Great Dry Fall Canyon – Death Valley National Park
An unofficially-named canyon in the Owlshead Mountains. It is also known as Magnetite Canyon. The canyon received its name from a large dry fall about 0.6 miles from the canyon mouth.
| Total Distance: 13.0 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 2,014ft. (2ft. to 1,900ft.) |
| 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: Great Dry Fall Canyon
0.0 Unmarked trailhead on the west side of the Harry Wade Road (10ft.). There is no trail or any indication that this is a parking area or trailhead. Walk southwest to cross the Amargosa River (sometimes dry, sometimes flowing) about mile 1.1 and mile 1.6, then continue up the alluvial fan toward the mouth of Great Dry Fall Canyon. (35.792936°, -116.531733°)
3.4 Mouth of Great Dry Fall Canyon (556ft.). Continue upcanyon. (35.772509°, -116.586227°)
3.9 Dryfall (739ft.). Find a way to scramble around the dryfall, likely on the left (east) side. (35.767536°, -116.591662°)
4.0 The Great Dryfall (805ft.). Find a way to scramble up or around the dryfall. It may be easier to backtrack a short distance, scramble up the north side of the wash, and then drop back down into the wash above the dryfall. Above The Great Dryfall, the wash splits; stay left in the main wash. The wash splits again about a half mile later; again, stay left in the main wash. (35.766796°, -116.592721°)
5.8 Canyon split (1,464ft.). The left (south) canyon is the crossover between Great Dryfall Canyon and Passage Canyon to the south. To continue up Great Dry Fall Canyon, continue west (straight). The going may be a little rougher beyond the junction, and channels may branch off. Stay in the main canyon. (35.755211°, -116.619150°)
6.5 More or less end of Great Dry Fall Canyon (1,900ft.). The canyon might be navigable beyond this point, but it becomes increasingly rocky and prone to dryfalls. (35.752896°, -116.629019°)
History & More
Great Dry Fall Canyon is unofficially named for the large dry waterfall about 0.6 miles from the canyon mouth. It can likely be negotiated without ropes, though it may be easier to bypass it on the north side of the wash.
reat Dry Fall Canyon is one of the more popular of the unofficially named canyons in the Owlshead Mountains. It’s still unlikely that you’ll meet anyone else while hiking it.
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 10.7 miles south of the northern end of the Harry Wade Road. If coming from the south, the “trailhead” is 8.5 miles beyond the Owl Hole Spring Road.
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.)