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Natural Bridge Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park, CA · NV

Natural Bridge Canyon Trail

Rocky out-and-back to a natural bridge and dry falls

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Length
1.4mi
Time
1hr
Elev. change
502ft
Difficulty
Moderate
  • No dogs
  • High point 922 ft
DirectionsMap
Parkwolf audio tour130 stories across Death Valley’s roads

Overview

About Natural Bridge Canyon Trail

Natural Bridge Canyon is a short but rocky out-and-back into a Death Valley wash. From the Natural Bridge Trailhead, follow the canyon about 0.7 miles one way to the first impassable dry fall, passing beneath the namesake natural bridge along the way. The complete visitor route is about 1.4 miles round trip and usually takes about 1 hour.

Why go

  • The natural bridge and Death Valley geology arrive quickly
  • The full canyon continues to dry falls and vertical chutes
  • Short route with a strong payoff and open salt-flat views on return

Heads up

  • Loose gravel and uneven rock make the canyon slower than its mileage suggests
  • The final dry fall is impassable and optional scrambling requires care
  • Unpaved access road can develop deep ruts or washouts

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Death Valley map
Full map
Elevation420–922 ft
TrailheadNatural Bridge Trailhead36.28129, -116.76973
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Open dirt parking area at the end of the unpaved Natural Bridge Road, about 13.5 miles south of CA-190 off Badwater Road. Large enough for buses and RVs, with a vault toilet. The access road is often passable but can have deep ruts or washouts; check conditions and choose a suitable vehicle.

Best time to go

Fall through spring is the most comfortable season. Summer heat is dangerous in this exposed desert, especially before the canyon shade; start very early if you go in warmer weather. Never enter a narrow wash when rain is forecast because flash floods can arrive far from the storm.

Safety

Extreme desert heat, especially before canyon shade; carry water and avoid summer midday. Flash-flood risk in the wash—do not enter if rain is forecast. Rocky, uneven footing and short optional scrambles lead to an impassable dry fall. Pets are not allowed on Death Valley trails.

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 Natural Bridge Canyon 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 tour

More stories near here in the app

  • Walking on Salt at Badwater Basin
  • Badwater's Salt Polygons
  • Dante's View: The Best Panorama in the Park
  • Creosote Bush: The Smell of Desert Rain
  • 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 Natural Bridge Canyon Trail

Route and What You'll SeeThe canyon is easy to follow but uneven and rocky.

The canyon is easy to follow but uneven and rocky. The natural bridge rises about 35 feet above the canyon floor and arrives within the first half mile; beyond it, the canyon continues through dry falls, vertical chutes, and hanging-canyon scenery before ending at an impassable dry fall. Some hikers turn around at the bridge, while the full route continues to the dry-fall endpoint and includes short, optional scrambles.

Getting There and ParkingFrom Badwater Road, turn onto Natural Bridge Road about 13.

From Badwater Road, turn onto Natural Bridge Road about 13.5 miles south of CA-190 and follow the unpaved road about 1.5 miles to the open dirt parking area at the canyon mouth. The lot is large enough for buses and RVs and has a vault toilet. The road is often passable but can develop deep ruts or washouts; check conditions and use a vehicle suited to the road.

TipsWear sturdy shoes for loose gravel and uneven rock.
  • Wear sturdy shoes for loose gravel and uneven rock.
  • Carry plenty of water and sun protection; there are no facilities on the route.
  • Do not attempt the final impassable dry fall, and treat the optional scrambles as route-finding rather than a maintained trail.
  • Pets are not allowed on Death Valley National Park trails, even when carried.
  • The natural bridge is a strong geology stop, while the return trip opens views toward the salt flats.
easyshort hikecanyonnatural bridgegeologydesertfamily friendlyphoto spotout and backrocky

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 Natural Bridge Canyon Trail

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

EasyBadwater Basin Boardwalk1 mi · 30 min · 3.6 mi awayEasy, accessible stroll from Badwater Basin’s boardwalk to the edge of Death Valley’s salt flatsEasyBadwater Basin Salt Flats1.9 mi · 33 min · 3.6 mi awayWalk from Badwater Basin onto the otherworldly salt polygons at North America’s lowest pointChallengingDante's Ridge to Mount Perry9 mi · 5 hr · 4.8 mi awayDifficult, exposed unofficial ridge route from Dantes View to Mount PerryEasyArtist's Palette Wash0.4 mi · 48 min · 6 mi awayExplore a short, unmaintained loop through Death Valley's rainbow badlands.ModerateDesolation Canyon Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 8.8 mi awayColor-drenched badlands and a quiet canyon with easy scramblesChallengingZabriskie Point to Golden Canyon7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 9.9 mi awayStrenuous 7.8-mile loop from Zabriskie Point through Gower Gulch and Golden CanyonModerateBadlands Loop (Zabriskie Point)2.7 mi · 1.8 hr · 9.9 mi awayA 2.7-mile moderate loop through colorful badlands below Zabriskie Point.EasyZabriskie Point Overlook Trail0.3 mi · 8 min · 9.9 mi awayA short paved out-and-back from the Zabriskie Point parking area to Death Valley's iconic badlands overlook.

Places near the trailhead

Sight · 0.3 mi awayDeath Valley Natural BridgeQuick canyon walk to a dramatic arch and dry waterfallSight · 3.7 mi awayBadwater BasinVast salt flats at the continent’s lowest pointSight · 4.8 mi awayDante's ViewGrandstand view over Badwater Basin from 5,475 feetSight · 5.8 mi awayCoffin PeakA quiet, windy summit with huge views near Dante’s ViewSight · 6 mi awayDevil's Golf CourseA jagged salt labyrinth where the ground crackles under the sunSight · 6.3 mi awayArtists PaletteRainbow badlands you can wander right from the carScenic pullout · 8 mi awayDeath Valley National Park Entrance SignClassic photo stop at the park boundary on CA-190Sight · 8.5 mi awayDesolation CanyonColorful, quiet badlands hike with late-afternoon glow and big views

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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