Red Cathedral Canyon Crest 1

Red Cathedral Canyon Crest

Photo credit Alisha Vargas, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/5YdoZH

Red Cathedral Canyon Crest 2

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Red Cathedral Canyon Crest 8

Red Cathedral Canyon Crest 9

Red Cathedral Canyon Crest 10

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F ollow a social trail along the rim of a hill with views down onto the Manly Beacon badlands, Red Cathedral, and Golden Canyon.

Total Distance: 2.0-4.8 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 1,719ft. (539ft. to 932ft.)
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous	0-5 Mile Difficulty: Very 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: No
Best Seasons: Morning in November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: None
Trailhead Amenities: Primitive Restroom	Crowd Factor: Solitude to Moderate
Trailhead Access: 0.6
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Red Cathedral Canyon Crest Route

0.0 Zabriskie Point Trailhead (650ft.). Instead of following the paved path up the hill toward Zabriskie Point, turn right to hike north on the gravel path. When the path turns west to pass through a break in the “wall” into the badlands, turn right (north) to ascend up to the ridgeline. (36.420784°, -116.810197°)

0.1 Turn right, up ridgeline (657ft.). Scramble up the ridgeline (the path is worn and requires light Class 3 scrambling) and travel north and then west, following the social trails more or less along the ridge. While the route doesn’t appear to be difficult, many small rises and falls on the ridgeline are deceptively strenuous. (36.4218540°, -116.8113990°)

1.1 High Point with a View (853ft.). Most people stop here to view Manly Beacon from the north side, then return to the parking area. Views stretch across the badlands, Golden Canyon, and down over Badwater to Telescope Peak. However, the social trails continue along the ridgeline with continued spectacular views. (36.427245°, -116.824033°)

2.4 More or less end of ridgeline (539ft.). Retrace your steps to the Zabriskie Point Parking Area. (36.438680°, -116.839928°)

History & More

Manly Beacon was named for William Manly, a local miner and hero. At the age of 29, Manly moved from his native state of Vermont to fill his thirst for gold fever as one of the ‘49ers. He tried to float the Green River to the Colorado River, but eventually native guides took him and the others with him overland. He then set out with other families and ‘49ers to cross Death Valley. The group became stranded, so Manly and another traveler, John Haney Rogers (of Roger’s Peak), walked 250 miles across the Mojave Desert almost to Los Angeles to find a route out. The two were able to buy supplies and return to lead the party to safety.

The Red Cathedral Canyon Crest is named for the canyon of the same name, which is below the social trail. To early visitors, the rock formations on the walls of the canyon resembled the pipes of a giant organ in a cathedral.

Download Trail Map

Driving Directions

From Furnace Creek, take CA-190 East 4.8 miles to the Zabriskie Point Parking Area, on the right 3.5 miles east of Badwater Junction.

From Death Valley Junction, take CA-190 West 25.4 miles to the Zabriskie Point Parking Area, on the left.