Walking Wild & Free

Titus Canyon Narrows 1

Titus Canyon Narrows

Titus Canyon Narrows 2

Titus Canyon Narrows 3

Photo credit Matthew Dillon, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/2kZ6vhv

Titus Canyon Narrows 4

Photo credit Matthew Dillon, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/2kXmy4j

Titus Canyon Narrows 5

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

Titus Canyon Narrows 6

Photo credit The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/Nyk8mh

Titus Canyon Narrows 7

Photo credit The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/Nyka2w

Titus Canyon Narrows 8

Photo credit Tom Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/4yQ8jX

Titus Canyon Narrows 9

Hike the road through the Titus Canyon Narrows to interesting rock walls, a spring, rock art, and more.

Total Distance: Up to 15.6 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: Up to 4,419ft. (928ft. to 3,745ft.)
Difficulty: Easy to Very Extremely Strenuous	5+ Mile Difficulty: Easy to Very Extremely 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 water	Overnight Options: None
Trailhead Amenities: Primitive restroom	Crowd Factor: Moderate to Crowded
Trailhead Access: 1.2
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Titus Canyon Narrows

0.0 Exit of Titus Canyon Narrows (930ft.). Walk on the gravel road up the canyon. Be wary of vehicles coming down the canyon toward you, especially in the afternoon. The road winds through the tight canyon for about 1.7 miles before beginning to widen. (36.822044°, -117.173873°)

4.5 End of Lower Narrows (2,606ft.). This is as far as most people hike. However, you can continue to other interesting features if you want. (36.828135°, -117.109666°)

5.9 Klare Spring (3,076ft.). The spring area is an excellent place to view wildlife, especially bighorn sheep. (36.840990°, -117.090998°)

5.95 Petroglyph Rock (3,083ft.). Petroglyphs on a boulder have been badly vandalized, but you can still see the shapes of animals, desert plants, and more. (36.841196°, -117.090654°)

7.8 Road exits Titus Canyon (3,745ft.). From here, you can continue into Upper Titus Canyon or retrace your steps to the parking area at the mouth of the canyon. (36.853169°, -117.066764°)

History & More

Keep a wary eye out for vehicles driving down the canyon. Most drivers are cautious and courteous, but you should still be careful. For the fewest vehicles, hike early in the morning, as there hasn’t been time for the vehicles to drive down from the beginning of the road yet.

You can hike as far or as little up Titus Canyon as you desire. There are things to see within a quarter mile or even 7+ miles up the canyon.

The Timbisha American Indians carved petroglyphs into the rocks near Klare Spring. These prehistoric carvings depict desert animals, geometric designs, and more.

Titus Canyon is one of the best places in Death Valley to spot desert bighorn sheep. However, the sheep are masters of disguise – almost invisible when standing still. Watch for movements of white (the sheep’s rump).

Titus Canyon was named for Morris Titus. In 1906, Morris and several other prospectors left Rhyolite to seek their fortunes in the Grapevine Mountains. While camped in Titus Canyon, water supplies ran low. Morris left for help and more supplies, but his fate is unknown. What we do know is that he did not return to the camp or to Rhyolite.

Download Trail Map

Coming soon!

Driving Directions

Take Scotty’s Castle Road to the exit of the Titus Canyon Road (14.9 miles north of CA-190 and 18.3 miles south of the Grapevine Ranger Station). Turn east on the gravel Titus Canyon Road for 2.6 miles to the Titus Canyon Trailhead and Fall Canyon Trailhead parking.