Parking
Paved Ubehebe Crater parking area directly overlooking the crater; the lot is large enough for buses and large RVs. There are no restrooms at the crater; the nearest are at the unstaffed Grapevine Ranger Station 5 miles east.
Overview
About Ubehebe Crater Rim Trail
The Ubehebe Rim Hike is a 1.5-mile loop along the rim of Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park. The official loop takes about 1 hour, is rated moderate, and gains about 500 feet (152 m). It begins at the paved parking area overlooking the crater and circles the rim for broad views into the volcanic maar and across the surrounding Ubehebe volcanic field.
Why go
- Official loop circles the crater rim with expansive volcanic geology and panoramic views
- Paved parking is directly beside the route, with a large lot for buses and RVs
Heads up
- Loose cinders, steep slopes, and exposed edges require careful footing
- No shade, water, or restroom at the crater; wind and heat can be severe
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Death Valley map
Full mapElevation2,343–2,844 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Ubehebe Crater Rim 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 trailhead
Ubehebe Crater Volcanic ExplosionListen
“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 this trailhead in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Walk Around Ubehebe Crater's Rim
- Hidden Rivers of Grapevine Canyon
- Mesquite Spring Campground: A Cooler Alternative
- 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 Ubehebe Crater Rim Trail
Route and footingThe trail is an official loop, often hiked counter-clockwise with an uphill start.
The trail is an official loop, often hiked counter-clockwise with an uphill start. Expect loose volcanic cinders and gravel, short climbs and descents, and exposed edges above steep crater slopes. Little Hebe Crater comes into view after about 0.5 mile, but this record is the Ubehebe rim loop; the separate Little Hebe and crater-bottom paths are not part of the stored route.
Practical detailsThe paved lot is 8 miles west of Scotty's Castle and is large enough for buses and large RVs.
The paved lot is 8 miles west of Scotty's Castle and is large enough for buses and large RVs. There are no restrooms at the crater; the nearest are at the unstaffed Grapevine Ranger Station 5 miles east. Bring water and sun and wind protection: the rim is exposed and has no shade. Pets are not allowed on Death Valley trails, even when carried.
SafetyStay back from unstable crater edges and use care on loose footing.
Stay back from unstable crater edges and use care on loose footing. The descent into the crater is a separate, steep route and is not included here; climbing back out through ankle-deep debris can be difficult. Avoid hot-weather hiking, especially during the hottest part of the day.
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.
