Best time to visit
Go at sunrise or late afternoon for softer light that makes the colors pop. Midday is harsh and hot, and shade is nonexistent. It’s typically quieter than high-profile viewpoints nearby any day of the week.
Overview
About Twenty Mule Team Canyon
A quick hit of classic Death Valley badlands, Twenty Mule Team Canyon is a 2.5–3 mile one-way dirt road just east of Zabriskie Point. It weaves through rolling, multicolored hills with a few tight, hilly turns that give the drive a roller-coaster feel. Expect striking bands of yellow, cream, white, brown, and black terrain—and very little company.
Why stop
- Short, one-way dirt drive with fun roller-coaster hills
- Vivid yellow badlands and photogenic vistas
- Usually suitable for standard cars when conditions are good
Heads up
- No restrooms, water, shade, or other services
- Narrow dirt road not ideal for large RVs or trailers
If you want maximum scenery for minimal effort, this is an easy win. The drive takes 15–30 minutes, and you can step out at wide spots to wander short distances onto low ridges for sweeping views. It’s also a pop-culture favorite—scenes from a certain galaxy far, far away were filmed in these badlands.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s worth your timeMap
Where it is
Loading the Death Valley map
Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Twenty Mule Team Canyon
The signed turnoff east of Zabriskie Point is easy to miss—slow down on CA-190.
Stop at wide spots and climb short ridges for the best panoramic views.
Avoid with large RVs or trailers; the one-way dirt road is narrow and hilly.
After rain, check conditions at Furnace Creek Visitor Center before driving.
Bring all the water you’ll need—there are no services or shade along the route.
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 Twenty Mule Team 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 place
A Roller-Coaster Drive Through Twenty Mule Team CanyonListen
“You're approaching the turnoff for Twenty Mule Team Canyon, which is a really fun, quick detour. It’s a one-way dirt road that feels a bit like a roller-coaster as it dips and weaves through these colorful badlands.”
Plays as you drive up to Twenty Mule Team Canyon in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Zabriskie Point: A Famous View and a Trail into the Badlands
- Furnace Creek Wash: A Dry Riverbed with a Punch
- Gower Gulch: The Famous Loop's Finale
- Desolation Canyon: A Quieter Badlands Hike
- 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 Twenty Mule Team Canyon
What you’ll seeBadlands in vivid layers and twisting ravines
- Badlands in vivid layers and twisting ravines
- Open vistas toward the valley floor and salt flats in places
- Occasional remnants of historic borax and gypsum mining
Road and conditionsThe road is unpaved, one-way, and usually passable for most two-wheel-drive cars with decent…
The road is unpaved, one-way, and usually passable for most two-wheel-drive cars with decent clearance. It’s narrow and winding, so skip it with large RVs or trailers. After storms, ruts can develop—check current conditions at Furnace Creek Visitor Center if you’re unsure.
History & geologyThe canyon’s name nods to the famed Twenty Mule Teams that hauled borax in the 1880s.
The canyon’s name nods to the famed Twenty Mule Teams that hauled borax in the 1880s. The hills belong to the Furnace Creek Formation—ancient lakebed sediments colored by minerals like borates and gypsum. Rare but intense rains carve the sharp gullies and ridgelines you’ll be driving through.
WildlifeSightings here are uncommon; the landscape is harsh and open.
Sightings here are uncommon; the landscape is harsh and open. Don’t plan your stop around wildlife viewing.
Good to knowThere are no facilities—no restrooms, water, or picnic spots—and no camping or overnight…
There are no facilities—no restrooms, water, or picnic spots—and no camping or overnight parking. Cell service is hit-or-miss. Bring water, sun protection, and sturdy shoes if you plan to scramble onto the low hills.
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.
