Funeral Slot Canyon – Death Valley National Park
Walk up a wash from the Furnace Springs Campground to good views and a narrow yellow slot in the Funeral Mountains.
| Total Distance: 7.6 miles out & back with spur | Elevation Gain: 2,212ft. (-89ft. to 1,278ft.) |
| Difficulty: Strenuous | 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous |
| View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 3.0 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: None | Overnight Options: The Texas Springs Campground is near the trailhead; backpack is permitted at least 1 mile from the paved road |
| Trailhead Amenities: None (camping is nearby) | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 0.6 | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:      |
Features:   | Hazards:     |
Mile-by-Mile: Funeral Slot Canyon
0.0 Day Use Parking Area of the Texas Springs Campground (-89ft.). Drop into the wash just to the north of the parking area. Stay in this wash as it heads generally east (and a little north) toward the Funeral Mountains. You may find a trail in the wash for the first mile or so, as this is a route used by the horses from the Furnace Creek Ranch. Be sure to look back over Death Valley, as views to the Panamint Range are excellent. (36.460109°, -116.857407°)
0.4 Horse trail turns right up the ridgeline (25ft). Where the powerlines cross the wash, you’re welcome to continue up the wash if you’d like, but this guide turns right to go over the hill and then back into the wash – after this, cross to the other side of the wash to pick up the horse rail again. (36.4641966°, -116.8523404°)
0.8 Horse trail turns left to ascend the ridgeline (135ft.). You’re welcome to either follow the horse trail here or to continue up the wash. This guide follows the horse trail up to the top of the ridgeline, then – when the horse trail does a U-turn to return toward Furnace Creek – continues along the ridgeline a short distance to where you can safely descend back into the wash. Keep heading east up the very broad wash. (36.465554°, -116.845495°)
2.3 Mouth of Funeral Slot (699ft.). Walk up the narrowing canyon. The walls and rock are yellow – the interest comes from the slottiness of the canyon more than its colorful beauty. (36.470554°, -116.823243°)
2.4 Wash split (807ft.). The traditional route goes left (straight) here. (36.472620°, -116.819998°)
2.9 Enter the Death Valley Wilderness (982ft.). Wilderness rules apply. Continue up the narrow canyon, which becomes very narrow about mile 3. (36.474980°, -116.812477°)
3.25 Wash split near a white boulder (1,127ft.). The traditional route goes left here, but this guide turns right into The Slots. (36.477760°, -116.808062°)
3.6 Tunnel Fall (1,277ft.). Going above this would require some serious Class 4 scrambling. This guide turns around to return to the white boulder, then turns right up the traditional Funeral Slot Route. (36.478375°, -116.803458°)
4.2 End of Funeral Slot (1,245ft.). Most people turn around here at a 15ft. dryfall. Retrace your steps back down to the Texas Springs Campground – or explore a few more slots along the way! (36.480128°, -116.806783°)
History & More
Many hikers complain that the first half of the hike is boring and difficult – but that the second half more than makes up for the tediousness of the wash walk. The surface of the wash can be difficult to hike, as it’s often gravelly and soft.
There are many slot canyons along this route. Explore to your heart’s content. Some compare Funeral Slot to Sidewinder Canyon in the Black Mountains along the Badwater Road.
If you can get above Tunnel Falls, the canyon continues through various widths of narrows for another half mile before the canyon permanently widens.
You may find an old mine shaft or two along the way. These are borate mines. Do not enter the shafts.
Borate is a compound of boron and oxygen mixed with other elements such as sodium, calcium, or lithium. It is used in cleaning products and fertilizers. The most famous borate in Death Valley is sodium borate, better known as borax.
Download Trail Map
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Driving Directions
The trailhead is the day use area of the Texas Springs Campground, located on the left (north) just before the road splits into several smaller roads for the campground. There is very limited parking here, enough for 2-3 cars. The entrance to the campground is located 0.6 miles southeast of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center (0.7 miles northwest of the Badwater Road) along CA-190. Drive 0.6 miles into the campground to the day use parking, on left.
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.)