Best time to visit
Late afternoon into early evening is prime—the low sun makes the colors pop and temps ease. Fall through spring is the sweet spot. Avoid summer’s midday heat.
Overview
About Desolation Canyon
Desolation Canyon is the underrated, colorful-badlands alternative to nearby Golden Canyon. It rises toward the area just north of Artists Palette, trading crowds for quiet and color. Expect a moderate out-and-back with a touch of scrambling and a big-view payoff.
Why stop
- Vividly colored badlands with greens, reds, purples and golds
- Quieter than Golden Canyon yet ends with a big panoramic viewpoint
- Short, engaging hike with a couple of fun dryfall scrambles
Heads up
- Fully exposed to sun and heat with minimal shade
- Unmarked route and two dryfalls can challenge some hikers
- No water, restrooms, or services at the trailhead
Map
Where it is
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Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Desolation Canyon
Time it for late afternoon light to make the colors explode.
Bring 2–3 liters of water per person; there’s no water on-site.
The route is unmarked—just stay in the main wash up-canyon.
Expect two short dryfall scrambles; descending them is trickier.
There are no restrooms or shade structures at the trailhead.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
3 active Death Valley alerts
- ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
- ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Desolation Canyon, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Death Valley audio tourRecorded for this area
Desolation Canyon: A Quieter Badlands HikeListen
“The turnoff ahead is for Desolation Canyon. If you're looking for a great hike that gets you deep into some colorful badlands without the crowds you find at other trailheads, this is a fantastic choice.”
Plays on the road 0.4 mi from Desolation Canyon in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mushroom Rock: A Hidden Roadside Oddity
- Gower Gulch: The Famous Loop's Finale
- Golden Canyon's Famous Hike and Loop Trail
- Zabriskie Point: A Famous View and a Trail into the Badlands
- 130 audio storiesacross Death Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 114 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
More about Desolation Canyon
What You’ll SeeThe route starts in a broad, sun-exposed wash, then funnels into sculpted badlands where the…
The route starts in a broad, sun-exposed wash, then funnels into sculpted badlands where the walls shift from golden to striking greens, reds, and purples as you climb. Higher up, you’ll negotiate two dryfalls (think 6–8 ft rocky steps) using hands and feet. The upper end rewards you with a panoramic overlook across the valley toward the Panamint range and Telescope Peak.
Geology in Plain SightThese badlands are made of fine lakebed sediments from an ancient lake that once covered much…
These badlands are made of fine lakebed sediments from an ancient lake that once covered much of this area. Volcanic ash and minerals oxidized over time, painting the canyon walls in those rainbow hues. Because the sediments are soft and crumbly, flash floods reshape the canyon quickly, leaving mud-crack polygons and fresh debris after storms.
Trail NotesDistance and effort: About 3.6–3.
- Distance and effort: About 3.6–3.8 miles round trip with roughly 600 ft of gain; unmarked but straightforward by following the main wash.
- Scrambling: Expect two short dryfall scrambles. Take extra care on the descent.
- Services: A small gravel parking area at the end of the access road, but no water or restrooms.
Hazards and EssentialsHeat and dehydration are the big risks here.
Heat and dehydration are the big risks here. Carry plenty of water, sun protection, and sturdy footwear for sand, gravel, and downclimbing the dryfalls. The terrain is fragile and flood-prone: don’t enter if storms threaten. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails.
WildlifeLife clings on the margins here—expect very sparse vegetation (think desert holly) and little…
Life clings on the margins here—expect very sparse vegetation (think desert holly) and little wildlife activity in the open heat.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Death Valley
71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
