Walking Wild & Free

Bighorn Gorge 1

Bighorn Gorge

Bighorn Gorge 1

Bighorn Gorge

An off-trail hike that is often backpacked into a desert canyon with dryfalls and short stretches of narrows.

Total Distance: 20 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 5,414ft. (1,456ft. to 5,056ft.)
Difficulty: Easy	10+ Mile Difficulty: Easy
View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0	Author’s Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: No	Horses: Yes
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted at least 2.0 miles from Scotty’s Castle Road
Trailhead Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 0.6
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Bighorn Gorge Route

0.0 Unmarked Bighorn Gorge Trailhead on Scotty’s Castle Road (1,685ft.). Travel southwest toward the mouth of Bighorn Gorge. There is no trail, so you’ll be walking cross-country across the alluvial fan of the wash. (36.935531°, -117.321791°)

1.2 Death Valley Wash (1,456ft.). Cross over the wash and begin climbing the gravely drainage into Bighorn Gorge. Many people choose to walk up on the rim of the wash, as the footing is easier than in the wash bottom. (36.924762°, -117.336722°)

3.75 Wash on right (2,436ft.). Continue left (west) in the main wash. Shortly after this, the walls begin to rise to create the Lower Canyon of Bighorn Gorge. The canyon remains relatively wide even as the hills rise on either side. (36.900837°, -117.370425°)

4.2 Mouth of Bighorn Gorge (2,620ft.). The canyon remains wide and a slog up gravel as it winds into the mountains. (36.898632°, -117.378745°)

6.9 Major sidecanyon on left (east) (3,601ft.). Take the right fork – while the sidecanyon can be explored, as it is about 3 miles long and contains dryfalls and narrows, it is difficult work, so this guide continues up the main Bighorn Gorge by taking the right fork. (36.866678°, -117.389560°)

7.2 First Narrows (3,726ft.). These are not very pronounced, but they do contain a couple of interesting chutes, including your first dryfall. The second narrows (approx. Mile 7.75; 36.863253°, -117.396351°) contain a 7ft. sheer, polished dryfall which can be difficult to climb, while the third narrows a short distance upstream are the narrowest and most winding in the gorge. The fourth narrows (approx. mile 9.2; 36.851368°, -117.402703°) has another 7ft. Sheer and polished dryfall. The fifth narrows a short distance upcanyon lead to an 80ft. dryfall (which some would call a 15ft. falls and a 60ft. falls). It looks impassible, but a very faint social trail on the right (north/west) leads up the scree and back into the gorge above the fall. As you hike up the canyon, keep your eyes open for fossils in the rocks (especially below the third narrows), as well as colorful rock layers (especially in the upper canyon). In general, the gorge is quite rough and rocky, so it’s not the for the feint of heart, while the walls are polished limestone. There may be other small obstacles not mentioned here. (36.865199°, -117.391714°)

10.0 Top of Bighorn Gorge (5,056ft.). Enjoy the views up the wash before returning back down the canyon (note that descending the dryfalls is often more difficult than climbing them; use caution). It is possible to continue up the wash above the gorge; however, few people do due to the hike’s length. Those with a high clearance vehicle can take the White Top Road to descend Bighorn Gorge from above. (36.844049°, -117.409145°)

History & More

You may want to take a map (and know how to use it) while exploring Bighorn Gorge – there are many, many sidecanyons, and it can be tricky to figure out which branch is the main canyon.

Bighorn Gorge is probably named for the bighorn sheep that frequent the area.

This is one of the more popular backpacking trips in Death Valley National Park, despite the lack of trail or markings and the difficulty of scrambling the narrows. Backpacking in Death Valley is made more difficult by the lack of reliable water sources.

Most people do not travel beyond the base of the upper dryfall, as doing so is not recommended by the NPS. There isn’t much to see in the upper canyon, so climbing the slope is up to your discretion.

Use care on the dryfalls, as some are slippery and/or difficult to maneuver, especially with a large pack. Remember that climbing down the dryfalls is often more difficult than climbing up them.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for fossils and other interesting marks and features in the rocks of the gorge.

Download Trail Map

Coming soon!

Driving Directions

From CA-190 east of Stovepipe Wells and north of Furnace Creek, take the Scotty’s Castle Road 28.2 miles to the unmarked trailhead. The trailhead is about 5 miles south of the Grapevine Ranger Station.