden Canyon is even maintained as a nature trail, with trail guides available.

Salt Creek Trail in Death Valley National Park

Salt Creek Nature Trail

Length

0.5 miles

Difficulty

Easy

Trailhead

#4 - Salt Creek parking area

Rating

This hike begins from a parking area at the end of a 1 mile long gravel road (passable to cars) off of CA-190 13 miles north of Furnace Creek. This is a short and easy hike along an area where there (sometimes) is a small, salty stream, extremely rare in Death Valley. Small desert pupfish live in the waters. Late winter and early spring are the best times to see the creek with a decent water flow. As with all low elevation hikes in the park, use extreme caution if you attempt this in the hot months.

Sand Dunes

Length

Up to 4.0 miles

Difficulty

Moderate

Trailhead

#5 - Sand Dunes parking area

Rating

This hike, actually a cross-country walk, begins from the Sand Dunes parking area, which is located along CA-190, 5.4 miles from its intersection with Scotty's Castle Road. This is a flat, cross-country walk to the dunefield. Once there, it is a total hike of 2 miles to the highest dune. This is a popular area during cooler months - if you plan to do this in the summer, reconsider. If you must, take large amounts of water and use extreme caution.

Ubehebe Crater

Length

1.5 miles

Difficulty

Easy

Trailhead

#6 - Ubehebe Crater parking area

Rating

This hike begins from a parking area at the end of a 5 mile long paved road off of Scotty's Castle Road, 3 miles west of Scotty's Castle itself. This is a relatively flat walk around the rim of Ubehebe Crater, which visits Little Hebe and several other craters on the way. This area can be windy in the extreme at times.

Hiking in Death Valley

Death Valley Hiking Trails

Badwater

Dante's Ridge

Golden Canyon

Salt Creek Nature Trail

Sand Dunes

Ubehebe Crater