Ubehebe Crater

Overview

About Ubehebe Crater

A half‑mile‑wide, 500–777‑foot‑deep volcanic blast crater, Ubehebe is the dramatic capstone of a whole field of explosion craters in the park’s far north. It formed about 2,100 years ago when magma met groundwater and detonated—a phreatomagmatic event you can literally read in the colorful stripes of its walls.

Why stop

Rim‑top parking with instant, sweeping views
Short rim loop links multiple craters, including Little Hebe

Heads up

Often extremely windy
No restrooms or water on‑site

Map

Where it is

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SightUbehebe Crater37.01004, -117.45075

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Ubehebe Crater

From the lot, turning left is the easier way to start the rim.
Expect strong winds on the rim—secure hats and protect your eyes.
Bring all the water you need; the site has no services.
If you descend to the floor, budget extra time for the steep, loose climb back.
Shoot early or late for the best color and texture in the crater walls.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Early morning or late afternoon gives softer light that pops the crater’s layers and cooler temps for hiking.
Crowds are lighter than the park’s central sights, but the small lot can feel busy in peak season—earlier is better.
Wind is common year‑round; calmer windows are more likely near sunrise and sunset.

Essentials (Services and Logistics)

There’s a parking lot right on the rim that also serves as the main viewpoint and trailhead.
No services on site: no restrooms, water, food, or shade. The nearest restrooms are at Grapevine Ranger Station, roughly 6 miles away.
Plan roughly an hour of driving from Furnace Creek; allow 1–2 hours here if doing the rim and a side trip to Little Hebe.

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 Ubehebe 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 place

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 as you drive up to Ubehebe Crater in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More about Ubehebe Crater

What You’ll SeeThe main bowl’s sheer, banded walls in orange, brown, and black cinders.

The main bowl’s sheer, banded walls in orange, brown, and black cinders.
A stark, otherworldly cinder landscape with expansive views from the rim.
Neighboring craters on the rim walk, including younger Little Hebe.

Hiking ItThe classic outing is the rim loop (about 1.

The classic outing is the rim loop (about 1.5 miles, moderate) with short, steep bits and loose volcanic gravel that keeps you honest.
You can drop to the crater floor on a steep spur—fun going down, a grind coming back up on marbles.
From the main sign, the rim path also reaches Little Hebe and passes several smaller craters, making a compact, varied hike.

Conditions and SafetyIt’s windy here—often very windy—so secure hats, protect your eyes, and stay well back from…

It’s windy here—often very windy—so secure hats, protect your eyes, and stay well back from steep, unstable edges.
The footing is loose; expect “one step forward, half a step back” on climbs.
Summer heat is no joke. Save strenuous efforts for cooler parts of the day.

Cultural NoteThis landscape is significant to the Timbisha Shoshone people—treat the area with care and…

This landscape is significant to the Timbisha Shoshone people—treat the area with care and respect.

WildlifeThis is a geology‑first stop.

This is a geology‑first stop. You might spot birds or small reptiles, but wildlife viewing is limited in this exposed, cindery terrain.

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.