Sagenite Hill – Death Valley National Park
Short, steep hike up a hill to overlook Sagenite Canyon and the surrounding area.
| Total Distance: 0.5 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 333ft. (2,244ft. to 2,555ft.) |
| Difficulty: Easy | 0-5 Mile Difficulty: Easy |
| 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. No rock collecting is permitted. |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 2.0 4×4 appreciated, though high clearance may be ok in dry weather | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:     |
Features:    | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Sagenite Hill
0.0 Base of Sagenite Hill along the Owl Hole Spring Road (2,244ft.). The trailhead is unmarked. Head north up the hill to the north of the road. Hiking up the right (east) arm of the hill is easier than taking the steeper main arm. You may see remnants of an old trail. Head upward toward the colorful hill that is the westernmost of the hills along the ridgeline. (35.666277°, -116.722985°)
0.25 Top of Sagenite Hill (2,555ft.). Views stretch in all directions, including into Sagenite Canyon and to Owl Lake. Look for rocks with sagenite nearby. You can also walk east along the ridgeline for more sagenite specimens – just remember that this is a national park and no collecting is permitted. (35.668448°, -116.722103°)
History & More
The hill is named after Sagenite Canyon, which is named for the sagenite crystals found there.
Sagenite is a mineral formation with needle-like crystals that intersect to form a net, a fan, or a sunburst pattern.
No collecting of the specimens is permitted due to the national park status of the area.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
The road begins along the Owl Hole Spring Road, 16.0 miles from its beginning at the junction with the Harry Wade Road. It is located 4.8 miles west of the Randsburg Road Junction.
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.)