Walking Wild & Free

South Smoke Tree Canyon 1

South Smoke Tree Canyon

South Smoke Tree Canyon 1

South Smoke Tree Canyon

An unofficially-named canyon in the Owlshead Mountains filled with smoke trees.

Total Distance: 14.0 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 2,480ft. (-2ft. to 2,378ft.)
Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous	10+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous
View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0	Author’s Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars2.0
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: South 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 to cross the Amargosa River (sometimes dry, sometimes flowing) about mile 1.25 and again about mile 1.8, then continue westward to the mouth of South Smoke Tree Canyon. (35.792936°, -116.531733°)

3.25 Mouth of South Smoke Tree Canyon (431ft.). Continue up the wash into South Smoke Tree Canyon. The canyon is typically wide and generic except for the smoke trees that give the canyon its name. (35.786614°, -116.588349°)

5.25 Canyon split (1,106ft.). (A short distance back is a wash on the north that is one method to cross over to the canyon with the Smoke Tree Slots.) While the left fork is undoubtedly interesting, this guide turns right to take the northerly of the two forks to travel west deep into the Owlshead Mountains. (35.771665°, -116.617765°)

5.7 Wash split (1,291ft.). Take the left (southern) fork. The wash becomes increasingly rocky; rocks or small dryfalls may need to be negotiated. (35.770163°, -116.624696°)

6.5 Side canyon on right (1,758ft.). Continue left up the main canyon. The hills rise steeply around the wash with interesting rocks. (35.764044°, -116.635014°)

6.8 Wash split (2,038ft.). Take the left (southern) fork. The wash becomes increasingly steep and rocky; rocks or dryfalls may block or hinder progress. (35.762969°, -116.639637°)

7.0 More or less end of South Smoke Tree Canyon (2,378ft.). It may be possible to scramble up the headwall to views of the western Owlshead Mountains. (35.762170°, -116.643434°)

History & More

South 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.