Walking Wild & Free

Granite Canyon 1

Granite Canyon

Granite Canyon 1

Granite Canyon

Follow a desert canyon up through narrows and granite boulders into the Owlshead Mountains. Of the five officially-named canyons in the northeastern section of the Owlsheads, Granite Canyon is the second-to-southernmost, with only Through Canyon to the south.

Total Distance: 14.2 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 2,006 (-23ft. to 1,878ft.)
Difficulty: Very Strenuous	10+ Mile Difficulty: 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
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 – 2.0 to 2.3)
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Granite Canyon

0.0 Unmarked trailhead on the Harry Wade Road (25ft.). Walk south and a little west, generally following the old road, to the Confidence Mill Site. (35.842780°, -116.561001°)

0.3 Confidence Mill Site (-15ft.). Continue southwest toward the western end of the Confidence Hills (the yellow hills before you get to the Owlshead Mountains). (35.839672°, -116.563524°)

0.75 Cross the Amargosa River (-23ft.). The river is usually dry, but if it’s flowing, you’ll need to use care when crossing. Continue as before west and south toward the southern end of the Confidence Hills. A short distance beyond the first crossing, you may need to cross a secondary channel of the river. (35.834580°, -116.568812°)

1.4 Pick up wash through the Confidence Hills (28ft.). Turn west to follow the wash west through the Confidence Hills. Following the wash allows you to avoid climbing up and down over the hills. (35.828172°, -116.578516°)

2.4 Leave wash (138ft.). On the other side of the Confidence Hills, the wash turns north. Instead of turning north, leave the wash and head west toward the mouth of Granite Canyon, just to the north (right) of the narrower Through Canyon. (35.826165°, -116.594757°)

4.1 Mouth of Granite Canyon (619ft.). The canyon is initially very wide, but keep your eyes open for interesting boulders and caves on the canyon walls. (35.818440°, -116.621705°)

5.75 3-way Canyon Split (1,247ft.). Continue straight (west) upcanyon. Fairly quickly after this, the canyon suddenly narrows, with spectacular boulders and rock formations on both sides of the canyon. In the narrower parts, boulders must be navigated over and around. (35.813863°, -116.649511°)

6.9 Canyon Split (1,796ft.). The left fork is the crossover between Granite and Through Canyons. To complete Granite Canyon, continue right. (35.806692°, -116.666070°)

7.1 Approximate end of Granite Canyon (1,878ft.). There may be a way to continue a short distance further or a slot to explore on the right (north) side of the canyon. (35.805894°, -116.668571°)

History & More

Granite Canyon is the second-to-southernmost named canyon in this part of the Owlshead Mountains. The fact that it has an official name is impressive – most of the canyons in the Owlsheads are only unofficially named.

The canyon was likely named for the “granite” boulders that are prolific in the wash.

Granite Canyon (along with Through Canyon) is a somewhat popular backpacking destination. So you might – gasp! – see another person in the Owlsheads!

If you wish to complete the two canyons (Through and Granite) as a loop, it is recommended that you go up Through Canyon and down Granite Canyon, though of course the choice is up to you.

The Through Canyon-Granite Canyon Loop is usually completed as an overnight trip due to the fact that the loop is approximately 14.9 miles long.

The Amargosa River is 185 miles long, flowing from the Amargosa Valley to Death Valley, where it vanishes into an underground aquifer. It rarely flows above ground in this section except after rain or snowmelt – when it can turn into a dangerous waterway. Chances are you’ll only see water from December-April, though it can flow at any time of year. The word “Amargosa” comes from a Spanish word meaning “bitter.”

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 6.7 miles south of the northern end of the Harry Wade Road. If coming from the south, the “trailhead” is 12.5 miles beyond the Owl Hole Spring Road.