Death Valley National Park guide · 1 min read
Off-Trail Canyons: Sidewinder, Grotto and Desolation
Three canyons in Death Valley National Park reward hikers who are willing to leave the marked trails behind: Sidewinder Canyon, Grotto Canyon and Desolation Canyon.
Sidewinder Canyon and Desolation Canyon are reached by unmarked cross-country routes through designated wilderness, so you will need to find your own way. Grotto Canyon is a quiet, seldom visited hike through narrow passages and over difficult obstacles.
Sidewinder Canyon is both physically and mentally demanding. The 5-mile round trip takes about 6 hours and climbs 1,580 feet. An unmarked gravel access road leaves Badwater Road 31.5 miles south of California 190, between mile markers 31 and 32, and shares its parking area with Willow Canyon. Expect ledges more than 6 feet high and tight spaces 1.5 feet wide, where you will need to climb over, squeeze through or crawl. Three slot canyons run south of the main canyon.
Grotto Canyon is a challenging hike of 2 to 4 miles round trip that takes 2 to 4 hours. It is best suited to people with prior hiking experience. Early on, several tricky rock scrambling sections preview what is to come. About halfway in, an 8-foot chimney stops most hikers, and only those with excellent rock scrambling and climbing skills should go past it.
Desolation Canyon is a 3.6-mile round trip of about 2.5 hours, with 600 feet of elevation gain. It runs along the western edge of the Black Mountains through a maze of drainages. Two dry falls along the route call for rock scrambling, though they have decent footholds.
Because Sidewinder Canyon and Desolation Canyon are unmarked, bring a map and a compass. Global positioning system data for these routes is for supplemental use only, so treat it as a backup. A printable map for Sidewinder Canyon is also available.
