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Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park, CA · NV

Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop

A demanding backcountry loop through Cottonwood, Deadhorse, and Marble Canyons

Photo: National Park Service
Length
26.3mi
Time
18hr
Elev. change
3,317ft
Difficulty
Challenging
  • Loop
  • No dogs
  • High point 4,511 ft
DirectionsMap
Parkwolf audio tour130 stories across Death Valley’s roads

Overview

About Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop

This demanding backcountry loop links Cottonwood, Deadhorse, and Marble Canyons in Death Valley National Park. The visitor-facing route is 26.3 miles over 2 to 3 nights; the complete reviewed line measures 25.7 mapped miles. There is no maintained trail or reliable signage, and route-finding is part of the experience.

Why go

  • Complete wilderness loop through three dramatic desert canyons
  • Cottonwood Springs and old-growth cottonwoods provide the route's key seasonal water and shade
  • Remote scenery, narrow canyon passages, and exceptional solitude

Heads up

  • No maintained trail or reliable signage; route-finding is essential
  • Rough 4x4 approach and long road/wash sections
  • Seasonal water, flash-flood exposure, and an 8-foot dryfall require careful planning

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Death Valley map
Full map
Elevation1,194–4,511 ft
TrailheadCottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction36.63185, -117.29500
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Park at the permitted Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction where Cottonwood Canyon Road meets Marble Canyon Road. The 10.5-mile approach from Stovepipe Wells requires high clearance for the first 8 miles and 4x4 capability for the rough final 2.1 miles; no services are available on the loop.

Best time to go

Fall through spring is the practical season for this exposed desert loop. Check current road, weather, water, and permit conditions before departure. Summer heat, flash floods, and long waterless sections can be life-threatening.

Safety

Difficult unmaintained wilderness route with route-finding, loose terrain, seasonal and unreliable water, flash-flood exposure, extreme heat, and an 8-foot dryfall in Deadhorse Canyon. Carry map, compass, GPS, extra water, and required permit; treat all water and obey the no-open-fire and camping setbacks.

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 Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, 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
  • 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
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Trail guide

Hiking Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop

Route PreviewStart and finish at the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction.

Start and finish at the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction. Going clockwise, follow the rough Cottonwood Canyon Road for 8.5 miles to its end, then hike 3.5 miles up Cottonwood Canyon to Cottonwood Springs. Continue 6 miles toward Deadhorse Canyon, crossing open desert and a low saddle. Descend Deadhorse Canyon for 6.5 miles to Marble Canyon Road, including an 8-foot dryfall that requires careful scrambling or a suitable bypass. Finish with 1.8 miles on Marble Canyon Road back to the junction. The route is stored as one continuous closed loop, including the required road and wash sections.

Difficulty & ConditionsThe National Park Service rates this route difficult, with 3,882 feet of elevation gain, no…

The National Park Service rates this route difficult, with 3,882 feet of elevation gain, no maintained tread, route-finding, rough washes, loose desert surfaces, and a remote 8-foot dryfall. Flash floods can rapidly change the canyons. Carry a map, compass, and GPS, and do not rely on a phone track alone.

Water, Permits, and CampingWater is seasonal and must be treated.

Water is seasonal and must be treated. Cottonwood Canyon water is typically visible near the road end, Cottonwood Springs is generally the most reliable source, and Deadhorse Canyon is known to dry first; conditions can change at any time. Backcountry permits are required and available online. Groups are limited to 12 people, 8 pack animals, and 4 vehicles. Camp at least 100 feet from water, pack out or properly bury human waste, and use no open fires.

Access and ParkingReach the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction from Stovepipe Wells via the Cottonwood Marble Road.

Reach the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction from Stovepipe Wells via the Cottonwood Marble Road. The approach is 10.5 miles; the first 8 miles are typically high-clearance accessible, while the final 2.1 miles require 4x4 capability because of deep gravel and small boulders. Park at the junction of Cottonwood Canyon Road and Marble Canyon Road only where permitted; there are no services on the route.

backpackingloopremotedesertcanyonsroute-finding4x4winterwater-scarcepermit-requiredflash-flood

Wildlife

Wildlife in Death Valley

All Death Valley wildlife maps
Bighorn Sheep71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapDesert Tortoise101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapCoyote458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapFeral Burro28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapMule Deer30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapKit Fox62 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.

Keep exploring

Near Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

ModerateMarble Canyon8.4 mi · 5 hr · 2.1 mi awayRemote, unmarked 8.4-mile out-and-back through Marble Canyon narrows; 4WD access and route-finding required.ChallengingTucki Mountain via Mosaic Canyon12.3 mi · 12 hr · 9.3 mi awayExpert cross-country summit route through Mosaic Canyon with 6,100 feet of gain and broad Death Valley viewsModerateMosaic Canyon4 mi · 2.8 hr · 9.3 mi awayA full out-and-back through polished marble narrows, Mosaic Breccia, and dryfall terrainEasyMesquite Flat Sand Dunes2 mi · 1.5 hr · 10.2 mi awayCross-country dunes to Death Valley’s tallest dune, with wide-open sunrise and sunset views.ChallengingGrotto Canyon3.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 10.6 mi awayUnmarked desert-canyon scramble through polished narrows to a high chokestoneModerateFall Canyon Trail6.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 14.7 mi awayRemote, unmaintained out-and-back into colorful Fall Canyon narrows from the Titus Canyon trailhead.EasyTitus Canyon Narrows3 mi · 1.5 hr · 14.8 mi awayEasy desert walk into Titus Canyon’s narrowest limestone walls.

Places near the trailhead

Sight · 1 mi awayMarble CanyonRemote narrows and striped marble walls with true solitudeSight · 8 mi awayStovepipe Wells AirportRemote NPS airstrip with big skies and a short walk to servicesCampground · 8.3 mi awayStovepipe Wells CampgroundNo-frills basecamp near dunes with village comforts next doorStore · 8.4 mi awayStovepipe Wells General StoreDesert outpost for fuel, snacks, and supplies right by the dunesGas station · 8.4 mi awayStovepipe Wells Gas Station24/7 fuel and supplies hub between dunes and mountains8.4 mi awayStovepipe WellsSmall desert hub steps from Mesquite Flat Sand DunesHistoric marker · 8.4 mi awayBurnt WagonsGold Rush story plaque in the heart of Stovepipe WellsRestaurant · 8.4 mi awayToll Road RestaurantSit-down comfort food with a local twist at Stovepipe Wells

Parkwolf’s Death Valley ranking

Top-rated trails in Death Valley

All 36 trails
  1. 1Badwater Basin Salt FlatsEasy · 1.9 mi
  2. 2Zabriskie Point Overlook TrailEasy · 0.3 mi
  3. 3Mesquite Flat Sand DunesEasy · 2 mi
  4. 4Telescope PeakChallenging · 12.5 mi
  5. 5Titus Canyon NarrowsEasy · 3 mi
  6. 6Mosaic CanyonModerate · 4 mi

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