Parking
Limited dirt parking near the Darwin Falls trailhead at the end of the access road; no restrooms or potable water. Check with park staff about access-road conditions before driving in.
Overview
About Darwin Falls Trail
Darwin Falls is a spring-fed oasis hidden in a desert canyon. This unmarked out-and-back route is about 2.0 miles round trip from the Darwin Falls trailhead to the lower falls, following a mostly level wash that becomes rockier inside the canyon. The mapped corridor is about 0.96 mile one way; the visitor distance includes the return.
Why go
- Reliable flow and shade create a cooler microclimate most of the route
- Short effort with a big visual payoff at a true desert waterfall
Heads up
- Rough 2.5‑mile dirt access road can deter some vehicles
- Unmarked route with slick creek crossings and light scrambling
- No restrooms or potable water at the trailhead
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Death Valley map
Full mapElevation2,530–3,064 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
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 Darwin Falls Trail, 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
Rock Varnish: Nature’s Slow-Motion PaintListen
“See those dark, glossy streaks staining the canyon walls? That's not paint; it's desert varnish, a thin coating built over thousands of years.”
Plays on the road 1.8 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Father Crowley Vista and Rainbow Canyon
- Panamint Springs: A Remote Desert Outpost
- 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Darwin Falls Trail
What You’ll SeeThe route ends at an approximately 18-foot waterfall dropping into a shallow pool surrounded by…
The route ends at an approximately 18-foot waterfall dropping into a shallow pool surrounded by lush vegetation. Cottonwoods, willows, cattails, and ferns make this a striking contrast to the surrounding Mojave Desert. Tree frogs, toads, and desert bighorn sheep depend on the spring-fed water and riparian habitat.
Trail ExperienceThere is no official signed trail.
There is no official signed trail. Follow the worn route up the gravel wash, then continue through the narrow canyon as the footing becomes rocky. Expect repeated creek crossings, rock-hopping, and a short scramble near the falls; rocks can be wet and slick. Stay with the established route and avoid trampling the fragile oasis vegetation.
Access and ParkingThe trailhead is reached from Darwin Falls Road, about 1.
The trailhead is reached from Darwin Falls Road, about 1.2 miles west of Panamint Springs Resort on CA-190. The unpaved access road can be rough and may not be passable by every passenger car, so check with park staff about road conditions before setting out. Parking is limited near the trailhead, with no restrooms or potable water; the nearest facilities are at Panamint Springs Resort.
Tips and EtiquetteCarry all the drinking water you need and do not drink from the creek.
Carry all the drinking water you need and do not drink from the creek. Do not enter or wade in the pool: the water supplies nearby Panamint Springs Resort. Wear shoes with good grip and expect wet feet. Cell service is unreliable, so download maps before leaving service.
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.
