Walking Wild & Free

Undertaker Canyon 1

Undertaker Canyon

Undertaker Canyon 1

Undertaker Canyon

Scramble up a remote slot canyon in the Funeral Mountains off of Hole in the Wall Road to Widowmaker Dryfall. Serious scrambling is required – you may want ropes for this one.

Total Distance: 5.0 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 1,917ft. (1,891ft. to 3,597ft.)
Difficulty: Strenuous	0-5 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous
View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0	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 (likely cannot scramble the dryfalls)
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: Yes; free permit required if you’re near the Hole in the Wall Road
Trailhead Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 1.5
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Undertaker Canyon Route

0.0 North side of Hole in the Wall (1,891ft.). Park in the wash on the north (not CA-190) side of the Hole in the Wall formation, where the road turns sharply to the right (east). (If you don’t have high clearance/4×4, you may wish to park on the south side of the formation and walk the short distance to the “trailhead.”) Walk north up the wash. Stay in the main wash, but hug to the right (east) side to be on the correct side of the canyon to see Undertaker Canyon. If you look back, you can see how Hole in the Wall received its name. If you are funneled into a twisting, winding canyon, you’ve gone too far and have entered Slit Canyon. (36.414876°, -116.723567°)

1.0 Mouth of Undertaker Canyon (2,318ft.). The mouth is blocked by boulders that form a nearly impenetrable chokestone. You’ll have to find a way to scramble up, over, under, and through these boulders to be able to access the canyon. This is no easy feat, and you may need ropes. The first obstacle can be scrambled up via an undercut boulder with a very high first step; the second may be accessible by scrambling under an undercut boulder. For the third obstacle, you can use a highly-polished slot between two boulders above an overhang. The fourth obstacle may be the hardest without a rope, as it’s a high cleft between two boulders. The fourth obstacle also has very significant exposure, adding to the drama. If you can get to the fifth obstacle, it’s an extremely slippery chimney-able pouroff (at least, it’s chimney-able if you have very grippy shoes!) Beyond the fifth obstacle (about 0.25 miles from the mouth of the canyon), you’re rewarded with a lovely set of narrows. After the narrows, the wash opens up again with views of nearby colorful mountains. (36.427454°, -116.716707°)

2.2 Wash split (3,018ft.). Stay in the right (easterly) wash. The wash does a gooseneck back on itself, then back to continue north, then turns slightly east to Widowmaker Falls. (36.436747°, -116.705485°)

2.5 Widowmaker Falls (3,597ft.). This is the end of upcanyon travel without technical gear. (36.438766°, -116.702289°)

History & More

If you don’t have 4×4, you may wish to park just before (south of) the Hole in the Wall. Only drive as far as you’re absolutely certain you can retrace your route back. The road beyond the “parking area” requires 4×4 due to deep gravel and washouts.

I’m not sure how Undertaker Canyon or Widowmaker Falls received their rather unusual names. My best guess is that it’s a play off of the range of peaks within which the canyon resides – the Funeral Mountains.

Undertaker Canyon is a very strenuous scramble. Ropes may be required; at the very least, don’t dry anything that you’re not absolutely certain you can both ascend – and descend – and don’t attempt the canyon alone.

I’ve never heard of anyone going up or beyond Widowmaker Falls, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – especially if you’re an experienced canyoneer with a good knowledge of how to use ropes. It appears that the canyon above the dryfall is narrow for a short section before widening out to wind deep into the Funeral Mountains.

You may find people camping in the wash. The Hole in the Wall Road is one of the preferred areas of the park for roadside dispersed camping.

Download Trail Map

Driving Directions

Take CA-190 to the Hole in the Wall Road. Drive the gravel road up the wash for 3.7 miles to the Hole in the Wall formation. Park out of the way of traffic in the wash just on the other side of the formation. (Note: If you have 2WD, you would be advised to park shortly before passing through the Hole in the Wall and then walk through the formation – the wash on the other side tends to have deep gravel.)