Lower Mosaic Canyon Loop – Death Valley National Park
Photo credit Channel City Camera Club, CC BY. View at https://flic.kr/p/2qSwD9p
Explore a beautiful desert canyon with slots, small dryfalls, and highly polished walls on this short hike. Then hike back to the parking area along the rim of the canyon.
| Total Distance: 1 mile loop | Elevation Gain: 423ft. (932ft. to 1,304ft.) |
| Difficulty: Easy | 0-5 Mile Difficulty: Moderate |
| View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 4.0 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: No |
| Best Seasons: November-April | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: None |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Crowded |
| Trailhead Access: 1.2 | |
Uses:    | Trail Surface:    |
Features:     | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Lower Mosaic Canyon Loop
0.0 Mosaic Canyon Trailhead (932ft.). Follow the trail up the wash. Within a tenth of a mile, the canyon walls close in to funnel you into the first set of narrows. These are the most beautiful and the most popular narrows in the canyon, with highly sculptured walls, small dryfalls, and beautiful passages. The dryfalls are generally a Class 2 scramble, but use care on the very slippery surfaces. (36.571824°, -117.144272°)
0.5 Wash widens (1,186ft.). This is the end of the first narrows. Retrace your steps down the canyon (the dryfalls are so much fun to slide down!) or, for a change of pace, turn left (north) and locate the social trail that heads west back to the parking area along the top of the canyon. (36.568116°, -117.139835°)
0.6 Trail split (1,247ft.). Turn right to continue northwest on the more-used trail to the parking area. (36.568285°, -117.140482°)
0.65 Trail split (1,299ft.). Take the left fork west for a short distance to a viewpoint on top of the hill. Views are excellent from here of the Mesquite Sand Dunes and the Cottonwood Mountains. Retrace your steps to the split to turn left and continue northwest and west back to the parking area. (Actually, continuing down from the hill will take you back to the parking area, as well, only closer to the canyon rim.) (36.568434°, -117.141079°)
0.9 Return to the Mosaic Canyon Wash (963ft.). Turn right to walk downstream back to the parking area. (36.570747°, -117.143655°)
1.0 Mosaic Canyon Trailhead (932ft.). (36.571824°, -117.144272°)
History & More
Most of the walls of Mosaic Canyon are made up of either Noonday Dolomite (the highly-polished walls) or Mosaic Canyon Breccia (colorful rocks trapped in a natural cement-like mud/rock that looks like a mosaic pavement). The gravel on the bottom of the wash is picked up in flash floods and scours the walls, revealing the breccia and polishing the dolomite.
It’s likely that Mosaic Canyon received its name from the breccia, the pebbles of which would have reminded early visitors of a mosaic pavement.
Many people who take this loop continue up Mosaic Canyon to the point of the last dryfall, then come back down to pick up the loop portion of the hike.
There are a fair number of social trails above the canyon rim. Try to stay on the one that’s most used and continues north and west back toward the parking area.
Download Trail Map
Coming soon!
Driving Directions
The access road is along CA-190 0.4 miles west of Stovepipe Wells and 9 miles east of the Emigrant Canyon Road. Turn onto the 2WD-friendly, dirt access road for 2.3 miles to the parking area at the end of the road.
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.
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.)