Desolation Canyon, Death Valley National Park
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Desolation Canyon
Twisting ravine at the edge of the Black Mountains, generally shallow, and moderately narrow, through multicolored badlands, formed of volcanic rocks in shades of brown, yellow, pink and green
Length: 1.8 miles
Elevation change: 750 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate; a few dryfalls to pass
Type: One-way, a route rather than an official trail
Usage: Medium
Season: Fall, winter, spring
Trailhead: End of a short track, off Badwater Road
Rating (1-5): ★★★★★
Elevation change: 750 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate; a few dryfalls to pass
Type: One-way, a route rather than an official trail
Usage: Medium
Season: Fall, winter, spring
Trailhead: End of a short track, off Badwater Road
Rating (1-5): ★★★★★
Desolation Canyon in Death Valley National Park was so-named sometime in the early 20th century on account of its almost complete lack of vegetation, even along the streambed. The ravine is relatively short and shallow, moderately narrow only in a few places, cutting through an area of multicolored badlands at the foot of the Black Mountains, 4 miles south of Furnace Creek, in between the popular locations of Golden Canyon and Artists Drive. Desolation though is not so busy, perhaps because the half mile side road to the trailhead is unpaved and not so well signposted.
Like many such ravines in the valley, this gains height fairly rapidly, so the 1.8 mile hike to the upper end evolves an elevation gain of 750 feet, mostly a steady upwards slope, plus several dryfalls that present minor obstacles.
All the rocks from the Artist Drive Formation, a mix of lacustrine sediments, siltstone and clay, plus ash deposited by volcanic eruptions. Most of the strata are golden brown but some parts are colored by iron minerals in shades of purple, red and greenish grey; all generally rather muted, pale pastels, though much richer around sunset. The same rocks extend southwards along Artist Drive, where they are a little more colorful.
The short approach road ends in a circular parking place, elevation -60 feet. A notice advises visitors to complete the hike before 10 am on hot days. A lesser track once continued south into an adjacent ravine for half a mile, also quite colorful and open to exploration, but the main hike is to the east, round a little hill up the wide alluvial fan at the mouth of the canyon.
Desolation Canyon narrows only slowly. A few small tributaries join from the left followed by a longer open section leading to a brief curvy narrow part that contains a dryfall, the largest along the route. Not far beyond is a larger tributary, also on the left, cliff-lined for most of its length. The main ravine then has a second dryfall within another curvy part, as the rocks become more generally colorful, pinks and oranges, then some nice green patches, on both sides. The passageways end rather abruptly at the foot of a broad, open slope, crossed by a path clients a way up to the final, panoramic viewpoint, on a rocky promontory, with long-distance views across to the salt flats.
Like many such ravines in the valley, this gains height fairly rapidly, so the 1.8 mile hike to the upper end evolves an elevation gain of 750 feet, mostly a steady upwards slope, plus several dryfalls that present minor obstacles.
All the rocks from the Artist Drive Formation, a mix of lacustrine sediments, siltstone and clay, plus ash deposited by volcanic eruptions. Most of the strata are golden brown but some parts are colored by iron minerals in shades of purple, red and greenish grey; all generally rather muted, pale pastels, though much richer around sunset. The same rocks extend southwards along Artist Drive, where they are a little more colorful.
The Trailhead
The short approach road ends in a circular parking place, elevation -60 feet. A notice advises visitors to complete the hike before 10 am on hot days. A lesser track once continued south into an adjacent ravine for half a mile, also quite colorful and open to exploration, but the main hike is to the east, round a little hill up the wide alluvial fan at the mouth of the canyon.
The Canyon
Desolation Canyon narrows only slowly. A few small tributaries join from the left followed by a longer open section leading to a brief curvy narrow part that contains a dryfall, the largest along the route. Not far beyond is a larger tributary, also on the left, cliff-lined for most of its length. The main ravine then has a second dryfall within another curvy part, as the rocks become more generally colorful, pinks and oranges, then some nice green patches, on both sides. The passageways end rather abruptly at the foot of a broad, open slope, crossed by a path clients a way up to the final, panoramic viewpoint, on a rocky promontory, with long-distance views across to the salt flats.
Desolation Canyon Topographic Map
Desolation Canyon - Similar Hikes
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