Walking Wild & Free

Smoke Tree Canyon 1

Smoke Tree Canyon

Smoke Tree Canyon 1

Smoke Tree Canyon

Smoke trees grow in this canyon in the Owlshead Mountains.

Total Distance: 14.2 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 2,137ft. (-2ft. to 2,021ft.)
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 or sandy – 2.0 to 2.3)
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Smoke Tree Canyon

0.0 Unmarked trailhead on the west side of the Harry Wade Road (10ft.). There is no trail or any indication that it is a parking area or trailhead. Walk west and a little north to cross the Amargosa River (sometimes dry, sometimes flowing) about mile 1.3 and another channel about mile 1.9, then continue west and a little north to the mouth of the Smoke Tree Canyon. (35.792936°, -116.531733°)

3.5 Mouth of Smoke Tree Canyon (342ft.). Turn west to walk up the canyon. Smoke Tree Canyon is initially wide and nondescript, but it gradually narrows with rocks on the hillsides. About mile 5.7, the canyon widens again. At approximately mile 6.0, a well-defined wash to the south (left) gives access to the canyons that are the crossover to South Smoke Tree Canyon – however, it is more difficult to find your way from this side unless you know where you’re going and how to get there. (35.797433°, -116.594435°)

6.5 Wash split (1,601ft.). Stay to the left (southern) fork. The route becomes rocky at times; you may need to scramble over rocks or up dryfalls. The rocks are also darker, which is an interesting change of pace. (35.779061°, -116.634475°)

7.1 Wash more or less ends (2,021ft.). Smoke Tree Canyon more or less ends in a jumble of rocks. It may be possible to go a bit further if you don’t mind a little bit of scrambling. (35.773571°, -116.641018°)

History & More

Smoke Tree Canyon has an abundance of smoke trees within its wash. The tree (which may look more like a bush) – Psorothamnus spinosus – blooms prolifically in spring with purple flowers that resemble pea blossoms. The tree in other months may turn brown and be so wispy as to look, from a distance, like blowing smoke.

Smoke trees often signify an area that is frequently flooded. Desert campers have found by hard experience not to set up their tents near a smoke tree forest!

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.