Willow Canyon Trail (4.2 mi, Moderate) – Death Valley National Park

Overview

About Willow Canyon Trail

Willow Canyon is a moderate-to-difficult out-and-back through a stark, beautiful desert canyon that ends at a seasonal waterfall. Expect roughly 4.2 miles total with about 776 feet of gain and 2.5 hours round trip. The route starts at an unmarked gravel access road and open parking area off Badwater Road, then crosses an exposed rocky alluvial fan before entering the canyon.

Why go

Seasonal waterfall in one of the driest corners of the park
Quieter than nearby Sidewinder Canyon, with real solitude

Heads up

Unmarked route with a side slot that can mislead first-timers
Short Class 3 step at the end can be a turn-around point for some

This is a moderate-to-difficult desert outing: sustained walking on uneven, rocky surfaces, full sun exposure until the narrows, and a short scramble at the end. It suits hikers comfortable with cross-country navigation and basic scrambling. If constant shade or a guaranteed waterfall is a must, it can feel underwhelming outside wet periods.

Parkwolf’s verdictDifficulty and Who Will Love It

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Death Valley map

Full map

Elevation-236–771 ft

TrailheadWillow Canyon Trailhead36.06564, -116.74490

Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Open gravel parking area shared with Sidewinder Canyon; reached by an unmarked access road from Badwater Road about 31.5 miles south of CA-190 between mile markers 31 and 32. Large enough for buses and RVs. No nearby restrooms or other facilities.

Best time to go

Go November through March for safer temperatures and softer light. Mornings are best—cooler on the fan and lovely side-light on the canyon walls. Summer heat here is dangerous; skip it.

Safety

Extreme heat and full sun exposure; bring plenty of water. The access road and route are unmarked, navigation is cross-country, and there is no reliable water or shade on the approach. At the end, a roughly 6-foot dryfall requires a brief Class 3 hands-on scramble and may be slick when wet.

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 Willow 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

Recorded for this trailhead

Sidewinder and Willow Canyons: Rugged Hikes

Listen

“The trailheads along this stretch of road lead to some of the park's more rugged and less-traveled hikes.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

Hiking Willow Canyon Trail

What You’ll SeeThe approach crosses a broad alluvial fan with wide-open valley views before the walls tighten…

The approach crosses a broad alluvial fan with wide-open valley views before the walls tighten into scenic narrows. The canyon’s polished, sculpted rock and sparse desert vegetation lead to a seasonal waterfall at the end of the route. The falls may be dry outside wetter periods, but the amphitheater and narrows remain photogenic.

Trail Character and NavigationThere is no road or hiking-route signage.

There is no road or hiking-route signage. From the parking area, avoid the small foothills and side canyons to the east; travel north/northeast around the foothills toward the deep canyon. At about 1.8 miles, the canyon splits—stay in the main channel toward the waterfall rather than taking the side branch. The final approach includes polished bedrock and a short, hands-on Class 3 move over a roughly 6-foot dryfall when conditions allow.

Tips and ComparisonsBring real sun protection and plenty of water; there is no reliable water or shade on the…

Bring real sun protection and plenty of water; there is no reliable water or shade on the approach.
Sturdy shoes help on the loose, cobbly wash and polished bedrock.
Navigation is straightforward only if you stay on the main drainage; do not get sidetracked by the side branch if your goal is the waterfall.
Sidewinder Canyon is nearby and offers more dramatic slots, but it is a different route and a busier experience.

LogisticsUse the open gravel parking area shared with Sidewinder Canyon, reached by an unmarked access…

Use the open gravel parking area shared with Sidewinder Canyon, reached by an unmarked access road from Badwater Road about 31.5 miles south of CA-190 between mile markers 31 and 32. There are no nearby restrooms or other facilities. Pets are not permitted on park trails; no permit is required for day hiking, but standard park entry fees apply.

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.

Willow Canyon Trail