Little Hebe Crater

Overview

About Little Hebe Crater

Little Hebe is the petite, geologically young-looking cousin to Ubehebe Crater. Its rim is notably sharp and minimally eroded, and the dark volcanic layers pop against the pale desert—great for photos and for seeing the anatomy of an explosion crater up close.

Why stop

Crisp, youthful crater rim with striking volcanic textures
Quick spur off the Ubehebe rim with big panoramic views

Heads up

Long, remote drive from other park highlights
Loose cinder underfoot, frequent wind, and no on-site services

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightLittle Hebe Crater37.00438, -117.45146

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Little Hebe Crater

Begin at the Ubehebe parking area and follow the rim west to the spur.
Wear shoes with solid tread; cinder and gravel can be slippery.
Pack extra water and a wind layer—there’s no shade or water on-site.
Aim for early morning or late afternoon light; winter conditions are best.
Stay back from the rim in strong winds—edges can be unstable.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Season: Cool months are most comfortable; winter is prime.
Daylight: Early or late in the day gives softer light and better contrast on the crater walls.
Crowds: This loop is popular, but it’s still quieter than the park’s headline stops—weekdays and early starts help.

Getting There & The Walk

Start at the main Ubehebe Crater parking area and follow the rim west to reach Little Hebe via a short spur. The simplest out-and-back to Little Hebe is roughly a mile round-trip, while the popular rim loop that includes it is about 1.5–1.8 miles. You can return the way you came or complete the full loop back to the lot.

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

See all 3 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Death Valley Tour Guide

Your drive to Little Hebe Crater, 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 tour

Recorded for this area

Ubehebe Crater Volcanic Explosion

Listen

“The landscape here is about to change dramatically as you near Ubehebe Crater. This isn't a canyon, but a massive hole in the ground, half a mile wide and over 500 feet deep.”

Plays on the road 0.4 mi from Little Hebe Crater in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More about Little Hebe Crater

What You'll SeeA neat, nearly circular maar with exposed layers of ash, cinder, and tuff.

A neat, nearly circular maar with exposed layers of ash, cinder, and tuff.
Wide views over the Ubehebe crater field—smaller pits, cinder slopes, and the vast desert beyond.
A compact feature that reads like a field guide to recent volcanism.

Trail Conditions & SafetyExpect loose gravel and cinder, especially on slopes—good tread helps.

Expect loose gravel and cinder, especially on slopes—good tread helps. The area is fully exposed and often windy; gusts can be strong along the rim. Edges can be unstable, so give the lip a respectful buffer, particularly in high winds.

Geology SnapshotLittle Hebe sits within the Ubehebe volcanic field, a cluster of maar craters formed when…

Little Hebe sits within the Ubehebe volcanic field, a cluster of maar craters formed when groundwater flashed to steam on contact with rising magma a couple thousand years ago—recent, geologically speaking. The crisp rim here reflects that youthful age.

WildlifeIt’s austere country, but you may spot desert-adapted lizards and small birds.

It’s austere country, but you may spot desert-adapted lizards and small birds. Keep an eye on the sky—ravens are frequent scavengers in this area. Do not feed wildlife.

EssentialsThere are no amenities at Little Hebe itself.

There are no amenities at Little Hebe itself. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, sturdy shoes for cinder, and a wind layer. Cell service is unreliable.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Death Valley

All Death Valley wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.