Golden Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park

Golden Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park

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Even though hiking in Death Valley National Park may seem like an activity that you may want to intentionally avoid, adventures like the Golden Canyon Trail are outstanding ways to get up close and personal with the desert landscape. 

The Golden Canyon Trail is a relatively short hike through a slot canyon.  With a gradual elevation gain of just 603 feet, it is terrific for families.  We don’t recommend going on the hike in the middle of the day in July (please don’t!).  However, if you happen to find yourself in this amazing park in late fall, early spring or anytime during the winter, this hike is fantastic and really gets you “inside” the walls of Death Valley for an amazing experience.

This trail is a perfect choice for anyone looking to stretch their legs.  Coming in at just over 3 miles (if you go all the way to Red Cathedral), this out-and-back hike has a very slow incline for most of the trail and is usually not too crowded.

See what you can expect on this easy, and arguably one of the best hikes in Death Valley National Park!

GOLDEN CANYON TRAIL DETAILS

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Distance: 3.1 miles (round-trip)
  • Trail: Out-and-back
  • Elevation gain: 603 feet
  • Peak elevation reached: 613 feet
  • Best time of year to hike: Early fall to spring
  • To beat the crowds: Arrive before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm
  • Footwear: Sneakers
  • Watch out for: Sun exposure
  • Restrooms: Located at the trailhead, but not on the trail
  • Pets: Not allowed
  • Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

  

death valley national park itinerary

 

Things to do in Death Valley National Park, including maps, what to pack for your trip, what to review ahead of time, useful links and information on the best Death Valley hikes (in ranked order), can be found in our  itinerary for Death Valley National Park.  Internet service in the park is non-existent, so be sure to get your information before you head into the park.  Our itinerary can be downloaded and printed to make sure you have what you need, when you need it!

 

PARKING AND LOCATION FOR THE GOLDEN CANYON TRAILHEAD

The Golden Canyon Trail is located in the Badwater Basin area of Death Valley National Park.  From the intersection of Badwater Road and Highway 190 in Furnace Creek (which is the “hub” of Death Valley National Park), take the Badwater Road south for 2.3 miles.  The trailhead is located on the east side (left as you head south) of Badwater Road.  Directions from Furnace Creek to the Golden Canyon trailhead can be found here

Golden Canyon Trailhead map

Map of the Golden Canyon Trailhead in Death Valley, courtesy of the National Park Service

There are only 18 spots in the parking area and the lot can fill up early in the morning (particularly for those who are trying to beat the heat).  Frequently, hikers will park alongside Badwater Road as well, though you should check the road signs to verify it is allowed when you are visiting.

There are clean restrooms at the Visitor Center in Furnace Creek.  There are also pit toilets located at the trailhead.  Unsurprisingly, there are no bathrooms on the trail itself. 

HIKING THE GOLDEN CANYON TRAIL TO THE RED CATHEDRAL

 

The trailhead is well marked and starts just east of the parking lot.  A map of Golden Canyon trail is right at the start of the trail.  Ahead of your trip, you can also download a copy of a Death Valley hiking trails map here.

Golden Canyon Trail Map
Golden Canyon Trail Map

Golden Canyon Trail Map, courtesy of the National Park Service

 

Immediately after beginning the hike, the trail starts to head up in elevation, but only slightly.  In fact, the entire first mile climbs only about 300 feet in elevation.

Hiking on the Golden Canyon trail in Death Valley National Park

The trail is quite wide.  Since it is in a slot canyon, the wide and contained path makes it easy to keep track of kids of all ages.  There isn’t much place to wander off-path!

The aptly named “Golden Canyon” is just that-it’s golden for the entire length of the trail.  While this may sound a bit boring, the golden walls against the bright blue sky made for quite the photos during our hike.  We even were able to spot some of the rare Death Valley wildlife along the way!

Golden Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park
Lizard in Death Valley on the Golden Canyon Trail

After about 1 mile, the trail comes to a junction with the Gower Gulch Loop Trail.  Stay to the left to continue to the Red Cathedral.  It is at this point that the trail starts to head up in elevation sharply.  Up to this point, the hiking was fairly easy, but it gets more intense from here.

Heading up to the Red Cathedral in Death Valley National Park

On the last 0.4-mile push to the Red Cathedral, the trail climbs slightly over 300 feet.  For this part of the trail, you’ll find yourself climbing over rocks and ducking under boulders.  While this was not overly difficult by most measures, it was a bit more of a challenge then we would normally expect for this type of a climb since it was hot during our visit. 

Hiking up to the Red Cathedral in Death Valley

 

 

 

 

    

THE RED CATHEDRAL

Once the trail climbs to the Red Cathedral, you will be surrounded by high rock formations that are red in color.  This is quite the different landscape than is seen in most of the park.

Red Cathedral in Death Valley National Park
The Red Cathedral in Death Valley National Park

While there aren’t any amazing overlooks, it is possible to catch a glimpse of a few extended views, particularly on the way down.

Hiking down the Golden Canyon in Death Valley National Park

 

 

THE RETURN TRIP

The trip back to the parking lot goes quickly, since it is all downhill.  We found that we took about 10 minutes less heading back, and our kids who were tired on the way out ran back most of the way without stopping!

Hiking back from the Red Cathedral in Death Valley National Park

  

ZABRISKIE POINT HIKE AND HIKING THE GOLDEN CANYON GOWER GULCH LOOP

As mentioned earlier, the Golden Canyon Trail meets up with the Gower Gulch trail about one-mile into the hike.  If you want to have a slightly longer hike back, you can continue on the Gower Gulch Loop, which increases the total hike to about 4.2-miles.  This trail offers stunning landscape scenery.

Another option is to continue the hike to Zabriskie Point.  After taking a right, passing the Manly Beacon (a rock peak) and walking 0.8 miles, the trail meets up with a junction.  Heading to the right takes you back on the Gower Gulch Loop, but turning left takes you the 1.1 miles to Zabriskie Point.  Zabriskie Point is a stunning viewpoint that has colors like you would never expect in Death Valley National Park. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

  • The Golden Canyon Trail is one of the best Death Valley hikes for families. It’s the perfect combination-the easy slope, the unexpected Red Cathedral at the end and the interesting landscape make it perfect. 
  • Additionally, the trail offers options to continue farther if your group is feeling up to it. The optional hike to Zabriskie Point or continuing for the full Gower Gulch Loop are great to have.  It also means that if you want to hike from this trailhead more than once during your visit that there is plenty of variety.
  • It is critical to come here prepared. Make sure that you bring plenty of water with you.  You should fill up your water at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and make sure you carry plenty of extra in the car.  Sunscreen is required as well as a hat and sunglasses.
  • While the trail is fairly well marked, we found ourselves wanting to learn about the landscape. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for us to take a different trail than we originally planned just because we may be up for hiking more / less than we thought we would.  Because of this, we strongly recommend carrying the National Geographic Map for Death Valley National Park.  These maps are durable and contain topographical information to help you know where you’re going at all times.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK FROM JUST GO TRAVEL STUDIOS


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                OTHER USEFUL LINKS ON DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK



                      Amy and Pete from Just Go Travel Studios in Death Valley

                       

                       

                       

                       

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                      About Just Go Travel Studios

                      We are Amy & Pete Brahan. Very simply, we are passionate about our National Parks and Public Lands and explore them with our three kids whenever we can.

                      As much as we enjoy traveling, we also love sharing our knowledge and helping others create everlasting memories through our custom-made travel posters, downloadable travel itineraries and detailed blog articles.

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