Quartz Canyon – Death Valley National Park
An unofficially-named canyon in the Owlshead Mountains just south of Wind Cave Canyon. The two canyons are sometimes completed as a loop.
| Total Distance: 11.6 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 2,006ft. (149ft. to 2,147ft.) |
| Difficulty: Very Strenuous | 10+ Mile Difficulty: Strenuous |
| View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| 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: No potable or reliable water | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 1.5 (4×4 required when road is flooded or sandy – 2.0 to 2.3) | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:      |
Features:    | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Quartz Canyon
0.0 West side of the Harry Wade Road (149ft.). Head west toward the mouth of Quartz Canyon, just south of some darker colored hills. (35.713560°, -116.529273°)
2.6 Mouth of Quartz Canyon (891ft.). Continue up the canyon. It is generally fairly wide, but the walls rise impressively, and the canyon bottom becomes rockier after a bit. Keep your eyes open for the quartz crystals that give the canyon its name. You may find old diggings from where quartz was mined in the area. At times, you may need to scramble over or around boulders in the canyon. The boulders are decomposing granite, reminiscent of the Alabama Hills and Joshua Tree National Park. (35.716922°, -116.575894°)
3.5 Dryfall (1,158ft.). Scramble around or up the dryfall and continue upcanyon. (35.720244°, -116.588910°)
4.3 Basin (1,481ft.). Enter a large basin within the mountains. Walking north from here would give you access to Wind Cave Canyon on the north side of the basin. To continue up Quartz Canyon, walk west, staying fairly close to the southern side of the basin. (35.724716°, -116.602124°)
5.0 Quartz Canyon Reenters the Mountains (1,692ft.). If you walk back a few yards, a wash on the south is an optional crossover to South Quartz Canyon. To continue up Quartz Canyon, keep walking northwest into the hills. At times, rocky dryfalls or rock dams may need to be negotiated. (35.726320°, -116.612783°)
5.8 Rocky Stretch of Canyon (2,147ft.). While it may be possible to navigate through the rocks and continue through the mountains to a left fork and then to the other side of the Owlshead Mountains, this guide stops here. (35.729084°, -116.623175°)
History & More
The canyon received its unofficial name from the quartz crystals found in the rocks.
Quartz Canyon and Wind Cave Canyon make a nice approximately 8.4 mile loop hike via the sandy basin high in the mountains, which connects the two canyons.
If you’re traveling to the trailhead while the Amargosa River is flowing, your best bet is to come in via the Saratoga Spring Road. While the Harry Wade Road still might be flooded, at least you won’t have to cross the river’s main channel.
The canyons of the Owlshead Mountains are dry, extremely remote, and unmarked. Be prepared for self-rescue and to explore rather than follow a defined route.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
The unmarked beginning of the route is 16.5 miles south of the northern end of the Harry Wade Road. If coming from the south, the “trailhead” is 9.2 miles beyond the Owl Hole Spring Road.
It is extremely dangerous to enter a mine due to unstable shafts, gasses, and more. Do not enter mines, even if they are apparently open!
Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is prohibited.
Toxic chemicals or ore may be present around mine sites. Enter at your own risk.
Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is also prohibited.
Always be wary of flash floods in a canyon.
Camping in a canyon is discouraged due to the danger of flash floods.
Remember, it may be easier to climb up dryfalls than down them (or vice versa). Be sure you can climb in the other direction before climbing up or down a dryfall.
Camping is not allowed within one mile of a paved road, developed area, or dirt road that is closed to camping.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)